Inside Japan’s Business Culture: The Power of Consensus and Preparation
People often ask, “Why does it take so long for Japanese enterprises to make a decision?” or “Who’s making the final call?” If you don’t understand the process, your proposal could sit unapproved indefinitely. In Japanese enterprises, decision-making is less about a top-down directive and more about open discussions involving everyone from general staff to directors. This is known as the gōgi system, a consensus-based decision-making process. Why Does Everyone Need to Agree? The...