Where the human factor fails (Japanese bureacracy)

[ChicagoRonin]

Like most folks, I'm becoming increasingly alarmed by the reports coming out of Japan regarding the handling of the damaged Fukushima reactors.
What has started to worry me especially are the evasive statements by Japanese officials and my own experiences working with Japanese nationals.
I myself am half Japanese and have worked for various Japanese corporations for a number of years. Culturally, the modern Japanese way of handling things places a lot of emphasis on deliberation and group consensus. I have found this works very well when everything is proceeding smoothly, but very bad in an emergency.
I for one firmly believe that in the case of extreme emergencies, you really need a (hopefully qualified and competent) point person in charge. In the heat of battle, you really need a general, and not a committee. Unfortunately, I cannot help but read into the news coming from Japan the sinking feeling that officials are falling over each other, waiting for someone else to provide information or options, and avoiding making firm decisions or taking firm actions in fear of making the wrong step. I have a very bad feeling that when this is all over, we'll find out that maybe there was ample international assistance and technological resources, but a perfect storm of bureaucratic obstruction (some deliberate, but mostly systemic) doomed the entire situation.

[snagglepuss]

1. Interesting comments. Do you think it possible to switch off the cooperation

mode so easily? What do you think of comments elsewhere on DU that suggest that the desire to save face played a part n how the crisis was handled?


Welcome to DU :hi:

[ChicagoRonin]

5. Mostly agree

I don't think it can be ignored as a factor. Not that I want to overgeneralize or stereotype all Japanese as being the same (they certainly aren't), but I must admit that my own upbringing did not encourage straight talk or being honest about my opinions with others. Here's another real-life example I've had the opportunity to observe: I was part of a large organization in which a local manager was doing what can only be called an incompetent job. However, instead of directly calling this person out, pointing his mistakes for all (which in this case, I think would have been valuable in terms of setting an example) and swiftly rectifying the situation, his superior gave oblique general statements at meetings, etc. in the hopes that this guy would basically "get the hint" and fix things. In theory, this would allow the manager the opportunity to avoid embarrassing himself, but he was so far gone the problems just metastasized (I'm not involved anymore). It doesn't seem to make any rational sense, but it does from a cultural perspective.

As to your first question, I'd say it's very hard to switch from the deliberative, cooperative mode to rapid response in Japan. I can honestly say that Japanese society generally does not favor those who emerge with strong, decisive and outspoken personalities. Did you know that famed director Akira Kurosawa was actually more popular outside of Japan than within? A lot of this had to do with the fact that his films were artistically unique, embraced Western film traditions (which was quite iconoclastic) and were not afraid to be critical of Japanese society. He had a hell of time getting funding for his later projects.

[Ghost Dog]

2. We all need someone like this guy: (?)

Yeah. I agree.

[flamingdem]

3. Yse, I worked for them too and evasive statements is an understatement

try outright lying as an understood business practice.

They have a very hardcore attitude in business. Transparency is being forced upon them now but they are resisting it, it's the corporate culture from what I observed.

[Ghost Dog]

4. There are those who have observed that the degree of 'obscurity' to be found (not!) in China

can be even more profound.

[flamingdem]

6. Ha! I can only imagine, though with experience one learns to translate

the behavior. Lots of honor / face saving stuff in there.

[Ghost Dog]

7. Well, I must say, a little gentle heavy Spanish-style experience,

along those lines, helps one assimilate plenty. :hippie: