Business Reinvention of Japan

Ulrike Schaede is Professor of Japanese Business at the School of Global Policy and Strategy, and Director of the Japan Forum for Innovation and Technology, at the University of California San Diego. She is the author of seven books, including Choose and Focus: Japanese Business Strategies for the 21st Century (2008).

"Ulrike Schaede's new book combines an invaluable primer on Japanese business culture with a striking analysis of Japan's little understood strategy for producing enduring economic strength based on manufacturing excellence and constant, managed change. I came away with renewed admiration for the country's political and corporate leadership, and Japan's ability to forge a successful economic future despite the many daunting challenges one often hears about."—Ambassador Ira Shapiro, former U.S. Trade Negotiator with Japan, former Chairman of the National Association of Japan-America Societies "This authoritative and sophisticated account of how Japanese companies have quietly reformulated how they compete in the global economy is a timely reminder why we need to pay attention to Japan. Japanese companies and their technologies remain, and will continue to remain, critically relevant in our fast-changing world."—Alberto Moel, VEO Robotics "For more than a generation, the outside world has been ready to write off Japan's economy as yesterday's story, in contrast to the tomorrows being created elsewhere, especially in China. Ulrike Schaede clearly and convincingly lays out how out-of-touch that judgment is—and how much more impressive the creativity, flexibility, and re-invention of the Japanese business system look when examined up close. The crispness and concision of the book make it a pleasure to read, and its originality will make it useful for anyone who wants to understand the next stage in global business."—James Fallows, The Atlantic "Schaede truly understands Japanese business strategy and culture. With deep insights and keen analysis, she offers an update on how Japanese companies are evolving to compete in the new global economy. And, she shows how they carefully harmonize social stability with economic success."—Kyota Omori, Chairman, Mitsubishi Research Institute "A gem! Schaede links corporate culture to incentives and outcomes, and shows how Japanese firms have kept the tight corporate culture that makes things right, but add elements of the loose culture that makes the right things. She gives concrete examples of Japanese firms that got it right and how they did it."—Robert Alan Feldman, Tokyo University of Science "Schaede's book offers an up-to-date, intriguing, rich, and easy to read account of changes in Japanese business over the last 20 years. As such, it deserves a wide readership and it will definitely enter my reading list for students."—Harald Conrad, The Journal of Japanese Studies "Japan's economy and its evolving business systems matter, and this insightful evaluation explains how and why. A definite read."—Hugh T. Patrick, Chairman, Center on Japanese Economy and Business, Columbia Business School "Schaede's book not only advances our view of the possibilities for Japanese business reinventions on a variety of technology frontiers, but also the broader nature of linkages that underpin the prospects for prosperity and security in Asia and beyond."—Saadia M. Pekkanen, Pacific Affairs