Nick, you dont understand the Japanese work ethic. Watch the movie, "Gung Ho" and you might begin to understand.
I wont deny the good things that Jim Press has done for Toyota in North America, but IMO Toyota needs to keep as many Japanese minds in the board room as possible because non-Japanese for the most part do not have the same work ethic and do not understand the Toyota way.
You ask why there is this belief that all Americans are incompetent?
You need look no furthur than how screwed up Ford and GM are right now to find the answer to that question. Ford and GM are dying, Toyota is growing bigger than ever. It looks to me like the Japanese have it pretty well figured out, you cant say the same about the Americans.
Maybe that makes me unpatriotic, I think it makes me a realist. Ive seen what has happened to Ford and GM and I dont want to see the same happen to Toyota.
