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1 – 10 of 190Argues that the management of quality in the construction industry is often flawed by people‐related problems. Suggests that there is tremendous scope for applying Miyamoto…
Abstract
Argues that the management of quality in the construction industry is often flawed by people‐related problems. Suggests that there is tremendous scope for applying Miyamoto Musashi’s lessons in A Book of Five Rings for overcoming some of these problems and for managing construction quality. Just as the samurai strives to perfect his killer instinct, the application of the Samurai way in the building industry can serve to achieve getting the construction quality right first time, every time. Provides a historical account of Miyamoto Musashi’s A Book of Five Rings, highlights its teachings and analyses how these can be adapted or applied for managing construction quality more effectively in the building industry.
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The transferability of the Japanese management system to the American business environment has recently provided a focal point of argument among Americans. This signifies a…
Abstract
The transferability of the Japanese management system to the American business environment has recently provided a focal point of argument among Americans. This signifies a drastic change of trend not only for members of American business and management science, who have been accustomed to thinking that they are leading the business of the world, in every sense, but also for their Japanese counterparts who have been following American business and theory. The introduction of Japanese style management is one thing but its practical application is quite another matter; as an old Japanese proverb says, “You carve the statue of Buddha but do not put the spirit in it” (Hotoke tsukutte Tamashii irezu). Without understanding the minds of Japanese businessmen working in Japanese businesses it is of no use, and may even be dangerous, to argue about the transferability and workability of the Japanese type of management in the US.
– This paper sets out to explain the poor nature of industrial relations in Meiji Japan (1868-1911), especially the puzzling lack of Neo-Confucianist values.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper sets out to explain the poor nature of industrial relations in Meiji Japan (1868-1911), especially the puzzling lack of Neo-Confucianist values.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper combines two approaches. First, it draws on and scrutinizes the major literature. Second, it uses a case approach.
Findings
First, we find that a widely accepted assumption used in many management (and other) studies on Japan, namely, that Neo-Confucianism was institutionalized in Tokugawa Japan (1603-1867), is distorted. Second, we find that the poor nature of labor relations in Meiji Japan can be explained by and is the product of a multitude of factors, both indigenous and imported from abroad.
Originality/value
First, this paper provides a novel explanation for the poor nature of labor relations in Meiji Japan. Second, this paper corrects a widely held assumption on Japan that is frequently used in management studies.
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Tsuda Hiromichi is a most representative shishi (noble‐minded patriot) of the Meiji Restoration Era. He came from a middle class warrior family of Okayama han. Trained first in…
Abstract
Tsuda Hiromichi is a most representative shishi (noble‐minded patriot) of the Meiji Restoration Era. He came from a middle class warrior family of Okayama han. Trained first in Confucianism and later in Western technologies, he was appointed to new high positions in the military and civil services for the Han to cope with changing situations. He was selected as one of the 18 to be despatched by the Meiji Restoration Government for the first round‐the‐world observation tour for one year from 1871 to 1872. On his return, he repaid the balance of travel expenses, which became the foundation of the Ikeda Scholarship. Before long, he was installed as a high official of the Meiji Restoration Government. After the services there, he came back to hometown Okayama to develop enterprises for employing ex‐samurai. An examination of Tsuda’s career will reveal the following as most significant roles played by middle class warriors; work ethics and the tradition of thrift maintained firmly by samurai élites; the feudal system’s flexibility in the later half of the 19th century which allowed their foresight and claims to be satisfied.
Lucien Ellington and M. A. McCoy
The objective of this essay is to assist secondary school world history teachers in helping students develop an understanding basic economic concepts through learning about two…
Abstract
The objective of this essay is to assist secondary school world history teachers in helping students develop an understanding basic economic concepts through learning about two successful pre-industrialized economies: The Florentine Republic and Tokugawa Japan. We includes a short introduction about the importance of integrating economic concepts in history instruction; narratives suitable for teachers and many high school students on the economies of the Republic of Florence and Tokugawa Japan; and an annotated list of pedagogical resources suitable for more extensive study of both societies.
