Executives Concerned Over Decline in 'Creative Thinking' and 'Perseverance' in the AI Era: JMA Management Challenges Survey
The Japan Management Association (JMA) released its 2025 survey on corporate management challenges. While over 70% of companies have adopted generative AI, executives are highly concerned about a decline in employees' ability to think for themselves, while emphasizing the growing importance of creative and strategic thinking.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 00:02 (2 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 03:02 (3h 0m after Collected)
The Japan Management Association (Chairman: Masami Nakamura, JMA) has compiled the results of its '2025 (46th) Survey on Pressing Corporate Management Issues.' This survey, conducted since 1979 to clarify management challenges and seek future guidelines, received responses from 530 executives. This first report focuses on 'AI Proliferation and Human Resource Development.'
### Summary of Survey Results
What impact do executives believe AI proliferation will have on employee capabilities? In the 'Management Challenges of Japanese Companies 2025' survey, executives expressed concern over a decline in the 'ability to solve problems' and 'ability to learn' independently due to AI dependency. Conversely, they increasingly seek 'thinking power to open up the future' that exceeds AI answers and the 'ability to ask questions' to utilize AI effectively.
Furthermore, over 70% of companies have introduced generative AI, and about 50% feel positive results from its use. Nearly 70% of companies recognize AI proliferation as a business opportunity.
### AI Proliferation and Challenges in HR Development
- The ability most feared to decline is 'The ability to think and persevere for oneself' (57.2%).
- The skill expected to grow in importance is 'Creative Thinking' (46.2%).
- Three skills stood out as both highly important and at risk of decline: 'Creative Thinking,' 'The ability to think and persevere,' and 'Writing Ability.'
- Companies where AI exceeds expectations value 'Sense/Intuition' and an 'Attitude toward learning new things.'
- Companies where AI falls short of expectations emphasize the 'Ability to ask questions,' 'Critical Thinking' for interpretation, and various other thinking skills.
### AI Introduction and Utilization
- Over 70% of companies have introduced generative AI. There is a clear gap based on size: over 90% for large companies versus over 50% for SMEs.
- About 50% feel the results of AI are 'above expectations' or 'as expected.' Conversely, about 40% are not yet in a position to judge results.
- Nearly 70% recognize AI proliferation as a business opportunity, while over 20% cannot yet determine the impact.
### 1. Abilities Expected to Decline vs. Increase in Importance
The top abilities feared to decline are: 1. 'Ability to think and persevere' (57.2%), 2. 'Writing ability' (46.0%), 3. 'Creative thinking' (37.7%), and 4. 'Ability to think and react instantly/ad-lib' (27.9%). This suggests a concern that over-reliance on AI will lead to a lack of independent thought and action. There is also worry that basic business skills, such as using appropriate vocabulary, will be lost by delegating document creation to AI.
On the other hand, the abilities expected to become more important are: 1. 'Creative Thinking' (46.2%), 2. 'Strategic Thinking' (39.6%), 3. 'Judgment' (33.4%), 4. 'Planning/Problem Solving' (32.1%), and 5. 'Hypothesis Thinking' (31.1%). Executives believe it will become vital to doubt AI's answers, add new perspectives, and possess the knowledge to do so.
Specifically, 'Creative Thinking' ranks high in both categories (1st in importance, 3rd in concern), highlighting its increasing value in the AI era.
### 2. The Three Critical Skills: Creative Thinking, Perseverance, and Writing
A matrix of 21 business skills clearly shows that 'Creative Thinking,' 'The ability to think and persevere,' and 'Writing ability' are uniquely positioned as both crucial and at risk. Categorizing these skills into Thinking, Action, Interpersonal/Management, and Foundational Skills reveals that items in 'Thinking' and 'Action' are prioritized as both important and lacking.
### Summary of Survey Results
What impact do executives believe AI proliferation will have on employee capabilities? In the 'Management Challenges of Japanese Companies 2025' survey, executives expressed concern over a decline in the 'ability to solve problems' and 'ability to learn' independently due to AI dependency. Conversely, they increasingly seek 'thinking power to open up the future' that exceeds AI answers and the 'ability to ask questions' to utilize AI effectively.
Furthermore, over 70% of companies have introduced generative AI, and about 50% feel positive results from its use. Nearly 70% of companies recognize AI proliferation as a business opportunity.
### AI Proliferation and Challenges in HR Development
- The ability most feared to decline is 'The ability to think and persevere for oneself' (57.2%).
- The skill expected to grow in importance is 'Creative Thinking' (46.2%).
- Three skills stood out as both highly important and at risk of decline: 'Creative Thinking,' 'The ability to think and persevere,' and 'Writing Ability.'
- Companies where AI exceeds expectations value 'Sense/Intuition' and an 'Attitude toward learning new things.'
- Companies where AI falls short of expectations emphasize the 'Ability to ask questions,' 'Critical Thinking' for interpretation, and various other thinking skills.
### AI Introduction and Utilization
- Over 70% of companies have introduced generative AI. There is a clear gap based on size: over 90% for large companies versus over 50% for SMEs.
- About 50% feel the results of AI are 'above expectations' or 'as expected.' Conversely, about 40% are not yet in a position to judge results.
- Nearly 70% recognize AI proliferation as a business opportunity, while over 20% cannot yet determine the impact.
### 1. Abilities Expected to Decline vs. Increase in Importance
The top abilities feared to decline are: 1. 'Ability to think and persevere' (57.2%), 2. 'Writing ability' (46.0%), 3. 'Creative thinking' (37.7%), and 4. 'Ability to think and react instantly/ad-lib' (27.9%). This suggests a concern that over-reliance on AI will lead to a lack of independent thought and action. There is also worry that basic business skills, such as using appropriate vocabulary, will be lost by delegating document creation to AI.
On the other hand, the abilities expected to become more important are: 1. 'Creative Thinking' (46.2%), 2. 'Strategic Thinking' (39.6%), 3. 'Judgment' (33.4%), 4. 'Planning/Problem Solving' (32.1%), and 5. 'Hypothesis Thinking' (31.1%). Executives believe it will become vital to doubt AI's answers, add new perspectives, and possess the knowledge to do so.
Specifically, 'Creative Thinking' ranks high in both categories (1st in importance, 3rd in concern), highlighting its increasing value in the AI era.
### 2. The Three Critical Skills: Creative Thinking, Perseverance, and Writing
A matrix of 21 business skills clearly shows that 'Creative Thinking,' 'The ability to think and persevere,' and 'Writing ability' are uniquely positioned as both crucial and at risk. Categorizing these skills into Thinking, Action, Interpersonal/Management, and Foundational Skills reveals that items in 'Thinking' and 'Action' are prioritized as both important and lacking.