Methodology
We researched the Japanese, American, and European firms during January of
2001 and March of 2006. The bases of our research methods were qualitative
interviews and the gathering of hard, unpublished data. We interviewed general
managers or managers at the headquarters human resources departments of six
Japanese firms, and the presidents, human resources general managers, or
managers at six Japanese subsidiaries in Asia; human resources general managers
at the headquarters human resources departments of two American firms, and
human resources general managers at five American subsidiaries in Japan; and a
president and a human resources general manager at two European subsidiaries in
Japan.