the A4 firm consist of
management-by-objectives and competency appraisal systems. The
competency-based appraisal systems are sufficiently affected by the A4 firm’s
vision/principle. While the performance appraisal/promotion systems are partially
modified by each business unit, the performance appraisal/promotion systems are
applied for all employees within the business unit. The headquarters human
resources department of the A4 firm invites all human resources directors of the
subsidiaries and offers the directors training programs for the use of the appraisal
systems. At the A2 firm, a performance appraisal system is applied for all
senior-level managers than (including) general managers worldwide. One hundred
and fifty higher managers among 3,000 Japanese employees at the AS2 subsidiary
are evaluated by the performance appraisal system.