Corporate Philosophy Roots

Corporate missions or philosophies are written or displayed on walls of business offices. This is not a practice that was acquired from developed nations like Europe and America. During the Edo period (1603 – 1867), nearly 300 years ago, the father or head of the household of distinguished families and merchant families communicated instructions to his descendants and these were revered as “family precepts.” During the Meiji period (1868 – 1912), the development of a modern state emerged. The slogan “A Rich Country and a Strong Military” embodied the goals of the nation and were communicated to the citizens as national policy. This policy became the backdrop that outlined instructions and company policies for employees to follow. This was very essential to companies that had many employees that wanted to develop over a long period of time.