- How to run a businessMade in Japan, at its most basic, is a book about Morita's start into the engineering and physics world of merchandising. Later it goes into the birth and success of SONY and then into Morita's logic and morals of international business. The book was split into nine chapters; the first chapter was about Morita and his early life, the second and third chapters were about the birth and success of SONY, respectively, chapters four through nine tell about Morita's opinion on business, management, and international trade.
There are many lessons to be learned in this book; not only about how to run a company but also a few on life. As a young businessman, Morita had to learn on his own how to run his company as well as sell his merchandise to the public. I do not want to give his adventures away but I will say that he has many funny stories and incidents. Speaking of stories, Morita writes this book with the pattern of stating a point, telling an anecdote, then reinstating his point using his story as an example. He continually uses this pattern throughout the entire book. I found this method very entertaining and effective. It was amusing in that you were being told story after story about Morita's life and many of these stories were humorous. This method got his point through because he just gave you an example and a firsthand experience that you can understand and agree with.
Morita, being Japanese, wrote the book in a very polite and formal way. This, at first, gives it a slow reading pace. You can almost hear his voice based on how it was written. It was also very interesting reading this book being an American. Morita writes about the United States many times, explaining stories, situations, and problems; many problems. Hearing about these problems from a Japanese point of view was enlightening and refreshing. Sometimes in life, you forget that there is another world outside of your country. Not all countries are organized like the United States. Reading this book helps you remember that and it makes our problems here in America far more understandable. Morita can explain problems and solutions clearly and precisely with the exact words that need to be used.
All-in-all, I would recommend this book to anyone because it gives a great insight to what business is about and how a company should be run. I would recommend this book especially to those who like SONY and want to know how SONY grew and prospered and to those who want to start a business. I will warn you, the first chapter is very slow; but it is still important.
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- Akio Morita is a japanese and a nationalistI read this reasonable book, here in Brazil.This book is about the Sony's history.From a defeated Japan, Sony became and remains a potency in electronic, in nowdays.
The problems in this book are mainly two.At first, this book is outdated; it has nothing about Sony's history, in last twenty years.This book is also biased not only about Sony's history, but also about Japan itself.About Sony's failures, such as the Betamax system, this book has nothing.
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- Made in JapanA very interesting book that dispells a great deal of myths about Japanese business management and although it is an older book now it is great to see how things have unfolded as per some of the authors predictions. Also a helpful read in getting a much better understanding of the whole war era of Japan and how that led to the creation of Sony. A most worthwhile read especially if employee relations interest you.
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- The legend's story In today's global economy, this book is a must-read for anyone looking for an insight into Eastern management philosophy. Akio Morita needs no introduction. A legend in his lifetime, he founded Sony, one of the most powerful and respected multinational corporations in the world.
This book is an autobiography of Akio Morita and it goes hand in hand with the story of growth and expansion of Sony as well as post World War II Japan. This is a story of young Japanese who dreamt of a great company and went on to establish one with his exceptional vision and intuitive ability. Many of us know the anecdote of how Sony's marketing team was not convinced of the viability of the idea of a device, which can play music when you play Golf and ignoring them Akio asked his Engineers to go ahead. Yes, we know that device by the name of Walkman.
The book starts with the Post World War II Japan, wounded psychologically and physically by the one of the biggest tragedies mankind has ever faced. The problems of rehabilitation, unemployment and recession, then reconstruction, the weakening of 'Zaibatsu' (the family owned Conglomerates) and strengthening of democratic style of management in companies, which helped many more Japanese corporations to come up, is explained beautifully.
Akio talks of the Japanese society and culture. The conservative and strong family-oriented culture reminds of the common Asian heritage we share with Japanese Society. This is really appreciable that such society can grow so advanced scientifically and technologically that it has not only challenged the countries traditionally considered powerhouse of industrial revolution but also taken a lead in many industries.
This book talks of the initial days of Sony in US market, initial problems and numerous complicated lawsuits it had to face. Then, finally being successful in creating a strong brand "Sony" in the US market.
