Abstract
This study tries to identify dimensions of managerial skill practices based on the business process model developed for the present study. The 22-item Managerial Skill instrument was developed to measure the level of practicing these skills by Japanese managers sampled for this study from 9 manufacturing companies in Tokyo and Nagoya areas (N=371). The result of a factor analysis of MS instrument identified the following four skill dimensions: Business Innovation (BI), Team Effectiveness Building (TEB), People Management (PM) and Result Producing (RP) skills. These factors were found compatible with skill requirements occurring in four phases in the business process model of this study. Hypotheses were presented stating that managerial skill practices will be highest among managers working for highly globalized companies engaging in market-oriented jobs, relative to those in other situations. Also, the manager's position level, exchange relations with the leader (LMX) and the quality of environment for managerial career progress will affect the level of managerial skill practices in four dimensions, in particular BI skill practices. Results of statistical analyses provided basic support to key hypotheses stated above. Discussions were made regarding how effective are Japanese managers' skill practices at the office level in a comparative perspective with those of Western and other Asian managers, and also with the effective Japanese production management systems at the shop-floor level.
