Blockade for Career Advancement in Japanese Organization Abroad: The Case of Malaysian Subsidiaries

This study empirically examines the significance of demographic factors and organizational characteristics in influencing the perceived barriers to career advancement of local managers in Japanese subsidiaries. Moreover, significant relationship between stereotype and discrimination and the number of local managers in higher management positions also been analyzed. The perceived barriers were examined through an analysis of 317 local managers working in 41 Japanese subsidiaries in Malaysia. Overall findings suggest that perceived barriers do exist in Japanese subsidiaries in Malaysia and these barriers hinder local managers’ career advancement opportunities. Suggestions to trim down the barriers for career advancement among local managers in Japanese subsidiaries have been discussed.