Gung HoGung Ho

Using Feature Films to Better Using Feature Films to Better Understand Cross-cultural Understand Cross-cultural Management PerspectivesManagement Perspectives

Gung Ho SummaryGung Ho Summary A small-town leader convinces a Japanese A small-town leader convinces a Japanese

auto manufacturer to take over his town’s auto manufacturer to take over his town’s bankrupt auto plant. After the inevitable bankrupt auto plant. After the inevitable culture clashes, particularly over Japanese culture clashes, particularly over Japanese imposed work rules, the workers imposed work rules, the workers undertake a month-long “contest” to show undertake a month-long “contest” to show that their individualistic American methods that their individualistic American methods can surpass the best efforts of an auto can surpass the best efforts of an auto plant in Japan. They succeed only after plant in Japan. They succeed only after they embrace the communal approach of they embrace the communal approach of the Japanese.the Japanese.

Hofstede: Japan vs. USA Hofstede: Japan vs. USA DimensionsDimensions

Ethnocentrism: assumption made by Ethnocentrism: assumption made by all cultures of their inherent cultural all cultures of their inherent cultural superioritysuperiority

Examples:Examples:• Chopstick incidents, communal bathing, Chopstick incidents, communal bathing,

softball game, group exercises, Union softball game, group exercises, Union meeting- “who is better than USA… meeting- “who is better than USA… nobody”nobody”

• American car comment, views on American car comment, views on American work attitudes, family American work attitudes, family responsibilitiesresponsibilities

Individualism/ CollectivismIndividualism/ Collectivism Most prominent of the cultural dimensionsMost prominent of the cultural dimensions Japanese CollectivistJapanese Collectivist

• Rite of Shame (Kazahiro need for group cohesion as Rite of Shame (Kazahiro need for group cohesion as essential to avoid failure – Idiocentric predisposition)essential to avoid failure – Idiocentric predisposition)

Exercises imposed on workers at start of each Exercises imposed on workers at start of each day – including verbal reinforcements of unityday – including verbal reinforcements of unity

Need for Job rotation – each person learns all jobs Need for Job rotation – each person learns all jobs to work effectively as a teamto work effectively as a team

Working as a team or unit is the only way to Working as a team or unit is the only way to achieve a goal or successachieve a goal or success

Collectivist bathing ritual in stream.Collectivist bathing ritual in stream. Softball uniforms and pre-game warm-up.Softball uniforms and pre-game warm-up. Harmony and collective bonds important for team Harmony and collective bonds important for team

successsuccess

Individualism/ CollectivismIndividualism/ Collectivism US Individualism – Through Hunt StevensonUS Individualism – Through Hunt Stevenson

• No understanding of the Rite of ShameNo understanding of the Rite of Shame Decision to go to Japan alone “ to save town”Decision to go to Japan alone “ to save town” Labor meetings (Dinner)Labor meetings (Dinner)

• Emphasis on his ability to make things work (save his Emphasis on his ability to make things work (save his job)job)

• Baseball stories (individual succces for win,not team)Baseball stories (individual succces for win,not team)• Ideals revolve around standing out, competing- values Ideals revolve around standing out, competing- values

achievmnet, stimulation, hedonism – benefit themselves achievmnet, stimulation, hedonism – benefit themselves Union workersUnion workers

• Show up to get paycheque to support family, not to Show up to get paycheque to support family, not to better the companybetter the company

• Quality considerations secondary – “for the dealer to Quality considerations secondary – “for the dealer to worry about”worry about”

Masculinity FemininityMasculinity Femininity Japan – MasculinityJapan – Masculinity Culture strictly enforces seperation Culture strictly enforces seperation

between family and businessbetween family and business• Denial of American workers request for Denial of American workers request for

children hospital visitchildren hospital visit• Dinner party and request for business Dinner party and request for business

discussion – Girlfriend’s lack of recognitiondiscussion – Girlfriend’s lack of recognition• Kaz’s episode with son’s present/ wifeKaz’s episode with son’s present/ wife• Upper management complete disregard for Upper management complete disregard for

implicit request for employee to attend birthimplicit request for employee to attend birth

Masculinity FemininityMasculinity Femininity

US FemininityUS Femininity Frequent reference regarding not spending Frequent reference regarding not spending

sufficient time with children while sufficient time with children while attempting to produce 15 000attempting to produce 15 000

View of equal rights for men and women – View of equal rights for men and women – women not simply to follow domestic women not simply to follow domestic choreschores

Hunt suggest girlfriend leave dinner Hunt suggest girlfriend leave dinner meeting – chauvinism (cultural meeting – chauvinism (cultural perspective)perspective)

Power DistancePower Distance

USA lower Power DistanceUSA lower Power Distance• Implies assertiveness is acceptableImplies assertiveness is acceptable

Union meeting- challenge to hierarchy of the Union meeting- challenge to hierarchy of the local unionlocal union

Constant direct challenges to both Japanese Constant direct challenges to both Japanese and American leadershipand American leadership

• Hunt’s visit to Japan and the send off Hunt’s visit to Japan and the send off given to him by the fellow workersgiven to him by the fellow workers

Power DistancePower Distance

Japanese High Power DistanceJapanese High Power Distance• Management training programManagement training program

Men are being yelled at, criticized and Men are being yelled at, criticized and physically abused yet they kneel in silence, physically abused yet they kneel in silence, heads bowed assuming their inferiorityheads bowed assuming their inferiority

Extremely harsh criticism by top managers Extremely harsh criticism by top managers to boss – phone call at hometo boss – phone call at home

TrompenaarsTrompenaars

Achievement/ Ascription: Achievement/ Ascription: • Hunt’s discussion with Kaz regarding the Hunt’s discussion with Kaz regarding the

problems with the GM nephewproblems with the GM nephew Neutral (J) vs. Affective (emotional): Neutral (J) vs. Affective (emotional):

• Hunt’s initial meeting with the board in JapanHunt’s initial meeting with the board in Japan• Baseball gameBaseball game• ““I like you. You make me laugh”I like you. You make me laugh”

Specific (US)/ Diffuse: Specific (US)/ Diffuse: • Work/late at home for Japanese workers Work/late at home for Japanese workers