Japanese and German Enterprises

The objective of this book is to analyze and compare the processes of corporate expansion of postwar Japan and Germany. It examines the evolution of distinctive Japanese and German business management styles through the adoption of American management methods, thereby establishing a system of industrial concentration in contrast to the US de-concentration policy. This is the first time that the book draws on a range of topics related to business administration, including the concentration of enterprises, management and production systems, management education, marketing, organizational structure, and corporate governance. The book compares the Japanese and German models. Japanese enterprises developed a management style that was suitable for American and Japanese markets, in part due to the underdeveloped Asian markets. Meanwhile, German enterprises established a management style for European markets. The book considers the specificities of the Japanese management model, predicated on thorough cost reduction and few product defects. In contrast, the German management model placed a premium on differentiation based on product quality and functionality, with a particular focus on core markets and the skills of the workforce.