Center for Comparative Management Studies

Evolution of Human Resources Management Systems in Japan

This month's report traces the evolution of human resources management systems in Japan from the early 1960s to recent times.  An interesting picture is painted of the path from "people oriented" HRM systems, which were supportable due to the tremendous economic successes enjoyed by Japanese firms from the early 1960s to the 1980s, to reengineering of HRM systems over the last two decades due to the significant downturn suffered by many Japanese industries following the burst of Japan's "economic bubble".

Vietnamese Business Ownership and Human Resources Practices

Many surveys have been conducted to assess differences among the various types of business enterprises operating in Vietnam with respect to their human resources practices.  This report summarizes some of the research that has been done and illustrates the human resources challenges being confronted by Vietnamese state-owned enterprises, foreign owned companies, former state-owned enterprises recently converted into semi-private status, joint ventures and locally-owned private companies.

Cultural Differentiation Based on Employee Work Values

During the 1960s and 1970s a good deal of research was done on identifying and measuring differences between national cultures based on patterns of employee attitudes toward work.  This report summarizes some of the most important studies and demonstrates how societies might differ with respect to their attitudes regarding work goal importance; need deficiency, fulfillment and job satisfaction; managerial and organizational variables; and work role and interpersonal orientation.