Modern Japanese project management – a literature review

Abstract

This article provides an overview of Japanese project management methodologies and their importance in the global business world. It discusses the origins of kaizen, lean management, Gemba, Just-In-Time, kanban, and 5S and their effectiveness in improving productivity and competitiveness. The article also explores the differences between Western and Japanese project management philosophies, highlighting the emphasis on flexibility and process orientation in Jap-anese methods. The article suggests that cross-cultural learning and collaboration can lead to improvements in project management practices and identifies the strengths of Japanese project management as continuous improvement, cus-tomer focus, attention to detail, and teamwork. The paper also recognizes the weaknesses as funding, slow decision-mak-ing, lack of self-confidence and cultural barrier. The impact of Japanese culture on work practices is also discussed, in-cluding its emphasis on adaptability, collaboration, long-term partnerships and trust, and workplace atmosphere. Over-all, the article provides insight into the world of Japanese project management and its potential to influence global busi-ness practices.