Nemawashi (根回し) in Japanese company culture is an informal process of quietly laying the foundation for some proposed change or project, by talking to the people concerned, gathering support and feedback, and so forth. It is considered an important element in any major change, before any formal steps are taken, and successful nemawashi enables changes to be carried with the consent of all sides.
Nemawashi literally translates as "going around the roots", from 根 (root) and 回す (to go around [something]). Its original meaning was literal: digging around the roots of a tree for a while, to prepare it for a transplant. Before long, however, it also acquired the metaphorical meaning.
Nemawashi is often cited as an example of a Japanese word which is difficult to translate effectively, because it is tied so closely to Japanese culture itself.
