Nemawashi (根回し) is a Japanese business informal process of laying the foundation for some proposed change or project by talking to the people concerned and gathering support and feedback before a formal announcement.
It is considered an important element in any major change in the Japanese business environment before any formal steps are taken.
Successful nemawashi enables changes to be carried out with the consent of all sides, avoiding embarrassment.
In Japan, high-ranking people expect to be let in on new proposals prior to an official meeting.
[6] The term is associated with forming a consensus, along with ringiseido (which is a more formal process).