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Japanese electronics makers failed partly due to internally promoted top managers; I hope Honda won’t fall into the same rut.

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Kentaro Hayashi, a Tachibana Securities Co analyst in Tokyo, commenting on Honda Motor Co's decision to appoint Takahiro Hachigo, an insider who has spent his entire career at the company, as the new president rather than look for someone from outside the automaker. (Bloomberg)

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Not surprising for a Japanese company. He knows where all the bodies are buried and they don't want that getting out. Just look at what happened to Olympus.

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So, because I spent my entire life at one company, working hard all those years, that means I don't deserve to be promoted to such a high position? What logic is that?

If someone who spent their entire career at one company, dedicating their life and times for said company, and then people telling you you can't be promoted to the highest position because you work here, we'll bring someone from the outside to take the position that you've earned. That is seriously messed up.

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So, because I spent my entire life at one company, working hard all those years, that means I don't deserve to be promoted to such a high position? What logic is that?

I disagree. Nobody deserves anything in this situation. Becoming the president or CEO should not be a reward for past performance. The other employees (who's jobs depend on the company's success) and the sharholders (who have provided the funds) have a right to demand the best person with fresh ideas to take the company forward. You may very well be that person, but statistically speaking, you probably aren't. That's just the harsh reality of deciding to spend your whole life in one company. There are pros and cons.

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Japanese electronics makers failed PARTLY due to...

Japanese electronics companies fell to complacency, as most sucessful companies tend to do.

Complacency and lack of challenge leads to a 'Business As Usual' mindset.

And internal promotion is the best way to support BAU.

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In a company I worked for, my boss in our team was on track to be promoted into a position (not to replace but to work together) with another manager that was already holding the position years earlier. The manager threaten to quit if my boss got promoted, the company listened to him. THAT'S why Japanese companies will continue its steady decline, old jijis not allowing younger guys to take chances and risks for the company, fearing it will jeopardize their retirements.

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Japanese electronics companies failed because they didn't have any competition at home. They didn't know what was happening overseas because they were like frogs in a well, comforted by the belief that they were simply superior by default. Same thing happened to Detroit's automotive industry in the pre-1970's, with American auto execs believing that they were superior, before the Japanese auto invasion. But unlike the Japanese, Americans recognized and admitted their mistakes and righted the ships before they keeled over. Different story in japan.

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Seiryuu Dan, it's not about this one man's case but the problem of having ALL the execs being aged male that were all cast in the same mold and never worked elsewhere. Such a system blocks progress. That applies to politics too.

the position that you've earned.

You shouldn't earn positions except honorific ones. You can earn money, bonuses, whatever you deserve based on past efforts, OK. But you should be chosen to fill a position based on possible future achievements.

you can't be promoted to the highest position because you work here,

Nuance : because you worked ONLY there and never crossed the street to see anything else.

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