This case book addresses team dynamics and diversity in business management in multinational businesses in Tokyo.
The dynamics concern the teams’ business challenges of staying competitive and sustainable in terms of profit, people and planet. The diversity challenges concern collaboration in teams with different cultures, leadership styles, resources, capabilities, drivers and performance goals.
The case corporations are Bang & Olufsen, Ecco, Coloplast, Novo Nordisk, Microsoft, Sony and Huawei. The Danish companies are outstanding in their advanced values of work-life balance, while American companies have explicit and detailed diversity policies, and Chinese corporations inspire with an unprecedented drive for results and straightforward pragmatic business ways. All are concerned with sustainability, competitiveness and the well-being of their employees. The first interviews and Tokyo team talks were done in 2012 and again in 2021 thus providing a rare longitudinal perspective.
Although the teams could represent any global business unit, Japan provides an interesting local setting for studying teams, particularly in light of its contributions to management history. The Japanese are world renowned for their teamwork, with attention to detail, efficiency and work philosophy of continuous improvement (Lean).
Tokyo-based multinational teams also provide a platform for studying the effects of the Japanese government's initiatives of going green as well as including international talent and the female workforce in their drive for progress in the circular economy.
Penetrating any market, not least the Japanese provides substantial opportunities as well as challenges for international companies. The selection of the right teams, as we shall see, is of utmost importance towards reaching business goals.
The book aims at bachelor, masters, MBA and executive students in management studies with a focus on organization, communication and competence. Business professionals will also find inspiration and insights applicable to their own organizations concerning high-performing team dynamics and cross-cultural management.
