The Japanese World of Work and North American Factories
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-1994
Abstract
This paper argues that the Japanese advantage in the world market is not, as is frequently claimed, based on a set of techniques for the organization and management of production. As a result, neither the simple export nor the emulation of these techniques can insure Japanese levels of labor peace, productivity and quality outside of Japan. Instead, the Japanese advantage is based on the aggregate result of these techniques in the context of Japanese society, or the so-called Japanese “world of work.“ The world of work in Japan is then discussed in detail. This paper shows that although Japanese companies strenuously tried to recreate this world of work in North America, they have failed because of important differences between North American and Japanese societies. © 1994, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.
Publication Title
Critical Sociology
Recommended Citation
Dassbach, C.
(1994).
The Japanese World of Work and North American Factories.
Critical Sociology,
20(1), 3-30.
http://doi.org/10.1177/089692059402000101
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/12868