C/OM/17. Managing continuous improvement across cultures

The present paper reviews the issues of managing continuous improvement activities across cultures. To this end the paper evaluates the model of continuous improvement suggested by Oakland, and discussed its applicability to multinational operations. The discussion starts with the review of the history and views on continuous improvement. Then, it scrutinises the relevance of the model's elements to today business environment. Finally it shows the changes which might occur with the transfer of the improvement techniques from one cultural context to the other.