Toyota: Outside/Inside Focus
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We have learned in a past posting that Toyota looks externally for product innovation, specifically to design, green and safety for its lift truck business (Wood). Now lets look internally.
If we look to Toyota's internal focus we might look at characteristics of senior managers. They have:
- Willingness to listen and learn from others
- Enthusiasm for constantly making improvements
- Comfort with working in teams
- Ability to take action quickly to solve a problem
- Interest in coaching other employees
- Modesty (Takeuchi, 102).
How's this work? To grow a business, Toyota is willing to look outside for niche products and the effects of design, green initiatives and safety. To maintain a business, personal skills like listening and team work are important.
Many times, a company is technologically adept. That adeptness has to be matched with an outside focus - and an inside focus.
References
Takeuchi, Hirotaka, Emi Osono, and Norihiko Shimizu. The Contradictions That Drive Toyota's Success. Harvard Business Review. June 2008. 96.
Wood, Brett. Grand Strategy - Product Development: Toyota Fork-Lifts - A Case Study. Presentation to the Orange County Chapter of the Association for Strategic Planning. 22 January 2008.