Japan’s consumer goods market is one of the most lucrative in the world. But it is also one of the most demanding. Compared to buyers in other markets Japanese consumers are above-average wealthy and like to spend their money on high-quality goods. Furthermore, they are used to the world’s best customer service and have very clear ideas about how products and services should be. There are numerous local companies in every branch or industry that have known customer requirements for decades, tailoring their business processes accordingly. Foreign companies in competition with these established top dogs must adapt their products and services precisely to an informed local market.
HOW TO SURVIVE THE FIRST 100 YEARS OF BUSINESS — LESSONS FROM NINTENDO
We all know Nintendo as a modern innovator of cool products and as the inventor of epic video games such as the Super Mario franchise.
But what many people don’t know is that, despite its modern image, Nintendo is actually a quite mature, traditional Japanese company: it has been running successfully for over a century.
Today Nintendo`s knowledge is more valuable now than ever.
SUCCESS FACTORS FOR POST-MERGER INTEGRATIONS
WITH KEI SHIRAISHI
Answering certain key questions at an early stage of a merger can help creating clarity and avoiding conflicts, not only at management level but throughout the entire organization, and above all on the local site of the acquired unit. This is particularly important when people face uncertainties and ambiguities, as is often the case with an acquisition.
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IN THE
JAPANESE FIRM: DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN THE EAST AND THE
WEST
If you look in bookstores for literature on Asian management strategies, the Chinese seem to have the edge here. Sun Tzu, the Chinese warlord, has dominated strategic thinking for several millennia and, in recent decades, that of international managers as well. So, yet one tries to think of a Japanese example of strategy, management strategy is not the first thing that comes to mind.
CROSS-CULTURAL MANAGEMENT: HARD EVIDENCE SUGGESTS DIVERSITY IS NO LONGER A “SOFT” TOPIC
Diversity matters! In recent times, we have been acutely aware of the problems that arise from an ignorance to diversity in each of our societies. It follows then that our companies and corporations need to recognize diverse interests, background and experiences in the workforce.
CROSS-CULTURAL M&A:
OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS OF
GROWTH THROUGH ACQUISITIONS
WITH KEI SHIRAISHI
Acquisition is an often chosen and successful growth strategy of Japanese firms. One of the reasons for this is that demographic change was already foreshadowed at an early stage and it became apparent that the domestic market would shrink in line with the size of the Japanese population. As a result, Japanese companies increasingly began to seek access to promising markets and cutting-edge technologies abroad through acquisitions for further growth.
