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American management: Reformation or revolution? The transfer of Japanese management technology to the US

Smitka, Michael J.

The paper discusses the transfer of management technology from Japan to the US. Before introducing formal economic analysis, ongoing changes in US management theory and practice are outlined, and then the main theoretical point is illustrated with an example from Japanese business history. Three vignettes of change in American management philosophy and techniques are given, focusing on the automotive industry. An explicit economic model of technical change and diffusion is then introduced, concluding by applying this model to predict whether the reformation is a prelude to a revolution in practice, or will fall prey to a counter-reformation.

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Academic Units
Center on Japanese Economy and Business
Publisher
Center on Japanese Economy and Business, Graduate School of Business, Columbia University
Series
Center on Japanese Economy and Business Working Papers, 37
Published Here
February 7, 2011