How Kaizen Brightens Africa’s Future

Abstract This chapter addresses the question of why successful industrial development in Africa requires the dissemination of Kaizen . For this purpose, it begins with a simple definition of the approach. While detailed explanations are provided in subsequent chapters, this chapter briefly explains what characterizes Kaizen , how it was born in Japan and why it was accepted there, and how it has absorbed and assimilated those new ideas and practices that emerged later in Japan and other parts of the world to grow into the most widely and intensively used approach to management. The chapter discusses the challenges and opportunities for Africa as a late adopter of the approach, before concluding with a brief introduction of the other chapters.