Managers Excluded From Decision Making at American--as Well as Japanese--Firms

The findings of the University of Michigan study (“Americans at Japanese Firms Lacking Power, Study Finds,” Oct. 19) are equally true of American managers in U.S. companies. Many U.S. executives are excluded from the decision-making “loop” and have little or no chance for career advancement in American companies. There is only so much room at the top.

I’ve worked as vice president/general manager of a Japanese-owned U.S. subsidiary for more than 15 years and I know of no decision for which I have not been in the decision-making loop. More times than not, my notion or ideas prevail.

I speak very, very little Japanese. In fact, it has been my experience that Japanese who speak the most fluent English are not necessarily the best decision makers. Possibly, they spent too much time working on their English.

JOHN M. RAJCIC

PALOS VERDES

The writer is a vice president of Kawai America Corp.