This study identifies the effects of diversity among directors and managers on corporate social responsibility (CSR) procurement and CSR auditing. First, the promotion of diversity status, CSR procurement and CSR auditing status were explained. Then, an empirical analysis was conducted using cross-sectional data of 1,225 Japanese corporations in 2019. A logit regression model was employed, wherein the dependent variable considered was whether the firms execute CSR procurement or CSR auditing. The five categories of diversity considered and analysed, include non-Japanese directors, non-Japanese managers, women directors, women managers, and independent directors. The results showed significant and positive correlations between non-Japanese directors or managers and CSR procurement or CSR auditing. However, there were no relevant correlations between women directors or managers and CSR procurement or auditing. Additionally, there were no relevant correlations between independent directors and CSR procurement or auditing. Firm size and industry were also found to affect all types of issues.

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The information network among investors plays a vital role in identifying and nurturing companies with potential growth. Hence, it is crucial to investigate and understand the connections among investors. One of the clues for capturing these connections among investors is syndication. However, there has not been enough research on the formation process of syndicates in Japan. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to clarify the structural characteristics of investor networks through syndication, i.e., changes over time in the “size,” “density,” and “centrality” of investor networks, using investment statement data from 2000 to 2019. The results suggest that the domestic investor network is formed by one massive group with little factionalism. In particular, it was revealed that the network was formed based on SMBC Venture Capital, Mizuho Capital, and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital. However, since this investor network is sparse, it can be considered that positioning within the network, or betweenness centrality, is more important than the number of relationships established with investors. The analysis revealed that the information circulating on the investor network has most likely been mediated mainly by Mizuho Capital and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital.

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In this paper, we focused on the employment management of foreign laborers and considered it with the objective of considering the form of employment management for building an environment that is comfortable for foreign laborers to work in. As to the method, we targeted enterprises in Miyazaki Prefecture that are employing foreign laborers, and we interviewed the persons responsible for employment management and surveyed the technical interns. We collated and analyzed the data and examined the actual conditions of the employment management. The result of the study was that the enterprises surveyed, in accepting technical interns, were offering stable remuneration and a clean workplace, had organized an environment for facets of their private lives, and were offering a variety of support. Such arrangements were connected to heightening the contentment of the technical interns.

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This study examined the situational factors influencing the failure of regular employees working in research and development (R&D) departments in Japanese private-sector companies to transition from follower to project manager, while considering their challenges. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 individuals who were tasked with project management duties. Within the hypothetical model of problems in transitioning to project management duties, which was analyzed using the modified grounded theory approach (M-GTA), the failure to transition successfully to the role of project manager was investigated by considering two concepts. Four situational factors, based on the two aforementioned concepts, were identified as problems causing the transition to project manager to falter or fail. These were 1) insufficient preliminary study of the project’s R&D organization; 2) the project manager’s management support was lacking; 3) the project manager and the manager did not understand project members’ technical abilities, and 4) the promotion criteria for project management were unclear. The four situational factors were derived through the analysis, with findings and conclusions regarding the themes obtained.

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This paper examined the effects of four factors, idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration, which are the components of transformational leadership, on leadership performance. First, a literature on transformational leadership researches conducted in Japan has been reviewed. Results showed that previous researches analyzed the influence of transformational leadership without assuming constituent factors. In contrast, Avolio and Bass's transformational leadership, a theory originally born in the United States, postulates constituent factors. No empirical analysis considering these has so far been conducted in the context of Japanese business scenes. Therefore, the present study attempts to answer the following research question: What influences the above-mentioned four factors of transformational leadership, idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration, have on leadership performance? The target of the survey was 105 employees working in the electronics industry. The analytical results showed that the three factors of idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration had a positive influence on leadership performance, while inspiration motivation had a statistically very weak significance on leadership performance. As a result, it was found that transformational leadership has a significant impact on leadership performance in the Japanese context as well, but requires partial modification.

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