Is Japanese culture and their Lean Management always lean?
Last updated: September 07, 2024 Read in fullscreen view
Recommended for you
- 27 Oct 2020
8 principles of Agile Testing 1101 - 21 May 2022 "Fail Fast, Fail Often, Fail Forward" is the answer to Agile practices of software success 803
- 09 Oct 2022 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of Agile Methodology 655
- 12 Oct 2020 The Agile Manifesto - Principle #8 422
- 19 Jul 2022 The 12 Principles of Continuous Process Improvement 391
- 16 Jul 2022 What are disadvantages of Agile Methodology? How to mitigate the disadvantages ? 341
- 02 Nov 2022 Frequently Asked Questions about Agile and Scrum 324
- 10 Apr 2022 Agile self-organizing teams: What are they? How do they work? 323
- 20 Nov 2022 Agile working method in software and football 283
- 01 Dec 2022 Difference between Set-based development and Point-based development 278
- 07 Oct 2020 How To Manage Expectations at Work (and Why It's Important) 237
- 01 Mar 2022 Why Does Scrum Fail in Large Companies? 230
- 11 Jan 2022 Lean Thinking and Lean Transformation 228
- 03 Jul 2022 Manifesto for Agile Software Development 226
- 28 Nov 2023 Scrum Team Failure — Scrum Anti-Patterns Taxonomy (3) 218
- 11 Jul 2022 Lean software development - the game-changer in the digital age 197
- 01 Jun 2022 How Your Agile Development Team is Just Like a Football Team? 193
- 21 Oct 2022 Virtual meeting - How does TIGO save cost, reduce complexity and improve quality by remote communication? 135
- 10 Oct 2022 Should Your Business Go Agile? (Infographic) 98
The author, a lean coach and enthusiast, moved to Tokyo to learn about Japanese business culture, leadership, and the application of kaizen (continuous improvement). After 18 months, the author reflects on the experience and how it has shaped their understanding of lean. The main theme is that Japanese culture does not equal Toyota culture, and the principles of kaizen are not a typically Japanese business leadership mindset. The author explains that while Toyota culture does not necessarily equate to Japanese culture, there are several Japanese traits that support kaizen and a Toyota-inspired culture, and others that make them harder to embrace.
Cultural traits supporting lean include the concept of kata in every-day life, which guides daily living and makes following "standard work" seem more natural for Japanese people. The author has made cultural mistakes in following basic "every-day kata" and has observed the Japanese commitment to perfection through continuous improvement (kaizen) and pride in one's work.
In conclusion, the author believes that lean culture and Japanese culture are not synonymous, and that there are both supportive and inhibiting cultural traits that can support the development of a Toyota-inspired transformation.
Japanese culture values politeness, respect, and patience. The Japanese people are known for their kindness and respect, even on the internet. The structure of the Japanese language varies in respect and politeness, making learning to speak it more challenging. Japanese people are more patient in listening, with long pauses and silence being natural in conversation. This patience is a virtue and a focus on long-term results, as seen in the deep apprenticeship practice in Japan. Tokyo is known for its cleanliness and order, with people volunteering to clean parks and school-aged children physically cleaning classrooms. However, many hospitals and manufacturing organizations face challenges in managing supplies and keeping areas neat and clutter-free. To address these challenges, organizations have developed a "5S school" to teach how to sustain their gains. Overall, Japanese culture values cleanliness, order, and a focus on long-term results.
Continue reading at Japanese culture and lean culture: not always the same (By Katie Anderson)
Explore more on these topics
Guest Blogging: The Definitive Guide
Top Trending Topics
Share This
Recently Updated News
