EMERGENCE AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF TOYOTISM - SUBDIVISION AND INTEGRATION OF THE LABOR-FORCE AT THE TOYOTA-MOTOR-CORPORATION FROM THE 1950S TO THE 1970S

Within recent research on the evolution of Japanese production organiz ation the importance of developments at an early stage (that is during the 1940s and 1950s) has been stressed by some while others underline long-term evolution (20-30 years). This seemingly contradictory state of current research findings is explored by suggesting a somewhat alt ernative approach consisting in, first, more active use of the institu tionalization concept and, second, analysis of labour integration and subdivision at a fairly abstract level. The case study shows that ther e is not necessarily a contradiction or incompatibility between the ea rly vs long-term development theses. Some supplementary institutions w ere indeed established at a later stage due to increasing numbers of c ompany employees and changed production requirements during the 1960s and 1970s. But the foundations were present at an extremely early stag e, and during the later stages these existing institutions became more sophisticated.