Managers Excluded From Decision Making at American--as Well as Japanese--Firms

The article on American executives at Japanese firms provided a very lucid depiction of the working environment for American executives of my former employer. I don’t know if the company is representative of the University of Michigan study, but an increasing number of Nissan Motor Co. (American) executives are becoming dissatisfied with their rather “impotent” role in management.

Another area of frustration for Americans is the realization that the security of “lifetime” employment that was introduced here a decade ago does not apply to non-Japanese employees. In fact, it may even increase their vulnerability to layoff or “retirement” during business reversals. After Nissan experienced a decline in its share of the Japanese automobile market, a preponderance of new positions was created at the U.S. subsidiary for executives and “assistants” from the parent company.

If this practice is widespread among Japanese subsidiary operations, I expect it will become part of the “War of Words” with Japan over trade issues.

R. G. HOFFMAAN

BREA