ringi

Written recommendation urging a specific course of action, used in ringisei, a Japanese decision-making process that involves circulating proposals within the organization for their initialling by the participants. This is an example of the Japanese tradition of decision-making from the bottom-up by consensus.

Under this system, any changes in procedures, routines, tactics, or even strategies are originated by those directly concerned with the effects of those changes. A final decision is taken after an elaborate examination of the proposal through successively higher echelons of the management structure.