Abstract

The case discusses in detail about the reforms in the liberal human resource management policies at Matsushita and the lifetime employment policy at Japanese corporations. Matsushita was a traditional Japanese company that followed the policy of lifetime employment. However, due to various problems like falling revenues, company posting losses and slowdown in the global economy, the company was forced to change its employment policy. The case discusses how Nakamura, the President of Matsushita, introduced a new personnel system at the company with the objective of reducing human resources costs to the company. Finally, the case talks about the benefits reaped by the new system.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Changes in the employment policies at Matsushita
• implications of HR restructuring.

Keywords

Reforms, liberal, human resource management, policies, Matsushita, lifetime employment policy, Japanese corporations, Matsushita, Japanese company, falling revenues, losses, slowdown, global economy, employment policy, Nakamura, President of Matsushita, personnel system, human resources costs