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Driving harmony: philosophy of Toyota Motor Thailand

Phallapa Petison (Coordinator of the MBA Program at College of Management, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. She is a visiting professor at several universities in Thailand. She has also worked with Siam Okamoto and the National Space Development Agency of Japan.)
Lalit M. Johri (Professor of International Business and Director of the Executive MBA program at the School of Management, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand. His fields of research and teaching interests are international business, joint ventures and alliances. Dr Johri is a consultant to several international agencies and international companies in USA, Europe and Asia. He has also worked as the regional Vice President (Australasia) of the Production and Operations Management Society (POMS).)

Strategic Direction

ISSN: 0258-0543

Article publication date: 1 December 2006

3214

Abstract

Purpose

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To describe how Toyota Motor Thailand (TMT) is using local Thai employees instead of the traditional Japanese workforce, and why.

Design/methodology/approach

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In‐depth interviews with Thai and Japanese employees, suppliers and dealers of TMT; and Imai Hiroshi, architect of the philosophy.

Findings

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A total of seven initiatives were discovered in which people played important roles in bringing the company into the community.

Practical implications

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For building and harnessing local advantages, multi‐national companies have to bridge cultural, knowledge and skill gaps between local and expatriate employees. The actions of these companies have to demonstrate long‐term commitment to host countries.

Originality/value

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CEOs of multi‐national companies, particularly Asian subsidiaries, can learn how to build and harness local advantages for global competitiveness.

Keywords

Citation

Petison, P. and Johri, L.M. (2006), "Driving harmony: philosophy of Toyota Motor Thailand", Strategic Direction, Vol. 22 No. 11, pp. 3-5. https://doi.org/10.1108/02580540610708699

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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