Interpersonal Communication Systems in Organisations, and their Relationships to Cultural Values, Productivity and Innovation: The Case of Japanese Corporations

Abstract

This study examines the patterns of the communication system in Japanese corporations in the light of antecedents (cultural values), and in relation to consequents (productivity and innovation). The analysis is based on visits to ten large Japanese companies in Tokyo, and on personal interviews with 37 managerial and non-managerial employees. It was demonstrated that the interpersonal communication system is shaped by the cultural values in line with the traditional patterns of communication in Japanese society. This congruence intensifies the smooth flow of communication, with two important consequences: on the motivational level, sharing of common values makes for better consensus and commitment to those values; on the cognitive level, sharing of knowledge, ideas, and information enhances the level of productivity and innovation.