This book tells of Akio as a person and family man. He proves that to have a successful career, you do not need to sacrifice family life. He says at one place that he thought of Sony as one of the children he has to raise. He comes across as a diehard believer in simple living and high thinking. He wittingly tells the difference between a rich man and a wealthy man to a European lady who refers him a better jeweler's shop for his wife. Akio believed in deep-rooted Japanese philosophy of "mottainai", which emphasizes on being skilled and efficient in using resources economically. It is wonderful to know how Japan is so successful despite being a nation with little natural resources. May be that is the reason for inventing smallest and at the same time powerful devices.
This book is a door to understanding Japanese management philosophy and work ethics. Akio in his lifetime made sure that he gets chance to address each new batch of fresh recruits into Sony on the company philosophy and tell what is expected out of them. He created a company culture of `employment for life-time' which he believed helps getting total loyalty of employees.
Akio was from the generation of Japanese entrepreneurs who not only created value and wealth for his company but was able to make `MADE IN JAPAN' brand famous across the world. This book tells how.
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- �MADE IN JAPAN�What is that, which comes to your mind when you hear the words 'MADE IN JAPAN', most often than not a sense of supreme quality assured to the product/entity holding that tag. Well this book is also the saga of one of such Japanese company; the SONY Corp. 'Made in Japan' gives us insight in to Japanese working ethos, their dedication and vision. It is a story of SONY, a company that is world leader in many electronic and IT products and its co founder of SONY a young engineer named Mr. Akio Morita some forty years ago from the date it was first published, depicted in a simple manner by himself with the help of Edwin M. Reingold and Mitsuko Shhimomura .The superb style and information given in the book makes it a must read for aspiring managers as well as every entrepreneur.
It is really fascinating to read and as the story progress, from a small seedling organization to a big corporate giant that SONY today is. In spite being deeply insightful of management technique it is written in a very simple and story like manner that makes it a joy to read. Also provides insight into the culture of the Japanese people and the impact it has had on the way in which they do business. It is a plain simple story of a dreamer who dared to dream and Succeded.
"MADE IN JAPAN" starts with the social scenario prevalent in Japan at that time, the survival and hope conditions existing at the time of war with America. The book then showcases the life of Akio Morita born on 26-Jan-1921 in a place called Nagoya, Japan, starting from his childhood curiosity, interest and love towards the gizmos (then just phonographs and their electric siblings) to leading a small company, opened in a razed departmental store, to become one of the pioneers and world leaders in electronics consumer goods. It reveals the mystery behind the corporation that made others run for competition. It is a story of SONY, a company that is world leader in many electronic and IT products.
The book begins with Mr. Morita's account of the World War II, while giving a brief description of his parental background and his family tradition, thereby giving an insight into Japanese traditions of pre war period. While briefly recounting his childhood days, in a wealthy family, which was involved in the sake brewing business for fourteen generations. He had been groomed to be the successor of family business from the time he was in the third standard. At the age of ten, Morita's father made him attend all board meetings. He was taught to monitor the brewing process and evaluate the quality of sake brewed at their factories. He was also taught to deal with various people working for them. However, by the time Morita reached tenth standard, he realized that he was more interested in mathematics and physics. He pursued his interests and eventually, graduated in Physics from the Osaka Imperial University. Mr. Morita gives the message to youngsters about the kind of orientation they must possess during their childhood. The book then moves on to describe the rise of phoenix after Japan's postwar rubble.
He then narrates how immediately after his graduation, in 1944; he joined the Japanese Navy as a Lieutenant. And how at the Navy's Wartime Research Committee, Morita met Masaru Ibuka (Ibuka), an electronics engineer and how they became good friends. After the end of World War II, Morita accepted a faculty position at the Tokyo Institute of Technology (TIT) in Tokyo, where he once again met Ibuka. Ibuka had by then founded the Tokyo Tsushin Kenkyusho (Tokyo Telecommunications Research Institute). Morita started working for Ibuka's research institute on a part-time basis. In March 1946, Morita and Ibuka decided to start a new company.
