01.10.2008

EIKO-SHA PUBLICATIONS PRESENTS "ENDANGERED SPECIES, THE JAPANESE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY" BY DR. KRIS R. NIELSEN

Congratulations goes out to Dr. Kris R. Nielsen on the recent publication of his book titled "Endangered Species, The Japanese Construction Industry." Below is an excerpt from the preface written by Dr. Nielsen. The book will be published in Japanese, so break out your translators and get to reading!

"The book is the result of the convergence of three separate but complimentary efforts. The convergence could not have taken place earlier in my career because I would not have the experience and wisdom to even realize the extent of the Japanese Construction Industry crisis, to look at the crisis dispassionately, or to research the root causes for the crisis.

The first effort is 35 years of a continuing career that was built on the combination of three professions - engineering (mechanical and civil), the law (attorney), and project management. During these 35 years I have been fortunate enough to be engaged to evaluate project management on some of the largest mega projects on six continents. These engagements have been for engineers and contractors (50% of the time) and owners or employer (50% of the time).

The evaluations have been proactive, that is, involving the development, implementation and use of project management tools, such as, construction administration and risk management. They also have been retrospective, that is, looking backwards at the causes of problems and quantification of the impacts on projects. Although a licensed attorney in the state of Virginia (US), I have not served as an attorney for one of the other party, but analyzed legal responsibilities under contracts and the differences under many countries laws, and then have had to defend them in litigations, arbitrations, mediations, or negotiations.

The second effort involves more than 20 years of working for or in opposition to Japanese engineers and contractors, or the Japanese government. This effort has given me an unusual insight of the strengths of the Japanese firms and their personnel in the context of specific projects in countries all over the world, as well as, within Japan itself. But it has also enabled me to judge them critically and against other major firms and personnel who have different professional and business training. This effort further has enabled me to make comparisons of Asian, African, Australian, European, North American and South American companies, governments, and practices.

The third effort was the opportunity to study and obtain my Doctorate degree from Kochi University of Technology (KUT) in Japan. This effort allowed (or forced) me to reflect on the differences that I had experienced for years at the time the Japanese Construction Industry was at the height of the crisis and its lingering impacts (2003 to 2005). I eventually wrote my doctorial thesis on the issues that are addressed herein, the real differences that were the root causes of the crisis, and the potential solutions to both.

The aim of the book is to provide the country of Japan and the Japanese construction industry with observations on the crisis that still continues and recommendations that can lead to a re-vitalized construction industry for years to come. At the very least I expect the book to open new avenues of debate within the Government, the construction industry, and bureaucrats / politicians alike. After all, these observations and recommendations are made by a non-Japanese person who has no preconceived opinions, but who has a large amount of experience globally, and who coincidenfly was educated in Japan."

ISBN: 9784870971059

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