This article seeks to unravel some of the reasons for the success of the Japanese in the global economic arena. One factor is hypothesized to be the significant amount of effort that Japanese multinationals devote to human resource management, especially as it pertains to preparing their people for living and working overseas. The article reviews the cross-cultural programs found in 18 Japanese multinationals. In general, such a program includes language training, field experience, graduate programs abroad, in-house training programs, and outside agencies. The implications for U.S. multinationals are discussed.
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