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What were the spinning industries like in the initial stage in Japan? From which class did the founders of these industries come, ex‐warrior or commoners (merchants or farmers)…
Abstract
What were the spinning industries like in the initial stage in Japan? From which class did the founders of these industries come, ex‐warrior or commoners (merchants or farmers)? This will interest readers. Viewed from a capital investment, it was most significant in Japan whether the government financed an industry or not. This article deals with Tanigawa Tatsumi, the founder president (presidency 1885‐1911) of Okayama Cotton Spinning Company (an enterprise for employing ex‐warriors). Whereas cotton spinning companies for employing ex‐warriors played an important role in the initial stages of the development of the cotton spinning industry, these became bankrupt before long. Under such circumstances, Tanigawa’s Spinning Company weathered many years. An examination of a brief history of Okayama Spinning Company with special reference to Tanigawa’s life history will reveal the significance of the entrepreneur’s learning and virtue, organizing ability, and leadership. Furthermore, it will make clear what otherwise might have been overlooked about the initial nature of industrialization in Japan.
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This paper aims to examine a copy Hiraga Gennai wrote advertising the toothpowder brand Sosekiko in terms of its target audience, product decisions pertaining to branding and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine a copy Hiraga Gennai wrote advertising the toothpowder brand Sosekiko in terms of its target audience, product decisions pertaining to branding and packaging, pricing and advertising objectives and message appeals. A masterless samurai in the eighteenth century, Hiraga Gennai is considered Japan’s first advertising copywriter. Life of the versatile Renaissance man Gennai and the influences of his accomplishments on advertising in following generations are briefly discussed.
Design/methodology/approach
The research draws from a sampling of classical and contemporary literature as well as the interpretation of the images shown here. Visual content is described and analyzed as well.
Findings
Gennai’s witty and humorous advertising copy for handbills attracted the townspeople of Edo. The toothpowder market was mature and competitive, and Gennai’s copy emphasized differentiation through packaging and volume discount rather than ingredients. The advertising copy has culturally unique aspect: It appeals to the audience’s ninjo, or feelings of humanity, and explicitly solicited disseminating positive word-of-mouth by the audience.
Originality/value
This research shows that activities resembling more contemporary marketing practices, such as advertising and branding, for consumer products such as toothpowder existed in eighteenth-century Japan, more than a century prior to the paradigmatic development of marketing concept. The possibility for Gennai as a potential strategic marketing planner and implementer, in addition to advertising copywriter, is researched and analyzed.
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Gary P. Radford, Marie L. Radford and Mark Alpert
– The purpose of this paper is to use the work of philosopher Slavoj Žižek to gain insights into representations of the librarian and the library in contemporary popular culture.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to use the work of philosopher Slavoj Žižek to gain insights into representations of the librarian and the library in contemporary popular culture.
Design/methodology/approach
A psycho-analytic reading of the comic book series Rex Libris using Slavoj Žižek’s treatment of Jacques Lacan.
Findings
Žižek’s approach can provide novel and previously unconsidered insights into the understanding of librarian stereotypes in particular and representations of the library in general.
Research limitations/implications
This paper is limited to the representations of the librarian and the library in one comic book series. Its findings need to be generalized to representations in other forms of popular culture.
Originality/value
As far as the authors know, this is the only paper that has applied the work of Žižek in the library and information science (LIS) literature. As such, not only are the insights into the representations of librarians and libraries important, this paper also acts as a valuable introduction to the work of Žižek for the LIS community of scholars.
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Phillip Olla, Nayna Patel and Chris Atkinson
Mobile Internet applications on ubiquitous mobile networks allows real‐time, anywhere, anytime connectivity to services. Owing to its scalability and potential cost savings…
Abstract
Mobile Internet applications on ubiquitous mobile networks allows real‐time, anywhere, anytime connectivity to services. Owing to its scalability and potential cost savings, mobile communication is being increasingly applied in the business and consumer communities to create innovative data and voice application, which run over the Internet infrastructure. This paper reports on a case study at an organisation that created an innovative approach to developing mobile applications developed by third party independent developers. A conceptual wireless reference model is presented that was used to define the various system constituents required to create effective mobile applications.
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