''Nemawashi'' () is a
Japanese business informal process of quietly laying the foundation for some proposed change or project by talking to the people concerned and gathering support and feedback before a formal announcement. It is considered an important element in any major change in the Japanese business environment before any formal steps are taken. Successful ''nemawashi'' enables changes to be carried out with the consent of all sides, avoiding
embarrassment
Embarrassment or awkwardness is an emotional state that is associated with mild to severe levels of discomfort, and which is usually experienced when someone commits (or thinks of) a socially unacceptable or frowned-upon act that is witnessed ...
.
''Nemawashi'' literally translates as "turning the roots", from ''ne'' (, "root") and ''mawasu'' (, "to turn something, to put something around something else"). Its original meaning was literal: in preparation for transplanting a tree, one would carefully dig ''around'' a tree some time before transplanting, and trim the ''roots'' to encourage the growth of smaller roots that will help the tree become established in its new location.
''Nemawashi'' is often cited as an example of a Japanese word which is difficult to translate effectively, because it is tied so closely to
Japanese culture itself, although it is often translated as "laying the groundwork."
In Japan, high-ranking people expect to be let in on new proposals prior to an official meeting. If they find out about something for the first time during the meeting, they will feel that they have been ignored, and they may reject it for that reason alone. Thus, it’s important to approach these people individually before the meeting. This provides an opportunity to introduce the proposal to them and gauge their reaction. This is also a good chance to hear their input. This process is referred to as ''nemawashi''.
[''Rochelle Kopp'' (2012)]
Defining Nemawashi
''Japan Intercultural Consulting''
See also
*
Lobbying
In politics, lobbying, persuasion or interest representation is the act of lawfully attempting to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of government officials, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying, which ...
*
Toyota Production System
The Toyota Production System (TPS) is an integrated socio-technical system, developed by Toyota, that comprises its management philosophy and practices. The TPS is a management system that organizes manufacturing and logistics for the automobile m ...
References
External links
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* Kirai, a geek in Japan
Nemawashi
{{Japanese social terms
Japanese words and phrases
Japanese business terms
Economy of Japan
Lean manufacturing