The great strength of Japanese productivity management
and thinking is probably its centralization for economic
purposes, both at the macro and micro levels. For
instance, the Japan Productivity Center has produced
annually, for the last two decades, a widely-used Practical
Handbook of Productivity and Labour Statistics. This
publication, also in English, is an essential reference
material for economists, academics and corporate
executives who are interested in business performance.
Trends and levels of labour productivity, wages, prices
and other related data are given. Much of the handbook is
devoted to international comparisons. Statistics are
shown in a simplified and easy-to-understand format so
that managers can readily see the meanings of figures
and indices. It is also used as a basis for labour
negotiations.