edited by Kazuki Hamada (Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan)

About the Author

Kazuki Hamada is currently professor of the Institute of Business and Accounting at Kwansei Gakuin University. Previously a professor of management accounting in the Faculty of Commerce at Seinan Gakuin University, He is now a president of the Monden Institute of Management. He was a dean in Seinan Gakuin University from July 2003 to June 2005. He received his MA from Kwansei Gakuin University in 1975 and his PhD from Tukuba University in 1995. Dr. Hamada was awarded a prize for his book from the Japanese Association of Management Accounting in 2000.

With increased competition among business groups, companies need to enhance the value of their business and effectively manage individual firms. This book explores and elucidates business group and inter-firm management in Japanese environments, both theoretically and practically through case studies, survey research and other methodologies. In considering the concept of the “Keiretsu” in Japan, as well as other management methods employed by Japanese companies, this book provides extensive coverage on uniquely Japanese management methods. Examples are the application of evaluation system, execution of M&A, utilization of segment information, management of inter-firm relations, and organizational learning. The analyses, hypotheses and conclusions presented in this book will be useful for business practitioners and scholars.