Developing Managers in the Hitachi Institute of Management Development

This article introduces the outlines, objectives and concrete programmes of training performed at the Hitachi Institute of Management Development, Japan, as an example of in‐house education in Japanese industry. The institute serves as a common education centre among the companies of the Hitachi Group to provide their management with education and training. Emphasis is laid on the following: (1) thorough understanding of management concepts; (2) promotion of the entrepreneur spirit; (3) developing a point of view that is adequate for the broad scope of international business management; (4) breeding of a cohesive feeling and sense of direction; and (5) learning important management skills such as management strategy, marketing, and financial management. In order to achieve these objectives, a number of training courses are given with the participation of as many as 5,000 trainees every year. How the institute motivates, directs and assists self‐improvement efforts of managers through these training courses is described.