Management Strategies of Humantarian Support by Global Enterprise after the Great Tohoku Kanto Earthquake - Lessons Learnt for Future Disasters

2014 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 26380452
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: POHL Martin 筑波大学, 人文社会系, 准教授 (40580105)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: CSR / Intercultural Management / International Management / Triple-disaster / Humanitarian help

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

Due to a public list of the German Embassy in Japan I could identify German companies who gave humanitarian support in cooperation with German public authorities. Their activities were very diverse: ranging from just spending money in the sense: “we have done our duty” to caring involvement up to applying management strategies based on Corporate Social Responsibilities (Bosch, Siemens). However, interesting were companies being engaged without cooperation of German public authorities. An example is the “House of Hope” financed by the Reinhard & Sonja Ernst-Foundation: www.ernst-Stiftung.de. Background of the foundation is the long-term relation of the German Harmonic Drive AG with the Japanese Harmonic Drive Systems KK. The project became successful because the German company has had intensive access to Japanese influential people such as the star-architect Fumihiko MAKI. Local Japanese authorities in Natori were afraid in turning down or delaying the project paid with German money. Another example is a small German company having no business relation to Japan, however, being in the direct neighborhood of the Siebold-Museum in Wuerzburg giving money to the Museum specialized in Japanese culture. A third example is the company Profiroll which has intensive relations to Nishijimax. The former president of Nishijimax travelled once a month to Tohoku giving donations from Germany many to schools in the area; being aware that many people still in extremely difficult conditions.

Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

The work is ongoing. Unexpectedly the Japanese government does not really welcome any more foreign humanitarian related to creating an image of “Japan is Back”. However, on an individual basis company representatives are warmly willing to provide information. Though, not in all cases companies which to be named and request to keep the information giving as confidential. That is a development coming outside from management but from politics which I did not expect when staring the project.
Though not direct related: There are synergies when talking to companies with another project on “Roboethics”: http://japan.tsukuba.ac.jp/2014/12/robo-ethics-and-mind-body-sche.html for which I received more than ten times the money as for the project explained here and further money will be available for this topic.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

April; June: Based on the first round of research in the Japanese-German context the cultural dimension can be gradually enlarged: suitable companies with unique projects or support behaviour from other West-European countries such as France, the UK and the Netherlands, and furthermore form entire different cultures such as the USA and Korea will be identified.
July; December:
The interviews in companies of the second round will be conducted. Of special interest will be identifying different pattern as in Japanese or German companies. Also in this round a final expert-discussion round with people involved will be conducted to combine their experience in a structured brainstorming-process for which I expect company help by providing a venue.
January; April:
The documentations of round one (2014) and two (2015) will be summarized in a first academic text. The text will be discussed in a research study group.

Causes of Carryover

I used for my research work in the academic year 2014/15 other funds. I received money from the German government to organize a symopsium including inviting professors from Germany.

Expenditure Plan for Carryover Budget

In the academic year 2015/16 I will use the money from the JSPS-grant for my academic research.