Hotel Managers' Executive Education in Japan

Executive education, or "management development," is not a new concept in Japan, although formal hospitality management-development programs there face a variety of challenges because Japan is a country where inhouse management training has been the norm. In fact, few Japanese universities offer executive-education programs of any kind. Executive education in Japan is for the most part limited to in-house efforts, private training and development companies, and consultants, and focuses heavily on the individual rather than on strategically influencing the organization. Still, Japanese corporations must find, hire, and develop people who are capable of leading their organizations through times of cultural changes, economic uncertainty, and technological advancements. Three forms of training in Japanese companies continue to dominate: on-the-job, off-the-job, and self-development. Among the three, on-the-job training has been the most prevalent. Among outsiders, private training firms have the competitive edge relative to consultants, while university-based resources are essentially nonexistent.