The Emergence and Institutionalization of Toyotism: Subdivision and Integration of the Labour Force at the Toyota Motor Corporation from the 1950s to the 1 970s

Abstract

Within recent research on the evolution of Japanese production organization the importance of developments at an early stage (that is during the 1940s and 1950s) has been stressed by some while others underline long-term evolution (20-30 years). This seemingly contradictory state of current research findings is explored by suggesting a somewhat alternative approach consisting in, first, more active use of the institutionalization concept and, second, analysis of labour integration and subdivision at a fairly abstract level. The case study shows that there is not necessarily a contradiction or incompatibility between the early vs long-term development theses. Some supplementary institutions were indeed established at a later stage due to increasing numbers of company employees and changed production requirements during the 1960s and 1970s. But the foundations were present at an extremely early stage, and during the later stages these existing institutions became more sophisticated.