Friday, February 03, 2006


HETERARCHY


I've been in all manner of business situations in Japan for over 30 years now and I've never seen an actual angry confrontation, other than once by a clearly mentally unstable individual and once by me, when I was still very American. Those examples are not to be conflated.

"If we are to learn anything from the Japanese, it should be that reduction of conflict always produces a significant increase in efficiency, productivity, and quality of work-life.

My study of Japanese business opened my eyes to the power of heterarchy. It is now obvious that all human organizations must master the power of the heterarchy. However, hierarchy is not the villain in this story. For American businesses to throw out hierarchy in a rush to embrace the Japanese way could be a worse mistake than to make no change at all. American businesses are the masters at hierarchy, and here the Japanese can learn something from them."

HETERARCHY: The Secret of Japan, Inc.

4 comments:

Mary Lou said...

I have been busy, have not been around in a few days.. You posted pictures of the girls!!! It is easy to tell them apart, Miasa has the yellow ribbon on her top knot, and mitsuki has the green one!! How hard can that be grandpa! (Snicker snicker!!)

Those are some cute little girls, and they actually held still while you took their picture!

Tabor said...

Yes, the M & Ms are just too precious. I love the way young folk look you directly in the eye. Keeps your soul honest.

Robert Brady said...

They sure keep mine honest. but they're leaving soon, so I'll be able to relax a scruple, now and then...

Robert Brady said...

Mary Lou, I left that foto up till you got back. I can tell the twins apart now alright, but next time I see them will be some months later and they'll be identical again...