Chapter 3 Ingenuity from Moderate Inferiority and Poverty 3.1.1.1 Autonomy and self-reliance (3)

Continuing from the last time, let me describe social changes related to self-reliance.

4) Secretiveness → Information disclosure

The historical fact that political dictatorship does not last proves that secrecy does not last, either. In Japan, there were scandal cases of Snow Brand Milk Products and Nippon-Ham a while ago, and recently (in those days) they were the scandals occurred in Osaka City Hall and some prefectural police. It has been proven that secrecy does not last. The thrill of keeping secrets and some sense of superiority complex with secrets hinder information disclosure. Or they have the feeling that secrecy is forgiven a little or it will not undisclosed to others.

Of course, there are a lot of things not familiar to information disclosure. However, it should be necessary that the information of public institutions is disclosed as much as possible and its legitimacy is always questioned. The system in which civil servants are promoted on retirement days has been a hidden secret until now. All the benefits of unjustified systems should be punished retroactively. The target of disposal should be all those who created the system and those who have been benefited from the system.

IT technology has created an environment in which individuals, companies, and society can disclose information. This benefit is great. We can send information and publicize even if we are small. We can accuse large corporations with evidence of injustice, with which small companies could not compete equally only by the logic of scale alone. Previously, SMEs had the fear that their technology would be stolen by large companies. If that happens today, we can also sue large companies on the Internet or make their wrongdoing widely known. Even major companies can no longer make unreasonable demands, behaviors or infringements today.

5) In-house procurement → outsourcing

The supporting industry did not grow immediately after the war. Also, due to the strong tendency to monopolize profits, until the bubble era, the method of doing everything in-house and procuring was adopted. In such an industry and production form, the production of small lot many kinds is inevitable. However, changes in the times have created companies that specialize in goods and services under a policy of selection and concentration. The former cannot compete with the latter in terms of quality control and delivery time. The profitability of the former has declined rapidly, and its very existence has been threatened.

It is not uncommon these days for a company to specialize in its own strengths and leave its weaknesses to other better companies. Outsourcing is not a panacea. However, it is good that individual unique companies with specialties form a loose network and cooperate each other. As a result it becomes more efficient. It is an equal relationship, an adult relationship that respects each other's independence.

On the other hand, if several companies get together, a master-slave relationship can be established. Some companies become subcontractors and sub- subcontractors. The automobile industry and the home appliance industry are in that category. Under this master-slave relationship, companies are not equal. They are not in a happy relationship with each other. They are divided into those who make them cry and those who are made cry, in a sense, those who exploit and those who are exploited. This is a sad relationship. Outsourcing often creates such an unfortunate master-slave relationship.

The manager of a large-scale company that has to emphasize equality rather than master-slave relationship must be a person of integrity, not just a manager. How many worthy and good managers are there in the current assembly industry (automobiles, home appliances, etc.)? Let’s break away from companies that unilaterally notify subcontractors of delivery prices for their own benefit. For that reason, it is necessary to study and grow the buds of the next job as soon as possible without concentrating on the current job only in the field of specialty. That way we can say no to the unreasonable demands.

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