Business in Japan and the United States of America; some implications for management science and operations research

Significant differences exist between United States-managed and Japanese-managed organizations. - - U.S. firms are epitomized by surplus behaviors (emphasis on profits and returns on assets, investments and equity).- - Japanese firms are characterized by scarcity behaviors (emphasis on husbanding resources and reduction of waste).- - Management Science has been used in the generally surplus-oriented Western-world. Western values drive its application, or the decision not to apply it.- - Management Science can work effectively within a scarce-resource framework, as well as within a surplus-resource framework.- - Management Science has been barely used by the Japanese, although they might use it effectively. A possible explanation is that the Japanese culture is pervasive and consistent in dealing with scarcity.- - Management Science, when combined with a severe distaste for waste, may enable Western-world management to develop better strategies to achieve Global Competitiveness.- - The scarcity-oriented value system elevates the importance of people as resources. Management Science, to be effective, must do the same.