There's also a belief in the power of information, how it can make for better decisions and greater transparency. The catalytic reaction has begun. In Japan, career corporate bureaucrats are short of solutions for the country's persistent economic woes. There are thousands of people who are trying to be like them. My school is full of students who want to control their own destiny.
Individualism remains a novelty within the ranks of corporate Asia.
Confucian traditions such as paternalism, protocol and relationship-based business arrangements continue to hold sway. The family makes the decisions . . . But as the economic environment becomes more volatile, speed and innovation, not sweetheart deals and stability, are gaining importance. Work is more collaborative, you seek consensus. People pull together and it's fun.