Innovation Japanese Style: A Cultural and Historical Perspective

Japan has major problems to address, if it wishes to remain an economic superstar in the 21st century. Can Japan continue to grow as an economic superpower, now that it has caught up with the technological frontier by borrowing technology? Herbig explores the Japanese and American cultures, business practices, and government behavior, in order to determine an optimum combination. International managers and CEOs, business scholars and graduate students will find Herbig's insights into future scenarios for both Japan and America very valuable.

After examining historical evidence of Japan's creativity, Herbig provides fresh insight into Japanese innovative strengths and weaknesses, and analyzes Japanese product development strategies and target costing. A comparison between U.S. and Japanese innovation processes shows how American thinking focuses excessively upon the earliest stages of the process. It also shows the advantages of imitation and application, as well as the risks involved in being a follower, even one as good as Japan.