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[Simon]

In the late 1940's a large scale programme headed by General Douglas MacArthur was underway to rebuild the Japanese economy following the devastation caused during World War II.

The Civil Communication Section (CCS) was one part of the programme and was the group responsible for rebuilding Japans Communications industry, and Homer Sarasohn and Charles Protzman worked for CCS.

Amongst the many problems the CSS encountered during their work was the lack of Senior Executives who had been removed from positions of power and influence. The only people left to rebuild the communications industry were relatively junior and inexperienced middle managers and although eager they needed to be trained in modern concepts of progressive management.

Sarasohn and Protzman decided that a University level course in the fundamentals of industrial management was needed to modernize the management in the communications industry. The course was called The CSS Management Seminar, they wrote the text book and taught the first eight week course in Tokyo in 1949, the students represented more than 100 companies, universities and government agencies and the students were expected to teach personnel within their own organisations using the text book on their return. The course continued to be taught for 25 years by the Japan Management Association

Sarasohn and Protzman both left Japan in 1950 the same year that W Edwards Deming arrived. <_<

The complete 247 page text book can be downloaded here: CSS Manual. I'm about thirty pages in so far and reserve judgement.

There is also an interesting article here: Cringely Article

And more on Sarasohn here: Homer Sarasohn Website
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Does anyone else no much about these Japanese pioneers / "gurus"?

Thanks Jim for the information!
:)

Regards,
Simon

[cprotzman]

Check out www.puritangift.com. Ken Hopper has written numerous articles on the CCS and the CCS is also featured in the Puritan Gift, a book written by Ken and Will Hopper.