Ask why: American states seek efficiency via Japanese way

Friday 02nd January, 06:01 AM JST

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SushiSake3 at 10:37 PM JST - 2nd January

The comments on this thread are interesting. Ditto for the article.
sf2k at 03:35 AM JST - 3rd January

yes, anytime you have a management style that cannot accept commentary even if it improves the company cannot use the Deming model (kaizen). Banks are a good bad example. Pick any game company in the world and that would also suck. But management itself is nothing to appreciate. What worker in the world would accept longer unpaid hours doing nothing of value while pining for contact with your family?

There is good and bad to compare anywhere, but sacrificing your life to the company was one thing I'm glad we missed. This has taught self reliance and entrepreneurialship instead of those who feel that suicide is an option. Work balance also needs kaizen, but I think the term can be seen as making drones, not people. Any thoughts on what to exchange the -zen kanji for?
mummet at 07:51 AM JST - 3rd January

think of ways to best do their jobs. wow what a concept who would have thought of something like that mind boggling.

kaizen encourages people to ask “why” five times. from my experience in Japan, Japanese people are the least likely to ever ask why.
KumaNiku at 08:28 AM JST - 3rd January

Wasn't there the 'Six Hats Method' by Edward De Bono that supposedly revolutionised thinking at corporate and governmental levels? It seems that every few years there is another incredible life changing, business energizing thinking theory comes along.

Ultimately they come down to keeping things objective, doing away with unnecessary chatter etc. encouraging creativity and thinking outside the system parameters (outside the box). Oddly enough in my experience, the Japanese workplace doesn't seem to encourage these things at all.

Well, whatever works for you.
medievaltimes at 11:58 AM JST - 3rd January

Interesting article and comments.

I have found that most Japanese DONT ask "why"? When I ask them a "why" question the response is usually "becuase it's a rule" or "because it's Japanese style".

From what I have experienced Japan is hardworking but not efficient.
sf2k at 02:51 PM JST - 3rd January

"because it's Japanese style"

oh, nice classic one there! Can never get my mind around that
seeker1 at 04:07 PM JST - 3rd January

Then why does it take so long to get anything done in Japan? The beaurocracy in both government and business. I guess the concept of kaizen is good, judging from the success in the US, but Japan has to practice what they preach. Maybe they need kaizen in the court system too... Listen to the song by the High-Lows called Soudan Tengoku. That's more like the real Japan.
Nessie at 06:26 PM JST - 3rd January

Mental light bulbs pop on. Epiphanies are experienced.

Um...in Japan it's more like a Scanners moment. Bring a mop.

I have found that most Japanese DONT ask "why"? When I ask them a "why" question the response is usually "becuase it's a rule" or "because it's Japanese style".

My experience, too, Med, although I would say that the local ward office staff here in Sapporo are hard working, efficient and very courteous. (Of course, they should be, since they get paid above the mean salary and have no risk of ever being laid off.)
Nessie at 06:58 PM JST - 3rd January

Ask "why?", dammit. That's an order!
okapake at 07:35 AM JST - 4th January

Lean Six Sigma. Born in the USA. Perfected by Toyota in Japan. But look what's happening to Toyota now? All the streamlining was fine when exports where going out, but now?
bdiego at 08:56 AM JST - 4th January

I've seen kaizen applied at an American company and it works well for electronics manufacturing. It's simply a method that works for improving some businesses and government bureaucracies.

Whether or not it works can only be measured only by if it makes things better, not whether or not it remains bureaucratic. Whereas the logic being applied by some comments suggests a hospital is the most dangerous place to be because it's full of sick people. But this is JT after all.
ptolemy at 04:42 PM JST - 6th January

Uh, after 12 years here I've noticed nothing but a bungling bureaucratic mess, from the city, prefecture, and national level. It takes 5 different forms and 3 hours just to pay my property taxes. Paying the Aichi property taxes is another 3 forms and 2 hours. It took me 7 hours to get my drivers license, and yes it was the Japanese test. Sorry but I've yet to see kaizen in any government office here. Take a pen, a book, a sack lunch, and patience to get anything done.
bamboohat at 06:44 AM JST - 8th January

kaizen or (continuous improvement) always applies. It's human nature. what some of you don't understand, is that the efficiency that is increased is not alwasy the efficiency that you want. For example, the dude working at the register doesn't give a rip about efficiency regarding your order. The efficiency he is concerned about is how little effort and thought he can put in, and still get paid. Same with government offices. Toyota just is applying efficiency to selling cars, rather that maintaining an easy lifestyle for the workers.

Notice how that works? More cheaper products = crap conditions for the workers, while low quality, low speed products = easy life for workers.
saborichan at 09:37 AM JST - 8th January

I worked at a Japanese travel company for awhile, and my boss was very enthusiastic about explaining the depth of Plan-do-check kaizen stuff. It was the only form of work process assesment I can recall him doing, and by him, I mean me, since that's what kaizen is about.

I don't dislike the theory. But I'm very skeptical of buzzwords and their lemming-like adoption.
dontpanic at 08:34 PM JST - 8th January

"Lean Six Sigma. Born in the USA. Perfected by Toyota in Japan"

Great in theory, generally ruined by the practioners. In my business we have ISO compliant systems with the usual built-in in continuous improvements (consistently better for 9 years now). When a six sigma black belt is bored and looking for something to do they claim they can save a million dollars. Following much time spent in meetings, making reports, repeated process mapping, being called a liar, providing data and then more meetings nothing has changed so far (been invaded three times now). The six sigma black belts do however speak 'senior management' and manage to convince the board they're busy creating 'added value' for the business. Bullshit baffles brains I suppose.