Managing for Creativity in Japan Talking with Foreign Executives in Japan
Idea Support
Tension with the Home Office
“….Anybody who is coming into the market thinking that they are going to make a quick profit in two years is just delusional….”
What’s the Reward for Being Creative?
“…What’s the reward for taking a risk in Japan? I don’t know. Are you going to get paid more? Probably not….”
A Green Plant in the Desert
“…If you are a green plant in the middle of the desert you are going to die…”
The Weirdo
“..You can’t have him as one of the battery hens, how can you have creativity in that scenario? It’s impossible….”
The Whole Train Set
“When you are a country manager overseas, you can short-cut a lot of that. If you want to do something that isn’t directly touching the customer, that doesn’t need head office funds, then you don’t really have to have the same degrees of people involved in the decision or have the same formal gateposts. Something [...]
Creativity as a Commodity
“I have observed that there is a tendency to treat creativity as a commodity. The approach often seems to be that “I’m the client and I’m paying for creativity! – So where is it? Bring me something creative!” Of course it’s not just Japanese clients that do that actually, it’s fairly universal but I can’t [...]
Who are You?
“One of the key things in this country is that whether or not you are listened to depends on who you are. Your idea or your thinking might be good but if you’re lower on the hierarchy then you probably won’t be so influential.” “If you are a really famous creative person in Japan, say [...]
