Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
51447:[2025 Fall]Special Topics on Business Management β (XC) § 51448:Special Topics on Strategy and Marketing β (XC) § 51449:Special Topics on International Business β (XC) § 51450:Special Topics on Organization and Management β (XC) § 51451:Special Topics on Accounting and Finance β (XC) 2025 Fall Tue2 College　Of　Business　Administration RAUPACH SUMIYA JORG 2

Campus

OIC

Class Venue

AC342

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

The topic of this special lecture is "Business and management in Japan". It covers two main areas: 1) Structural characteristics of Japanese companies and changes in management and strategies, 2) Doing business in Japan. In the first part, the key elements of Japan's postwar corporate system such as internal labor markets, main bank system and business networks will be explained and changes in organization and strategic orientations since the millennium are discussed. In the second part, various aspects of doing business such as marketing, supply chain management and managing in Japan will be discussed, with a particular focus on success factors for foreign businesses. The lectures introduces state-of-the-art academic research in Japanese business and draws heavily from case studies and the personal experience of the lecturer as a senior executive in Japan. The course involves extensive group work and class discussion.

Student Attainment Objectives

Students should gain an understanding of the structural and institutional characteristics of Japanese business as they were shaped in the postwar political-economic context. Students will learn how the aftermath of the Japanese "bubble economy", globalization and deregulation, as well as demographics are driving fundamental change in Japan's business and industries. Students should gain insight into what it takes to be successful in managing a business in Japan.

Recommended Preparatory Course

This course targets students who have a minimum TOEFL®-ITP score of 520, TOEFL®-iBT score of 68 or TOEIC® score of 620 or equivalent.

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1

Orientation [+R授業実施, 詳細はManaba+R参照](+Rclass by VOD, Details to be announced here)

Introduction to the course and evaluation method / Discussion of key structural characteristics of a Japan's economy and industry.

2〜6

Japan's postwar corporate system -Key elements

The key institutional elements of the Japanese corporate system (internal labor market, relational contracting within business networks, governance and finance within the main bank system) will be discussed within the context of postwar Japan's economic and political context. Typical management practices such as life-time employment, seniority-based compensation and career formation, collaborative business relations,such as subcontracting or consensus-based decision making are described. It is shown how the competitive success of Japanese business was build on highly competitive, growth- and innovation-driven strategies and cooperative, long-term oriented structures

7〜9

Japan's postwar corporate system - Strategic reorientation and restructuring

The burst of the so-called "bubble economy" in 1989, global competition and deregulation, as well as demographic change and digitalization have caused fundamental changes in the Japanese corporate system. The mechanics of the " bubble economy " and their impact on the Japanese economy and industry are explained and the resulting strategic re-orientation of Japanese companies and their managerial practices are illustrated. Case studies from various industries serve as reference.

10〜14

Doing business in Japan

Taking the view of foreign business in Japan, the challenges, peculiarities and success factors of doing business in Japan are illustrated covering a wide range of practical business aspects. What does it take to manage a foreign operation in Japan, to form and enforce descisions, to manage subordinates, or to deal with headquarters. How to successfully market and sell products and services, and how to build strong customer relationships? How to manage supply chains? How to succeed with joint ventures and M&A? How to communicate and negotiate ? How to intregrate the Japanese operation into the global business ? How to develop, manage and retain global talent?

Class Format

This course will in principle be taught face-to-face.

Recommendations for Private Study

I recommend to read the book by Ulrike Schande (Choose and Focus) and by James Abegglen (21st-century Japanese management)

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written) 0

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)		 0

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 100

- preparation of a two-pages, structured memo and opinion statement for each assigned reading (80% / in total four memos)
- participation in group work and presentation of assigned case studies (20%)

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

The course employs methods of active learning and problem-based learning which requires self-initiative and preparatory study by students as well as active participation in classroom discussion. It is a great opportunity to experience a multi-cultural and diverse environment, and to practice cross-cultural communication and collaboration. I expect a positive attitude and openness to challenge and debate.

Textbooks

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
The Japanese firm - Sources of competitive strength Aoki, Masahiko/adore, Ronald (eds) Oxford University Press, 1994 0-19-828815-8
Business enterprise in Japan -Views of leading Japanese economists Imai, Kenichi / Komiya, Ryutaro The MIT Press, Cambridge/Massachusetts, 1994 0-262-09032-5
Routledge Handbook of Japanese business and management Haghirian, Parissa Routledge, London, 2016 0415734185

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

Reference Books

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
Understanding Japanese management practices Haghirian, Parissa Business Expert Press,New York, 2010 1-60649-118-0
Choose and focus - Japanese business strategies for the 21st century Schande, Ulrike Cornell University Press, 2008 978-0-8014-4706-8
21st-Century Japanese management - New systems, lasting values Abegglen, James C. Palgrave Macmillan, 2006 1-4039-9876-0
Japanese management in change - The impact of globalization and market principles Kanbayashi, Norio Springer, 2015 978-4-431-55095-2
Navigating Japan's business culture- A practical guide to succeeding on the Japanese market Agar, RobertC. Kevin Snyder, 2016 978-0997607628

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Web Pages for Reference

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Talk with Students

Other Comments

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