Mr. Morita, in his book, elaborates how a seven-member company TOKYO TSUSHIN KOGYO founded in a burned-out departmental store, rose to be one of the worlds most respected MNC in the field of electronics. It is also very interesting to learn how the name Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha a tongue twister as per Mr. Morita changed to the world famous name SONY (derived from the Latin word for "sound") in 1958. He then continues narrating the management philosophy and practices, fundamental to Japanese tradition, adopted by him and Sony that are different from the old fashioned conventions followed in the world and which ultimately lead Sony to be the conqueror of market place. Here he says decision making is one of the most important factors for the success of any organization. On Management he shows how the fate of a business is actually in the hands of the youngest recruit on the staff, then goes on talking about how a school is different from a company which is very important for an aspiring manager or prospective management student.
He proceeds with the story by talking about competition where he also says that competition pushes you to innovate and innovation is the key to success. In the mean time he narrates about all the hurdles SONY crossed and how well he organized the international dealings to achieve the worldwide fame SONY is having now. Sony became one of the first Japanese companies to build a U.S. factory.
During his tenure at Sony, Morita introduced Japan's first transistor radio in 1955, the world's first all-transistor television in 1960 and the first home video tape recorder in 1965. Some of the most successful and famous Sony products include the Walkman personal cassette tape player, the Trinitron picture tube, computer micro diskettes the BetaMax and the Sony PlayStation. He also articulately analyzes, in a chronological manner, the events that brought about the uprising of Japanese economy and its emergence as an economic power. Sony's role in this feat is also conspicuously illustrated.
He then comes to a meticulous comparison between the Japanese and American styles, providing pros and cons of both the styles in a methodological manner. Here he says and shows with the help of examples how Japanese attitudes towards work culture seemed to be critically different from American attitudes. Using an interesting word called Corporate Philosophy he compares the styles present in America and Japan.
The book not only talks about SONY and Akio Morita but also about Japan. From the book we get to know a lot about Japan's technology, how they cope up with natural calamities and the measures they adopt to fight scarcity. Being an Indian (as Japan is ahead of India in terms of technology) I was thrilled to know about the technology they were using in there cars then.
As the number of pages left diminishes the book throws light on Japan's relationship with the rest of the world, with the help of statistics he compares Japan's through out performance with respect to other developed countries. Where from we get to see how organizations like SONY with able leaders like Mr. Akio Morita are leading to the economic and social development of their country.
Akio Morita also concludes the reason for falling behind of US in the global economic competition. Towards the end of the book, he speculates the present status of Sony and Japan and finally ends with a strong note talking about the methods to be adopted in order to achieve global economic prosperity. The last line of his biography goes in this fashion, "The challenge is great; success depends only on the strength of your will."
WHY A PROSPECTIVE MANAGER MUST READ THE BOOK
This is an excellent book for budding entrepreneurs and managers and gives insights as to how small companies can take on big companies and win. This book gives the basic fundamentals for being successful in business. It is a learning journey at each step, especially for the budding managers. It teaches the qualities like innovation and entrepreneurship. This book teaches us patience and perseverance in growing a business. Akio Morita shows us that before being a good speaker, a leader must be a listener.
WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE BOOK
Through out our life we are involved in petty matters; time has come for us to think about something big, something great such that it adds to the benefit of the people such that the mankind as a whole remembers us. We must have a mission statement in life. A mission statement embodies our values and leads us to success.
We must remember that SONY was not built in a day it took a lot of time, a lot of determination, devotion, hard work and sacrifice. So we find out that to achieve something great in life there is not short cuts.
This book gives a new definition to innovation as a tool of success. Akio Morita once said about his most successful product 'Walkman' that, 'I don't think any amount of market research could have told us that our product will be successful.' He was of the belief that if the product is good enough and you are sure of its quality and market it properly, then it will definitely be successful.
'Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning. It is the key to success.'