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Changes are under way in Japan’s distinctive human resources management practices as the state of the economy remains fragile following the country’s prolonged recession. However, such changes may not necessarily point to the eventual collapse of the Japanese employment system, as sometimes suggested. Despite the adjustments companies have made to cope with the economic downturn, distinctive human resources management practices in Japan’s large‐scale enterprises are unlikely to disappear altogether. This paper argues that the relationship between large‐scale enterprises and an even smaller segment of the permanent workforce will continue to be defined by distinctive management practices. Thus, what is actually taking place in Japanese management is an ad hoc reshuffle rather than substantial restructuring of internal labor markets.

This paper's aim is to guide online Islamic bank marketing strategy.

A study in 1999 interviewed 120 innovators about their attitudes and preferences to a hypothetical online Islamic bank, and replicated in 2009 for existing online Islamic banks using a sample of 220 innovators.

The ten‐year replication interval reveals increased internet and online bank usage, higher household incomes and concerns about security (fraud, theft, and hacking). Criteria describing a bona fide online Islamic bank are inconsistent and do not strongly reflect Sharia, suggesting a vague marketspace position. Similarities between online Islamic bank innovator attitudes and preferences with online bank innovators allows online Islamic banks confidence in the use of best practices in online marketing strategy.

The 2009 study offers present‐day insights for online Islamic bank marketing strategy development, with 48 percent planning to open an online Islamic bank (51 percent have a retail branch Islamic bank account) citing time savings and 24‐hour access as primary advantages, with online security as the major impediment. For product mix, preferred investment products include real estate, construction and restaurants, whilst popular bank services include the ability to view and transfer across accounts, investment portfolio variety, and ease to open new accounts.

This study is one of the first to address marketing issues about the burgeoning online Islamic bank market.