Title: A case study on Japanese HRM practices in Malaysia: Japanisation or localisation?

Authors: Garry Wei-Han Tan; Beng-Hui Chua; Boon-In Tan; Keng-Boon Ooi

Addresses: Faculty of Business and Finance, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, 31900 Kampar, Perak, Malaysia. ' Faculty of Business and Finance, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, 31900 Kampar, Perak, Malaysia. ' Faculty of Business and Finance, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, 31900 Kampar, Perak, Malaysia. ' Faculty of Business and Finance, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, 31900 Kampar, Perak, Malaysia

Abstract: Japanese manufacturers tend to export their HRM practices when they set up plants abroad. However, Japanese subsidiaries around the world do not adopt fully to the Japanese HRM practices. Due to the differences, we adopt a case study that addresses on the HRM practices of a Japanese subsidiary in Malaysia. This research serves as a valuable lesson for other Japanese investors when formulating their HRM strategies abroad. The findings suggest that new Japanese investors need not attempt to be more Japanese than the local Japanese firms in Japan in view that most subsidiaries are already localising their HRM practices.

Keywords: Japan; human resource management; HRM; cross-cultural management; Malaysia; Japanisation; localisation; Japanese manufacturers; overseas plants; subsidiaries; subsidiary companies; practice adoption; investors; foreign strategies; local firms; localisation; transferability; practice transfer; wood products; innovation; learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2012.048813

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2012 Vol.12 No.3, pp.332 - 351

Published online: 28 Aug 2014 *

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