For students enrolled in or before 2014
K0216
Japanese Corporations
2 credits
Spring 2015
INSTRUCTOR: Mari Kondo
OFFICE: Kambaikan 307
TELEPHONE: 075-251-3948
EMAIL: [email protected]
OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday 10:45 – 12:15 (before the class). Before you come,
please contact me by e-mail for an appointment, so I will be sure to be in my office.
Course Description
This course is for the students to actually “experience” Japanese corporations. In
2015, “Japanese Corporations”course will be offered in either type A, type B or the
combination of A & B.
Type A is, visiting or inviting traditional Japanese corporations with a long history in
Kyoto. In this case, we will be meeting frequently in 3rd-4th periods of Tuesdays, and
we will be visiting those special corporations together with Global MBA students. In
my view, this is a very unique opportunity that you can get, and you will really learn
“deep” about Japan and Japanese corporations. I will provide explanations and
interpretations. What you do is a real “field work”, which you cannot experience
anywhere else. As much as possible, I would like to try Option A, since it is really
unique and valuable experience for you. However, visiting them is not so easy. It
may depend on the number of students who enroll. So, no promise.
The type B is explained below. For type B, we may still visit/invite some Japanese
corporations.
I would like to wait till the registration to complete, see how many students are
enrolled, then contact target corporations for visits and invitations to the class. The
dates of the class will be announce to you as soon as I finalize those visits.
The Type B plan is explained below.
Students will:
・ Discuss cases on Japanese corporations
・ View films related to Japanese corporations and discuss
・ Visit Japanese corporations
・ Conduct exercises to deepen their understandings on Japanese corporations
・ Study and make presentations on Japanese corporations
Upon completion of this course, students are expected to have a good grasp of various
aspects of Japanese corporations.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
(1) For this course, please note that the corporations we visit as well as the speakers we
invite may change. Therefore, please understand the course plans below are some
examples of activities and corporations we may visit or invite.
(2) The transportation costs and other expenses concerning factory/corporation visits
should be shouldered by the students. Naturally, more students enrolled, less costs.
(3) As soon as the class dates are confirmed, we will notify you. We meet eight times
during the semester, and classes will be back to back, i.e. 180 minutes plus break.
Course Objectives
This course is for students who are considering Japan-related careers in one way or
another. For that purpose, the overarching objective of this course is to enable students
to “experience” Japanese corporations. By the end of the course, students will gain
insights of various aspects about Japanese corporations. Ultimately, the course is for
students to gain important insights on their Japan-related career perspectives.
Course Requirements and Assignments
Attendance and participation.
Matured attitude as Doshsiha students, including punctuality and attentiveness to the
talks, etc. Dress code for the company visits will be instructed.
Evaluation Criteria & Grading
Final paper and presentation (Debate) 30% (20% Debate + 10% Paper)
(Depending on the number of students enrolled, it can be a group work)
Class participation including attendance 30%
Class presentation and assignments 40%
(Evaluation criteria may be changed. The instructor will discuss the matter
with the students, in case we need to change.)
Additional Information: CLASSROOM POLICIES
1. Since discussion is an essential part of this course please come to class prepared and
on time. Do not enter the classroom if you are more than 15 minutes late.
2. Let me know if you have an emergency and will not be able to come to class.
3. Please turn off your mobile phones and tablets with the Internet function before class
begins. It is inappropriate to go outside to make calls or to send or read text messages
during class.
4. No sleeping in class.
5. No plagiarism or cheating will be tolerated.
Course Materials
Required Readings:
 Students may need to purchase some business cases (from Harvard Business
School) of selected Japanese corporations. Instructions how to purchase will
be provided at the first session.
 For other required readings, copies or links will be provided.
References:
Bebenroth, R. and Kanai, T. (Eds). (2011) Challenge of Human Resource
Management in Japan. Lodon, UK: Routledge.
Haghirian, P. & Gagnon, P. (2011) Case Studies in Japanese Management.
Singapore: World Scientific.
McKinsey & Company (Ed). (2011) Reimagining Japan: The Quest for a Future
That Works. San Francisco, CA:VIZ Media.
Sedgwick, M.W. (2007) Globalization and Japanese Organizational Culture: An
ethnography of a Japanese corporation in France. London, UK: Routledge
Witt, M.A. (2006) Changing Japanese Capitalism. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge
University Press
Yano, C.R. (2013) Pink Globalization: Hello Kitty’s Track across the Pacific. NC:
Duke University Press
Course Schedule (Tentative) (This is Course Plan B)
Session 1-2 Japanese Corporations and Where did they come from?
 Introduction: Where did Japanese Corporations come from? (lecture)
 Shimazu Museum (visit)
Session 3-4 Quality in a Ramen Bowl (Film)
 Quality and Obsessions with Quality: Why are Japanese so obsessed?
(Lecture, Film and Exercise)
 (Homework, After-class Activities) Observation and Analysis of Quality –
Visit of Ramen Shops (Fieldtrip & Exercise)
Session 5-6 How manufacturing business grew (Film)
 Inside corporation, business strategy, industry practices and government
policy
(Lecture, Film and Exercise)
Session 7-8 Facing financial globalization (Film)
 Inside corporation, business strategy, industry practices and government
policy facing financial globalization
(Lecture, Film and Exercise)
Session 9-10 Corporations and people (Film)
 Inside corporation and workplace
(Lecture, Film and Exercise)
Session 11-12 Traditional business
 Globalization of “Tradition”?: To be announced (Fieldtrip)
(This session may be changed to a film-viewing + film analysis session.)
Session 13 Review & Framework
 What did we witnessed - Review and Reflections (short presentation)
 Framework of Japanese Business System (Lecture & Discussion)
Session 14-15 Wrap-up
 Final Debate Presentations by Students