Strategy Japanese style: mobilizing the manufacturing workforce

Abstract

In recent years, manufacturing firms have recognized the crucial importance of incorporating the strengths and weaknesses of the manufacturing function in formulating business strategy. They have also recognized the importance of involving other functional areas in the strategy formulation process. In order to make strategy formulation a company-wide activity, we propose the establishment of a network of strategy-related information throughout the organization. We see the network as an extension of manufacturing resource planning. It requires a strategy-related data base which receives input from, and provides information to, the employees and top management. Top management should take advantage of the data base to make appropriate adjustments to business strategy.