Industry
Car Insurance in Japan
Although the basic idea of car insurance in Japan will seem familiar to foreigners, car insurance here is very different from that in other countries.Watch This Space
The global economy faced serious problems after the 2008 Lehman Shock, causing the Greek debt crisis that created credit insecurity for all countries in the European Union. The US economy weakened, while a slowdown was evident in China and the emerging economies.
A State of Flux
Relocation firms in Japan have experienced tough challenges since the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, which caused the market to shrink and the relocation industry to become even more competitive.
Building Trust
Established in 1934, the British Council operates in more than 100 countries and territories to spread and strengthen Britain’s influence through the development of cultural relations.The Vision Thing
Leadership is a constant battered by fashion. The best sellers come and go, and their authors flame out trying to extend the brand. We all seem to have a huge appetite for answers, and want to find that edge or glint of an idea that will secure the required result.
A love of All Things British … Except the Food
It is to be hoped that Japan might, finally, start to overcome the general disdain for British cooking. The success of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the vast positive exposure the UK has received this year surely cannot have been for naught.
The Death of on-the-job Training
A silent, tectonic shift is taking place in Japan. The so-called lost decade—that commenced in the 1990s with the collapse of the nation’s asset prices—is now into a third decade. The period has seen stasis in many areas, including investment in human-capital productivity.
High-tech Meets History
Amid the age-old palaces, temples and gardens of Japan’s ancient capital, two firms founded by British software experts are busy creating state-of-the-art content for the latest game platforms.
Hiring the Right Medical Affairs Team
Firms recognise the value of hiring MD- or PhD-qualified people, but where can they find the right talent?
Underneath the Hospital Gown
Japan's sophisticated social insurance system offers free access to healthcare, allowing people to visit the doctor for any condition. Most companies offer annual medical checks to employees, creating a further opportunity for patients to be aware of their condition, and perhaps, discover some unwanted truths.
Fighting Rare Illnesses and Disorders
Pharmaceutical makers are in an excellent position to do a lot of good—and, I would argue, have something of a duty to do so—above and beyond merely developing and providing medicines that are going to cure illnesses and give people longer, happier and more productive lives.
Feng Shui for Cynics
According to consultant and representative of World of Feng Shui Japan HQ, whether people believe feng shui actually influences events or is superstitious nonsense, even cynics cannot deny its real benefits in the office.
Efficiency, Costs, Risk
With ongoing uncertainty about the economic outlook and the strength of recovery, businesses across all sectors continue to seek ways of improving efficiency and cutting costs.
Mergers & Acquisitions
In this article, I cannot help you very much. That said, in my 2004 book, Japan True or False—People Problems, Costs, Restructuring, chapters one, four and five have much useful information on mergers and acquisitions.Why Software Projects Fail
Information technology (IT) project implementations are complex anywhere, but even more so in Japan given its management style and project team structures.
Banks in Japan Continue to Hire
Japan’s banking sector is a standout in Asia, as banks continue to hire people with specialist skills and vacancy activity grows. While this activity has not returned to levels predating the global financial crisis, it shows, nevertheless, that the impact of current global economic conditions has not been as intense in Japan as in some of its Asian neighbours.
What Are Teachers Talking About?
It’s great when your child comes home and shows you the big capital “A” his or her teacher has written on that last piece of homework. You’re a successful parent. The child has been successful. Oxford … Harvard … medical school … law school … the world is opening up before you both. But what actually constitutes an A?
Corporate Compliance: Protection from the Inside
Legal compliance in the corporate world is, in some ways, similar to earthquake preparedness in the layman’s world. On 11 March 2011, few people had an earthquake kit prepared. On 12 March, most everyone had their earthquake kit and you could see the sidewalks filled with people wearing hardhats. Such is human behaviour. We reach our most heightened state of preparedness after a crisis takes place.
How to Make Your Projects Work in Japan
Often it is said that global project management is a difficult task, “global” here meaning the project membership is cross-national, which requires a high level of internal collaboration.
Changing Landscape of SCM Recruitment
As competitive pressures increase and supply chains become increasingly global and complex, efficient and proactive supply-chain management has been transformed from an operations and back-office concern to a factor critical to business success. Throughout 2011, the logistics industry in Japan has been impacted by the continued emergence of the Asian region as a key growth area, as well as the disasters that occurred earlier in the year.
Minimising Operating Risk
Over the past 10 years, open account trading has become the standard approach taken by exporters wishing to maintain a competitive position vis-à-vis importers. Moreover, since this form of trading—which helps firms better manage their cash flow while also providing credit protection—now accounts for more than 85% of cross-border trade transactions, the letter of credit has become a niche product.Retaining Your Best Talent
So you’ve secured the perfect candidate for the position and they start next week. Considering the time and money invested in recruitment, you will want the individual to remain engaged in a productive career with your firm for the long term. This is particularly important if they have bilingual skills, which in Japan are in extremely high demand and short supply.
Recruiting Using Social Media
Although social networks such as Facebook and LinkedIn now boast over 600 million users combined, while micro-blogging services such as Twitter offer a similarly large audience, it is not these numbers that have caught the attention of the recruitment industry.Are You Lean?
Successful firms often talk about focusing on driving growth, maintaining profit, or increasing cost-savings and efficiency. At the same time, they are using antiquated project-management programs focused on document production and rigid project structures.
Flavour of the Month
Cloud computing is the industry du jour—and is particularly relevant for the Japanese market, given the impact of the 11 March disasters and the significant restructuring that Japan will have to undertake.
Post-Disaster Preferences
Drastically changing consumer preferences and perceptions in Japan since the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March have emerged as the economy took a debilitating hit and then showed signs of recovery, according to surveys by I&S BBDO Japan.
What Leaders Need
Unfortunately, for many management consultants and change specialists, the word “crisis”, in either Chinese or Japanese, does not translate into “danger and opportunity”. But perhaps a better translation from the English—and a more accurate definition—is a dangerous moment when one’s full attention is needed.
Less Drug Lag, More Development
First of all, we would like to offer our deepest condolences to the people and regions affected by the 11 March earthquake and subsequent incidents in the north-east of Japan and neighbouring areas. The pharmaceutical industry in general, and our firm in particular, are monitoring recovery efforts and focusing on ensuring the continuity of the healthcare system and drug deliveries despite current circumstances.
Major Growth Ahead
The pharmaceutical industry in Japan is preparing for major growth. As firms compete for market share in the recovering economy, we see hiring freezes have been lifted since last year, while budgets have been adjusted for an anticipated increase in staff numbers.
