A Historical Review of Japanese Management Theories: The Search for a General Theory of Japanese Management

Abstract

Japanese management theories have not developed into a general theory of Japanese management, that is, a theory drawn from the ‘mutual mediation’ of historical and theoretical studies of local business management. One reason for this is a focus on specifically Japanese traits within its system of management, from cultural aspects embedded within business to issues of the financial system, relations with government, kigyoshudan and keiretsu, industrial relations and labour management and management methods such as production control. No study has yet addressed general theoretical issues regarding Japanese management, and this is reinforced by the recent specialization and fragmentation in management studies. Given the broad scale of the development of industry and management in Japan, it is unsurprising that individual areas should receive priority. Nonetheless, individual areas are in a relationship of mutual mediation with the development of a general theory, and thus we cannot disregard the importance of the latter. This article reviews historically existing Japanese management theories, classifying them into four approaches, and considers the possibility of developing a general theory of Japanese management through the mutual mediation of historical and theoretical studies, as well as of individual management studies and studies of general theory.