Article by Charles Handy on the necessity of work changes within organizations, which can be accomplished by positioning people as key assets. Handy begins the article discussing Professor Sumiko Iwao’s research, which shows that the roles of Japanese women are changing rapidly. Specifically, Iwao notes that women are marrying later in Japanese society and having a more balanced life with their husbands. She proceeds to observe that women are becoming more independent and not viewing the work organization as their tribal community while, simultaneously, becoming as well-educated as men traditionally have been. Handy notes Iwao’s belief that traditional work cultures in organizations, which have been deployed around men, have made work a greedy demand on the lives of professionals and forced women to adapt to such a culture if they wish to succeed in industry. According to Iwao, this traditional work model will not be enough in Japan, and possibly Britain, as well, as work will have to be accommodated more and more to fit the workers. Handy provides an example of how this change can be accomplished, and warns that, if changes are not made, organizations run the risk of becoming too greedy, forcing women to choose between career and family life. As many will opt for career, this development could have disastrous effects on Japanese demographics, with the brightest and most talented Japanese women foregoing children for the sake of their professional lives.
Handy, Charles B Royal Society of Arts (Great Britain) Women executives Harvard University Japan Iwao, Sumiko, 1935- Organizational change Organizational behavior Organizational effectiveness Industrial organization Demography Institute of Directors Keio University
Source
Article by Charles Handy on the necessity of work changes within organizations, which can be accomplished by positioning people as key assets, 1992; Charles Handy Papers; Box 20, Folder 5; 1 page
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