It was the drive of an individual genius, who was a nail who stood out, who created one of the greatest accomplishments of the twentieth century -- the Toyota Production System.

There are similar stories in product development and sales.

For example, in product development, the main driver of innovation and of achieving aggressive targets is the chief engineer who has a very strong personality and is revered within Toyota culture.

The phrase "it is the chief engineer's car" is commonly heard giving tremendous credit to an individual who is presiding over the efforts of thousands of people.

Toyota has also been unusually open to learning from the West and becoming a global company moving beyond their conservative local roots. Sakichi Toyoda admonished, "Open the window, it is a big world out there." Toyota has refused to be shackled by tradition, whether Japanese or otherwise.

Image: Toyota Motor Corporation president Fujio Cho introduces minivan Isis during a press preview in Tokyo. | Photograph: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images.