Publications

01 Jun 2011
News

Japan Crisis

The HBS Alumni Web site facilitated information-sharing regarding alumni and conditions in Japan following that country’s March earthquake and tsunami. In addition, the MBA Classes of 2005–2012 launched an online relief effort to accept... View Details

Keywords: disaster relief

Web

Japan - Global

Japan Tokyo HBS opened the Japan Research Center (JRC) in January 2002. The School has an important history of strengthening ties with constituents in Japan (including... View Details

June 2016
Supplement

The Great East Japan Earthquake (J): You Home Clinic's Recovery Efforts

By: Hirotaka Takeuchi, Akio Yonekura, Jonathan Bassani, Chris Harreld, Alan Zong and Victor Stone

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

Keywords: Japan; Earthquake; You Home Clinic

February 1998 (Revised February 1999)
Case

Amway Japan Limited

In April 1997, the president of Amway Japan (AJL, Tokyo, Japan), pondered how to reverse the first performance decline the company has experienced since entering the Japanese direct selling market in 1979. Established as the tenth overseas subsidiary of Amway Corp. of... View Details

Keywords: Strategic Planning; Motivation and Incentives; Business Subsidiaries; Distribution Channels; Customer Satisfaction; Consumer Products Industry; Michigan; Tokyo

October 1987 (Revised April 1991)
Supplement

Motorola and Japan (A), Supplement

By: David B. Yoffie and John J. Coleman

Updates Motorola and Japan (A) for 1982. View Details

Keywords: Telecommunications Industry; Japan

May 2001
Supplement

Japan Supplement

By: Richard H.K. Vietor and Rebecca Evans

Supplements Japan: "Free, Fair, and Global?" View Details

Keywords: Japan

November 1991 (Revised January 1995)
Case

Teradyne Japan

By: Michael Y. Yoshino

Describes a parent-subsidiary relationship in the high technology industry. The subsidiary, located in Japan, has been expanding its activities throughout the 1980s in the face of stiff local competition. Examines the dilemma facing corporate and country management as... View Details

Keywords: Relationships; Mergers and Acquisitions; Expansion; Competition; Business or Company Management; Communication; Buildings and Facilities; Business Subsidiaries; Japan

Find at Harvard

02 Jan 2001
Research & Ideas

Can Japan Compete? [Part One]

the authors came to believe, government had inflicted detrimental effects not only on industry but also on the Japanese economy as a whole. Their new book Can Japan Compete? is the result of years of research by Porter, the author of... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace & Hilah Geer

08 Jan 2001
Research & Ideas

Can Japan Compete? [Part Two]

faculty member.) In the interview, he discussed his latest book, Can Japan Compete?, cowritten with Hirotaka Takeuchi and Mariko Sakakibara, as well as the book's implications for business practices beyond Japan. In this second part,... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace & Hilah Geer

26 Feb 2013
News

Lessons I learned from Japan

25 Aug 2003
Research & Ideas

Studying Japan from the Inside

Harvard Business School started its Japan Research Office in December 2001—smack in the middle of an incredibly turbulent time for the country's economy. The boom years of the 1970s and 1980s—when Japanese management practices and... View Details

Keywords: by Cynthia Churchwell

January 1988 (Revised February 1991)
Case

Intercon Japan

Describes the many international sourcing initiatives in a multinational connector manufacturing company from the standpoint of an independent and very successful subsidiary in Japan. Students can explore the conflicts inherent in the situation and thus the more... View Details

Keywords: Business Subsidiaries; Multinational Firms and Management; Supply Chain Management; Manufacturing Industry; Japan

April 2005 (Revised August 2008)
Case

Crisis at Japan Communications, Inc.

In 2001, Seiji Frank Sanda is facing his worst crisis since founding Japan Communications Inc. (JCI) in 1996. His planned IPO was stopped, leaving JCI with a large organization and strong revenues, but losses and a dwindling balance sheet. He is seriously considering... View Details

Keywords: Diversification; Entrepreneurship; Crisis Management; Communications Industry; Japan

31 May 2011
Research & Ideas

Japan Disaster Shakes Up Supply-Chain Strategies

moderately good behavior from this quake so far." Who Pays The Price? As Japan recovers from this disaster and other countries prepare for future ones, manufacturers and all the various companies that make up their supply chains need... View Details

Keywords: by Dennis Fisher; Auto; Technology; Computer; Electronics

December 1995 (Revised February 1999)
Case

Toys "R" Us Japan

By: Debora L. Spar

Documents the American retailer's process of entry into the Japanese toy market. Discusses the history of Toys "R" Us in the United States as well as the history of the Japanese toy market, distribution, wholesaling, and retailing systems. Eager to enter the world's... View Details

Keywords: Market Entry and Exit; Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Retail Industry; Japan; United States

Fast Answer

IFC Resources: Japan

multimedia learning module on LSEG Workspace check out our Learn with Baker Library LSEG Workspace Introduction. EMIS - From "Industry Analysis" choose, Global Industry Sources. Japan included in Global... View Details

April 1995
Supplement

Japan 1995: Return to High Performance?

By: George C. Lodge and Marie Bell

Provides an update to Japan Confronts an Interdependent World. View Details

Keywords: Performance Improvement; Japan

Find at Harvard

November 1988 (Revised September 1991)
Case

Simmons Japan Ltd.

By: W. Carl Kester and Richard P. Melnick

Concerns the first leveraged buyout to occur in Japan. Analytic tasks include a valuation of the company and an assessment of its debt capacity. Also provides opportunities to discuss agency costs associated with alternative capital and equity ownership structures,... View Details

Keywords: Leveraged Buyouts; Restructuring; Borrowing and Debt; Capital Structure; Cost; Equity; Production; Valuation; Japan; United States

Article

Fixing What Really Ails Japan

By: Michael E. Porter and Hirotaka Takeuchi

Conventional wisdom claims that Japan’s “economic miracle” stemmed from its unique model of government guidance and its revolutionary corporate management techniques. An in-depth study proves this seriously wrong. Rampant government intervention has caused more... View Details

Keywords: Leadership; Competition; Innovation and Invention; Business and Government Relations; Japan