4 ms·

>[1] - http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotopakismo/1182625591/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotopakismo/1182625591/ Why? I mean, what cultural precedent causes th

>[1] - http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotopakismo/1182625591/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotopakismo/1182625591/ Why? I mean, what cultural precedent causes this?

bane 14y ago
pre-digital, yet modern white collar office practices...it's not that much different than your typical office in the 1970s http://serendipityproject.wordpress.com/2011/12/11/dec-11-2011-twenty-four-images-from-integrated-environmental-design-brochure-electricity-council-1970s/central-accounting-office-at-southwestern-electricity-board-plymouth/ http://serendipityproject.wordpress.com/2011/12/11/dec-11-20... hell, if you can organize and run a major international military offensive and an empire in a paper-based office, why would you ever need to move on?
- msh 14y ago
  Because someone more efficient could run you over...
URSpider94 14y ago
I'm not sure of the deep anthropological explanation, but ceremony, place, order and formality are all very important in Japanese society. This is a culture that awards black belts not only in martial arts, but also in flower arranging. As the article mentions, paper documents are an important part of ritual -- they can be stamped, folded, stapled, filed, etc. Couple this with the fact that Japan was rebuilt after WWII in the model of the 1950's US Military, which I have to imagine was centered around forms and paperwork. One final anecdote -- when doing business in Japan, I have personally known customers who showed up to meetings with a binder containing copies of literally every white paper and presentation I had ever given to them over a 2-3 year period. Even in the pre-Web 2.0 days, this drilled into me the importance of forethought and consistency in business, since you could find yourself confronted at any moment with your own evidence.

4 ms·

>[1] - http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotopakismo/1182625591/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotopakismo/1182625591/ Why? I mean, what cultural precedent causes th

by unimpressive 14y ago

>[1] - http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotopakismo/1182625591/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotopakismo/1182625591/ Why? I mean, what cultural precedent causes this?

bane 14y ago
pre-digital, yet modern white collar office practices...it's not that much different than your typical office in the 1970s http://serendipityproject.wordpress.com/2011/12/11/dec-11-2011-twenty-four-images-from-integrated-environmental-design-brochure-electricity-council-1970s/central-accounting-office-at-southwestern-electricity-board-plymouth/ http://serendipityproject.wordpress.com/2011/12/11/dec-11-20... hell, if you can organize and run a major international military offensive and an empire in a paper-based office, why would you ever need to move on?
- msh 14y ago
  Because someone more efficient could run you over...
URSpider94 14y ago
I'm not sure of the deep anthropological explanation, but ceremony, place, order and formality are all very important in Japanese society. This is a culture that awards black belts not only in martial arts, but also in flower arranging. As the article mentions, paper documents are an important part of ritual -- they can be stamped, folded, stapled, filed, etc. Couple this with the fact that Japan was rebuilt after WWII in the model of the 1950's US Military, which I have to imagine was centered around forms and paperwork. One final anecdote -- when doing business in Japan, I have personally known customers who showed up to meetings with a binder containing copies of literally every white paper and presentation I had ever given to them over a 2-3 year period. Even in the pre-Web 2.0 days, this drilled into me the importance of forethought and consistency in business, since you could find yourself confronted at any moment with your own evidence.