TEAM 83: JAPAN

Joris EelandMatt PruenteRegina SchraickHaiyan (Helen) Yao

Part I: Team 83

REGINA SCHRAICK

Austrian Exchange Student at UC Irvine

Education: Business Administration and Business Education at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration

Work: part time at Palace of Schönbrunn

Hobbies: Travelling, Movies

Dominant Values

o Source of Values Confucianism

oMasculinity dominate Shinto, Buddhism, and Taoism

o Japanese Business Values Wa (Harmony)

o Indirect expressions of ‘No’ Kao (Preservation of Face) Omoiyari (Empathy and Loyalty) Respect for Elders

EXPECTATION–for Foreign Business people

o Gaijin (The Japanese View of Foreigner)o Networking for Profito Deal with Japanese on the First Meeting

Sending Delegations

Arranging the Meeting

Meeting the Companyo Patience

BUSINESS PRACTICES

Rituals for Relationship Buildingo After-work drinkso Karaoke barso Business cardso Process more important

than outcome

Consensus Decision Makingo Harmony o Confucian aspect of ´Face´

Reputation

Hierarchy o Bowingo Seniorityo Respective Roles

Commitment o Market Dominanceo Long-term Strategic

Planning

Communication styleo Verbal:

Indirect Speech No Direct Disagreement Silence

o Non-Verbal: Minimalist and Impassive Importance of

Understanding True Meaning

Avoid pointing

Eye contacto Considered Impolite and

Disrespectful

Personal Spaceo Highly Valuedo Prefer Distance Between

One Another

Strong Work Ethico Strong Collectivistic Valueso Karoshi

Death by Overwork

Behavior

Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions

Country PDI IDV MAS UAI LTO

Japan 54 46 95 92 80

Austria 11 55 79 70  NA

China 80 20 66 30 118

Netherlands 38 80 14 53 44

United States 40 91 62 46 29

Countries of Origin Vs. Japan

Values Austria

o Lower power distance China

o Share the same rooto Tolerance is essential

Netherlandso Dutch society is more

feminine United States

o Greater importance on individualism and equality

o More informality

Business Practices Austria

o Similar Levels of Masculinity Unlike behavioral priorities

Chinao Mostly Similar

Respect “face” and patience Create “guanxi”

Netherlandso More Equality

Race, gender, origin, etc. United States

o Utilization of Resources o Less Long-term Planning

Countries of Origin Vs. Japan

Behaviours Austria

o Eye contacto Increased closeness

Chinao Similar

Indirect speech Implicit actions

Netherlandso Directness of speech

United Stateso Directnesso Privacy and space

Expectations Austria

o Similar long-term relationso Formal etiquette

Chinao State-owned companies

Hierarchy and Long Termo Chinese private sector

Similar to Western Business Culture

Netherlandso Dutch do not alter signed deals

United Stateso Privacy, Liberty, and Timeliness

Dominant Valueso Handling of religion leads

to open-mindnesso New influences through

Western countries

Expectationso Long-term view essential

Establish relationshipso Foreigners expected to try

to understand culture

Business Practiceso Progress is very

important o Western greeting

standards (handshake)

Behavioro Foreigners must read

between lineso High commitment to

company by employees

Verifying of Information

Do’s Try to understand the

Japanese Culture Be Natural

o Do not adjust too much Listen Carefully

o Read between the lines Establish Relationships

Before Negotiations Maintain Harmony

o Be decent and care about others

Be Prepared for Meetings

Don’ts Do not rush things

o Take things slowly in the beginning

o Understanding the real causes of problems

Joke if Unsure of Reaction Stare at Someone Assume Understanding Bow or Say "san" After Name

o Western standards are common Be Afraid of Silences

Training guide for AN EXPATRIATE in Japan

Team PROCESS

Overall a very smooth processo All team members were actively involved

Even with seemingly low commitment obligations due to the distance

o Good teamwork Able to trust one another’s research and have an informed

discussion of the findings o Team members delivered as promised

Accomplishing the Tasko Part II was the point of breakthrough for increased

productivity Able to exchange content and ideas and put topics in their

respective locations within the presentationo Parts done in succession

Built upon one another, which strengthened previous slides

Team PROCESS

Points of Difficulties o Time differences

Establishing a meeting timeo Internet difficulties o Establishing a common understanding

Means of resolving communication problemso Team members were flexibly o Constant e-mail communication

Discussed major points and not just findings o Ensured a common understanding before any delegation of

research Discussed each topic in length