Collective Action

COLLECTIVE ACTION Japanese teamwork is the greatest secret behind their national development. Greater progress is always achieved when a large number of individuals work together. Unity is the way to attain substantial development. Unity transforms one into many, amplifying the effort exponentially. American shipyards take 16 months to build a 50,000-ton tanker, while in Spain, it takes 24 months to complete the same tanker. However, Japanese shipbuilders managed to construct it in just eight months. What is the secret behind this Japanese miracle? Western experts, after a thorough examination, have identified the primary reason as teamwork. Japanese workers, managers, and officers work in extreme unity. Their collaboration remains intact at every stage of the process, resulting in high-quality products delivered in less time. Collective harmony is deeply ingrained in Japanese culture and practices. Whether in families, factories, small enterprises, or large institutions, harmony has become a distinctive feature of the Japanese character. As Japanese affairs expert William Ouchi states: “Every activity in Japan is a group activity and not a springboard to individual glory and personal advertisement.” (The Hindustan Times, February 16, 1986)