Differences in business culture between Japan and West By Andrew Miller TOKYO Be

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Differences in business culture between Japan and West By Andrew Miller TOKYO Below is an account from Sayaka, a reporter over at our sister site Pouch. It is an intriguing look at differences in business culture between Japan and the west. It makes one realize that there is no perfect business strategy as such but by incorporating the best parts from each culture, one can get pretty close to their own perfect business model. Moreover, Japan's business culture has to be one of the most unique in the entire world. Just the other day I had the privilege of liaising with several western businessmen who gave me some rather interesting views relating to differences in business customs between Japan and the West. They mentioned having recently listened to a lecture before coming to Japan on how to conduct business the Japanese way. Something that really stood out to me were their impressions of the Japanese business culture as a whole: “Out of all the countries we've visited so far, Japan's business culture has got to be the most uniquely different.” Those who took part in the business lecture included two Frenchmen, an Englishman and an American. All four men worked in such high power roles as international manufacturing or as planning designers at construction companies. They are the type of elite that upon coming to Japan enter into managerial positions giving Japanese workers orders and undertaking transactions with other high-ranking Japanese companies. Their period of employment is usually no longer than a year and a half, after which they often shift to positions in other countries. Below, I would like to introduce the five most interesting things from the lecture imparted to me by the foreign businessmen. 1. If a Japanese person says they can complete the job, it is best to take them on face value. Many may think “what's so surprising about that!?” However, looking at trends on the foreign market, a lot of workers claim to be able to complete a given task even when it clearly exceeds their capabilities. The businessman from England commented that in

Explanation / Answer

Business traditions and practices are greatly influenced by the culture in which they function. The values of a culture help to define the underlying structure and philosophy of business. Many traditions and practices within a culture are often integrated into the country's businesses. To better understand the relationship between culture and business, an article involving two contrasting cultures will be analyzed. Throughout this paper, the cultural impact on business practices will be evaluated between Japan and the West. There are many similarities and differences between these two cultures with respect to business, ultimately influencing the business practices in each country.

Emphasis is placed on the unique and productive industrial relations in these two different regions. The article shares unique outlooks on business conduct in Japan, including reasons having to do with human capital, which is unique to this culture. Such conduct can serve as a living example for other economies. Even in Japan, one hears about mistakes made in business conduct but there is no doubt that the special human relations in this work culture are part of the reason for the economy’s success, strength, and uniqueness. The article, therefore, explains the work culture that exists in Japan. One of the important principles in Japan is the virtue of work. Japan’s approach to work involves paying attention to the needs of the employee. This is in contrast to the Western outlook, for example, which holds great consideration for the interests of the company’s shareholders in order to maximize their profits.

The management style in Japan does not usually empower the manager as the source of exclusive information, who is responsible for solving every problem in the company. The manager does not keep his knowledge to himself. He involves others and expects everyone to contribute their knowledge and wisdom to the project or company. The advantage of this approach is in the message of appreciation that it transmits to the employee. The employee is imbued with the feeling that he is valuable, that he can be useful, that he has what to contribute, and that his contribution is expected. Therefore, it follows that Japan’s economic outlook imposes much responsibility on the employee and demands ambitiousness even though this seems to present a unique type of suppression. The Japanese worker can view the company’s advancement and gains as his personal mission and achievement. Companies in the west tend to make fast decisions based on the information available at the time. While the Japanese decision making is slower and done in stages. Hierarchical decision making often becomes a significant part of the process. The Japanese business belief is that slower decision making will minimize errors and bring consistency to all levels of the company’s hierarchy. However, perfectionism and quality are reasons to justify slower decisions in Japan. In the case of social drinking with business associates, and if a drink is offered, then it is probably acceptable to have a drink. Nevertheless, one should be aware that probably no one likes individuals who are loud, aggressive and offensive.

As companies continue to expand across borders and the global marketplace becomes increasingly more accessible for small and large businesses alike. Multinational and cross-cultural teams are likewise becoming ever more common, meaning businesses can benefit from an increasingly diverse knowledge base and new, insightful approaches to business problems. However, along with the benefits of insight and expertise, global organizations also face potential stumbling blocks when it comes to culture and international business. Organizational hierarchy and attitudes towards management roles can also vary widely between cultures. Whether or not those in junior or middle-management positions feel comfortable speaking up in meetings, questioning senior decisions, or expressing a differing opinion can be dictated by cultural norms. Often these attitudes can be a reflection of a country’s societal values or level of social equality. For instance, a country such as Japan, which traditionally values social hierarchy, relative status, and respect for seniority, brings this approach into the workplace. This is in contrast to western countries, which emphasize societal equality and tend to have a comparatively flat organizational hierarchy. So understanding the importance of culture, one can see that it definitely has implications for business.

References:

http://www.hult.edu/blog/cultural-differences-impact-international-business/

MANAGEMENT RELATIONS IN THE WORK CULTURE IN JAPAN AS COMPARED TO THAT OF THE WEST, http://www.innovativejournal.in/index.php/ijbm

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