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The Japanese management theory jungle
Academy of Management Review. Academy of Management
|March 11, 1984
Summary
Japanese management practices are effective due to various theories, but no single explanation fully captures their success. Integrated models are needed to understand this complex managerial achievement.
Area of Science:
- Business Administration
- Organizational Behavior
- International Management
Background:
- Numerous hypotheses exist regarding the effectiveness of Japanese management practices.
- Existing theories offer partial explanations for Japan's business success.
- A comprehensive understanding of Japanese managerial achievements remains elusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and classify leading theories on Japanese management.
- To clarify the current state of knowledge on this topic.
- To identify the need for more integrated theoretical models.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of prominent hypotheses.
- Classification and analysis of existing theories.
- Synthesis of current understanding.
Main Results:
- Multiple competing hypotheses explain aspects of Japanese management.
- No single theory adequately explains the complexity of Japan's success.
- Current knowledge is fragmented, with each theory offering only a partial view.
Conclusions:
- Further research is required to develop integrated, internally consistent models.
- A holistic approach is necessary to fully comprehend Japanese managerial effectiveness.
- The complexity of Japanese management necessitates a multi-faceted theoretical framework.