Korean Women Managers And Corporate Culture

The typical view of Korean women is not as managers. The stereotype is of Korean women serving and pleasing men, or more recently as aggressive shopkeepers and bar-owners. Very little has been written to challenge this misconception. This fascinating book reveals there have always been managers amongst Korean women, particularly in occupations like money lending, retail and fashion, and women continue to serve after the economic crash at the beginning of a new century. Korean Women Managers and Corporate Culture illuminates the many roles of women - from management, leadership and policy making, to the more traditional positions as homemaker and wife – and describes the distinctive Korean corporate culture and economy in order to evaluate the future of women as well as that of Korea itself.

During the 1990s the Korean economy was regarded as a possible "role model" to be followed by other newly industrializing economies, but the "Asian Crisis" of 1997 destroyed this image. Past practices, challenges and responses are explored in this collection by an international group of authors.

The book focuses on the historical, political, economic, and cultural elements of Korea and the strong influence these have on women leaders in the nation. It examines challenges and opportunities for women leaders as they try to balance their professional and personal lives. A team of leading experts familiar with the aspirations and frustrations of Korean women offer insight into the coexistence of traditional and modern values. It is an eye-opening look at the convergence and divergence across Korean sectors that international leadership researchers, students, and managers need to know in order to realize and appreciate the potential of Korean women leaders.

This book examines the influence of culture and tradition on organizational and management practices and how these affect the progress of women in management in Asian economies. It explores which organizational and management practices are universal, and which are culture specific, and how these in turn affect the advancement / representation of women in the Asian region.

Part of the successful Routledge ‘Working in Asia’ series, The Changing Face of Korean Management focuses on a country that is predicted by some experts to become the world’s third richest by 2025. South Korea, with its thriving telecommunications and automotive industries, and increasing trade links with China, survived the 1997 Asian Economic Crisis better than most. This important textbook explores the key areas of management in this pivotal country in the region, including: Human Resource Management Marketing Operations Finance Strategy Overseas affiliates Small firms and entrepreneurship Women Including case studies and interviews with front-line Korean managers to enable a real ‘voice’ to emerge, and written by native academics, this is a complete analysis of the current state of management structures in South Korea. It is important reading for all students of business and management interested in Asia.

According to a recent study by the ILO (2001), women’s share of the labour force is increasing worldwide. Today, women’s participation rate in the labour force is over 40 per cent of the global workforce. Higher educational levels and falling fertility rates have contributed to this increased participation. There is also some evidence that women in some Asian countries may be less marginalised in their advancement into top managerial positions than their counterparts elsewhere. As women become more educated and qualified for managerial positions, the number of Asian women managers and executives is predicted to rise over the next decade. This book examines the opportunities and barriers for women managers in Asia and presents an update on their progress in management. This book was previously published as a special issue of the Asian Pacific Business Review.

- Horizontal organizational culture - the new values that Korean corporations should pursue A large part of Korean companies' problems derives from their vertical corporate culture. The faster we recognize this and improve it, the better we can heighten our global competitiveness. This book examines the current status of Korean corporate culture. - The columns on Korean corporate culture that appeared in The Korea Times The author, who conducts trainings and consultings for large companies in Korea, has contributed columns to The Korea Times for the past year that diagnose the current status of Korean companies and provide a direction for them. He is finally publishing a book that collects many of the columns in one place, in addition to new short essays. Together, they will answer the question: where should Korean corporations go?

Throughout the last several decades, Korean companies have entered the world markets in a wide range of manufacturing industries with great success. How did they achieve this exceptional performance? This book uncovers the secret of their performance through a comprehensive analysis of the Korean management system. It explains to an international audience how it has developed, why it works so well, and what non-Koreans can learn from it. The book analyzes the management of Korean firms from three different perspectives. First, a historical perspective is applied by showing how Tiger Management has emerged and how it has been continuously advanced over the last 50 years. The breathtaking stories of how Korean companies, seemingly coming from nowhere, have challenged their Western and Japanese competitors on the world markets are told. Second, the cornerstones of Tiger Management are analyzed from a functional viewpoint, showing that the success of Korean companies rests on a smart combination of business strategy, leadership, and human resource management practices. Finally, the present and future of Tiger Management is discussed by showing how Korean companies have adapted to changes in their business environment at home and abroad, and what non-Korean companies can learn from their Korean rivals. The book gives an up-to-date analysis of Korean management practices from a global perspective. It identifies the success factors of Korean companies: long term, aggressive and persisting business planning, speed, flexibility, strong leadership, strong teamwork, and high investment into human skills and capabilities. It illustrates how these management practices complement each other and provides non-Korean companies with signposts how they can adopt them.