Auto Industry Related Japanese HRD Practices: Case Study of Indian Automobile Industry

This paper discusses Japanese multinational enterprises' (MNEs) human resource development (HRD) practices in Japan and India. In addition an example of a Japanese automaker's training and development (T&D) practices in India is presented based on empirical data collected during interviews with current and previous expatriates in India. The purpose of the paper is to understand the effects of host country on multinationals HRD practices in developing countries. The paper explores questions related with the extent that Japanese automakers are applying home country HRD practices in the selected host country and the characteristics of the host country's market that play a role in the implementation of HRD policies. The results found show that host country characteristics shape the HRD practices of MNEs to a great extent. The studied company is implementing different T&D strategies in India. The company is transferring its home country T&D strategies to the engineering side of the company, while on the other hand, adjusting its T&D strategies for the service side of the company in order to adapt to the host country characteristics.