Kaizen at Nippon: behind the theory: new research offers insights into how a fundamental Japanese concept functions as a working practice

Kaizen – or continuous improvement – has long been recognized as a key factor in the success of Japanese companies. Consequently, many Western companies have striven to imitate and implement the concept with varying degrees of success. Despite a vast body of research there has been little attempt to describe kaizen in detail. A new study from the Said Business School in Oxford focuses on how managers and workers in Japanese companies perceive and apply it; and on how it fits into everyday operational management practices.