Showa-Packard Case
Showa-Packard
The Tanaka incident came about through several other events preceding. Mr. Tanaka was nominated to replace the late president on the joint venture board. This appointment according to Mr. Harper was based on the Japanese seniority system and not in accordance with qualifications for the position. The seniority system as described by Mr. Harper is giving Mr. Tanaka the position to simply retire into. In addition to Mr. Harper’s description behind the reasoning to Mr. Tanaka’s appointment, Mr. Johnson does not see Mr. Tanaka qualified to fill this position. In response to his own concerns, Mr. Johnson nominates Mr. Abe as the president based on his qualifications and prior experienced working with him. The Showa Company respectfully rejects Mr. Johnson’s proposal on the basis is would be detrimental to the joint venture and to Mr. Abe’s future. The Showa Company also defends Mr. Tanaka’s qualifications for the position by claiming that Mr. Johnson’s judgment is unfair, because he has yet to meet him.
The Tanka appointment has several causes that make it an issue. The Tanaka appointment became a concern to Mr. Johnson, as he feels his appointment could harm the joint venture’s success. It first became an issue, because Mr. Johnson found Mr. Tanaka’s qualifications unfit for the position. The concern seemed to grow as Mr. Harper began to explain the culture of the company’s seniority system that gave Mr. Tanaka the position. This caused negative personal feelings with Mr. Johnson. In the case, it described it as resentment, as if he sees the appointment of Mr. Tanaka deals more with the company’s culture, and the actual business of the joint venture is not important to the Showa Company. Additionally, Mr. Johnson feel this appointment highlights the loss of initiative the Packard management holds in the joint venture and appointing a different person because he said so would regain that initiative. Another possible cause to this issue is Mr. Harper
The Tanaka incident came about through several other events preceding. Mr. Tanaka was nominated to replace the late president on the joint venture board. This appointment according to Mr. Harper was based on the Japanese seniority system and not in accordance with qualifications for the position. The seniority system as described by Mr. Harper is giving Mr. Tanaka the position to simply retire into. In addition to Mr. Harper’s description behind the reasoning to Mr. Tanaka’s appointment, Mr. Johnson does not see Mr. Tanaka qualified to fill this position. In response to his own concerns, Mr. Johnson nominates Mr. Abe as the president based on his qualifications and prior experienced working with him. The Showa Company respectfully rejects Mr. Johnson’s proposal on the basis is would be detrimental to the joint venture and to Mr. Abe’s future. The Showa Company also defends Mr. Tanaka’s qualifications for the position by claiming that Mr. Johnson’s judgment is unfair, because he has yet to meet him.
The Tanka appointment has several causes that make it an issue. The Tanaka appointment became a concern to Mr. Johnson, as he feels his appointment could harm the joint venture’s success. It first became an issue, because Mr. Johnson found Mr. Tanaka’s qualifications unfit for the position. The concern seemed to grow as Mr. Harper began to explain the culture of the company’s seniority system that gave Mr. Tanaka the position. This caused negative personal feelings with Mr. Johnson. In the case, it described it as resentment, as if he sees the appointment of Mr. Tanaka deals more with the company’s culture, and the actual business of the joint venture is not important to the Showa Company. Additionally, Mr. Johnson feel this appointment highlights the loss of initiative the Packard management holds in the joint venture and appointing a different person because he said so would regain that initiative. Another possible cause to this issue is Mr. Harper