Summary Most studies of organizational change in Third World manufacturing have been carried out in the newly industrializing economies of Latin America and East Asia. This article focuses on an African economy, Zimbabwe. Case studies of the application of Japanese production techniques in six firms show both the potential for change and the obstacles which firms face. The impact of organizational change on use of capital equipment, production workers and management are discussed. One of the major obstacles to successful innovation is shown to be the lack of commitment of middle and senior management.