Contact: Robbie Ward
STARKVILLE, Miss.--The former president and chief executive officer of Seiko Corp. will discuss "Corporate Culture and Management Style: Nissan and Toyota" during two April 24 public programs at Mississippi State.
Rei Hara's presentations begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Rogers Auditorium of McCool Hall and 1:30 p.m. in the nearby fourth-floor suite of the Swalm Chemical Engineering Building.
During his tenure at the Japanese company, Hara helped diversify production beyond watch-making to several high-technology fields. In line with that expansion, he founded and served as president of the Seiko Instruments Foundation Advanced Technology Institute.
In addition to a doctorate from Tokyo University, he has completed post-graduate work at the University of Washington and Harvard and Louisiana State universities.
Hara is visiting campus at the invitation of J.P. Shim, a professor of management and information systems who met the business leader while in Tokyo last year.
Shim, who will serve as moderator for the two programs, said Hara's understanding of Asian business culture will provide valuable insights for Mississippians.
"Given Toyota's decision to move to Mississippi along with Nissan several years ago, it's very important for MSU faculty, staff, students, and members of the Golden Triangle community to understand 'Toyota leadership,'" Shim said.
"This is especially important, given the difference in culture and management styles between the two Japanese auto companies," added the veteran College of Business and Industry faculty member.
In 2003, Nissan began operating a major vehicle manufacturing plant near Canton. Last month, Toyota selected a site between Tupelo and New Albany for its newest United States production operation.
Hara's other international services include terms as scientific secretary of the United Nations' first Atoms for Peace Conference Secretariat, principal officer at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and member of the advisory board of the U.N.'s Industrial Development Organization.
For more information on Hara's visit, contact Shim at 662-325-1994 or jshim@cobilan.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.