An Observation of the Superior-subordinate Relations in Japanese Companies in Japan and Sweden: Comparative Case Study on Nikon and Sony Mobile

Abstract: The aim of the thesis is to research and compare the situation of management practices in Japanese companies in Japan and in Japanese companies abroad after a joint venture termination, particularly in Sweden. The changing in management style when Japanese companies go abroad is a highly researched topic. However, not that much research has been done on the Japanese companies in Sweden, specifically, in term of management practices transformation due to the different institutional environments. Moreover, this research aims to see the influence of institutional environment on management practices in the Japanese company in Japan and in the newly established Japanese whollyowned subsidiaries abroad after a joint ventures termination. The differences in management practices are explained by the process of institutionalization. The empirical materials were gathered during the interviews with employees of Nikon Corporation in Tokyo, Japan and employees of Sony Mobile in Lund, Sweden. The analysis of these findings shows that the management practices are in a strong correlation with the institutional context of the countries. Furthermore, the process of institutionalization of a newly established Japanese subsidiary abroad is influenced by its joint venture experience.