Since 1990’s, major companies in the United States have been implementing alternative workplace strategies (AWS), which is about how and where employees work. With advancement of information communication technologies (ICT), as long as data and information was accessible online and internal and external communication could be done in timely manner either virtually or physically anywhere,… Continue reading Free address (sometimes referred to as hot desking or non-territorial) office within althernative workplace strategy (AWS)
Category: Culture Difference Japan Asia US Europe And All
Culture difference discovered by experience
Outliers: The Story of Success
I have a habit of re-reading the books I find I like and worthwhile over and over again. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell is one of those books. Gladwell talks about how sheer time one spends doing the thing she enjoys are directly tied with achievements and success tied to that activity. The example he used… Continue reading Outliers: The Story of Success
What to localize, what not to localize in Japan
According to the World Bank, population living in Japan in 2010 was 127.5 million. Although Japanese live in small space compared, by global standard, most has high standard of living. So many companies come from overseas trying to capture the market based on the demographics, and over the past 22 years, I have taken part… Continue reading What to localize, what not to localize in Japan
Japanese SNS Activities by Market Sector
About 3 years ago, I found myself doing some SNS based PR work for my friends, and one project lead to another. It has been exciting and fun to be on this new ground, and like everything else before in my life, work came in not as result of formal education, but learning by reading… Continue reading Japanese SNS Activities by Market Sector
Update on affect of the great earthquake
Undercurrent would be something that Japanese over generation has been familiar with, which is surviving the natural disaster and rebuilding after great crisis. We are warned that another big earthquake is due, this time with epicenter of the quake even closer to Tokyo, but this time on the west side of it. We are still… Continue reading Update on affect of the great earthquake
Tipping in the US vs No tipping in Japan
It occurred to me that in blog, I can be casual, that there's no hard and fast rule. So maybe I'll loosen up a bit here. Some formal sounding stuff, but probably more, at least for a while, relaxed kind of writing for reading. I believe social psychology perspective is the root of the difference… Continue reading Tipping in the US vs No tipping in Japan
Research conducted in Tokyo now
Product/service development, design research related people like ethnographers, interview moderators, recruiters, coordinators, interpreters, etc. have been keeping busy in Tokyo since latter part of last year, as overseas companies are again very interested in researching Japanese market. After the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake in March 11, 2011, it has of course been an interesting study… Continue reading Research conducted in Tokyo now
Recent Ethnography Research, Particularly of Recruitment Challanges in Japan
Over the past three years, I have become more and more concerned with the difficulty in creating highly exciting learning session for foreign inspiration/innovation seeking customers of both design companies and end user companies. It has a lot to do with recruiting process for people to research. I see following problems in recruiting, some of… Continue reading Recent Ethnography Research, Particularly of Recruitment Challanges in Japan
Identity integrity of adults and children in internet world, physical world
Having children was the best thing I have ever done. Ever since my first son was born 26 years ago, my children taught me more than anybody else I know. Living together with mother-in-law, husband and children was the next best thing. As researcher, I would always be stimulated. One of the most amazing things… Continue reading Identity integrity of adults and children in internet world, physical world
Social Media Balance Out Traditional Media, And Japanese Responsibility Starts at The Bottom
6 weeks after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake, NHK online news announced that 27,931 people are dead or missing, and over 136,000 people are still living in evacuation in extreme hardship at Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima prefectures. As the rest of Japan slowly but steadily recover from the earthquake, recovery is still far away for… Continue reading Social Media Balance Out Traditional Media, And Japanese Responsibility Starts at The Bottom
Heart of Japanese 2011
As business owners and individuals sent words of condolences and encouragement, immediately following the earthquake, I felt miserable because the words wouldn't come. I was in shock after experiencing the same earthquake in Tokyo inside a subway train, and the ominous 6 hours walk home through eerie Tokyo where nothing was broken, yet practically nothing… Continue reading Heart of Japanese 2011
Understanding Japanese Culture Through Music
Joseph Campbell talked about the role of mythology in people's lives. It's so true. And it seems to me music tells so much about each culture. Modern Japanese choral music performed by children at schools show so many things about Japanese culture. Importance of harmony between people. Working together. The lyrics of modern choral music… Continue reading Understanding Japanese Culture Through Music
In a nutshell: How innovations happen, how businesses grow
If you would search on the web with "Apple innovation" or "Sony demise", you would find plenty of interesting reads. Talk is easy. I do it all the time, and I often get paid for doing it. But to actually make a product or service that people actually pays for, and sell them in quantity,… Continue reading In a nutshell: How innovations happen, how businesses grow
New Year in Japan
New Year's day is a big holiday in Japan, and traditionally, there are decorations that are associated with the New Year like pine branch, cut bamboos, woven dried rice stalks. I vaguely thought of the decrease in these decorations at homes and cities for the last few years, but this year, I became aware of… Continue reading New Year in Japan
Researching the aging market in Japan
Japan has had more elderly people aged over 65 than younger people aged 15 and younger since 1997. Above graph shows other countries are following the same trend as in Japan. What does this mean to me? As a 50-year old, it is about ME. And as a researcher, I am tremendously interested in what… Continue reading Researching the aging market in Japan
FUJIKO SUDA 