---

Explores the transformations that have taken place in Japanese workplaces since the dawn of the new millennium in terms of management practices, particularly in the areas of Human Resource Management and organizational culture. The author empirically assesses the effectiveness of the new approaches introduced by Japanese companies.

---

List of Tables List of Figures Preface; S.M.Jacoby Introduction PART I TRANSFORMING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN JAPANESE WORKPLACES Japanese Workplaces in Transition Management Practices in Japanese Workplaces: Myth and Reality Emerging Management Practices and Work Organizations in Japan´s Production Front Lines Exploring Management Practices in Japan´s Cell Production Environments and the Outcomes: Case Study Research Testing the Effects of Management Practices on Manufacturing Performance: The Japanese Manufacturing Sector PART II TRANSFORMING WORKFORCE AND ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURES OF JAPANESE COMPANIES Japanese Companies´ Workforce and Organizational Cultures in Transition Workforce Diversity´s Positive and Negative Consequences in Japan PART III TRANSFORMING JAPANESE WORKPLACES OVERSEAS AND CONCLUSION Impact of National Characteristics on HRM Practices: Evidence from Japan- and China-Based Manufacturers Conclusion References Appendix

---

TAKASHI SAKIKAWA is a Professor of Organizational Behaviour at Niigata University, Japan. He received his PhD in Business Administration from Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan. His research interests include organizational culture and strategic human resource management. He is the author of the Japanese book Organizational Culture and Innovation (1998).

---