Introduction
With globalization in full force nowadays, it is crucial for a businessperson working in the international setting to understand how business practices vary in different countries. Showing the understanding of other cultures and showing an effort to adapt to their business customs can make or break any negotiation. In order to ensure success during meetings and presentations, this short guide will outline the main aspects and differences between the United States’ and Japanese business practices with regards to the business attire, meetings and negotiations, salaries and benefits and finally the popular careers in Japan.
Background
The United States business culture is based on a direct and informal approach. This means that “rolling your sleeves up” and getting down to business is respected and expected when working in the United States. (Executive Planet) On the other hand, the Japanese culture is a complex and multi-layered system, which developed over thousands of years. This is very much apparent when analyzing the business culture. The Japanese put a lot of focus on having a hierarchical, group-oriented society, and aim to avoid direct confrontation, maintaining the workplace harmony on a high level.(Export.gov) The long-term focus on culture and tradition caused the business culture to be very formal and complex, a complete opposite of the American culture.
Business Dress
In accordance with a very formal approach in conducting business, Japanese are very strict about their attire during the business meetings. For men, it is expected to wear a dark suit, either navy or black, between the months of October and April, and to wear a gray suit between the months of May and September. One important thing to know ...
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...ons becoming the most popular and sought after careers in Japan. (Executive Planet)
Works Cited
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The rest of the book is spent discussing each of the countries in detail. For each country the authors give a brief explanation of the history of the culture. Then they give tips on what each country expects from a visiting businessman. This includes tips on whether or not it is okay to be late for meetings, proper behavior during a business lunch or dinner, and how to properly address people you come in contact with during your business trip. They also give a guide t...
A businessperson needs to understand that the Mexican government plays a large part in establishing a business in Mexico. The government in Mexico influences and controls the Mexican business world, as most business transactions require a permit. Because of the strong government influence, many business practices in Mexico are corrupt. Not understanding or taking the time to learn Mexican business etiquette along with rules and regulations, one can find themselves in a compromising position. This paper intends to provide the necessary details such as customs, etiquette, mannerism, and culture of doing business in Mexico.
I chose to compare and contrast the United States culture with the culture of Japan. There are a few similarities between the two, such as a love of the arts, fashion and baseball. However, they are culturally different than similar in very major aspects. Japan is a very homogenous society made up of about 98% ethnic Japanese. They tend to put a lot of emphasis on family and communities, and value the group more than the individual (Aliasis, 2013).
In past experience, through travels outside of the country for business relations it was discovered very early on that most cultures will respect fairness and tolerance, but each to a different degree. American women in managerial positions have had to struggle to find ways to be effective in cultures where their authority and credibility are not traditionally the norm. Perhaps it was the value of fairness that clashed with tolerance or respect for diversity on this particular business trip to Japan over 10 years ago. However, even if there was an underlying agreement on such values, in this particular scenario these values were prioritized differently among the two different cultures and might have been expressed different for that reason.
Hill, C., Wee, C. and Udayasankar, K. 2012.International Business:An Asian Perspective. 8th ed. Singapore: McGraw-Hill.
Many businesses have begun using a casual dress policy on certain days. Implementing dress-down days may be an effective way to boost employee morale. The question that seems to pop up too often is whether dress-down days are a benefit or burden to the company. Many companies have adopted Friday as a casual or dress-down day, while others have made casual business attire a full-time policy. Some employees view wearing casual business clothing as an employee benefit. To others, it is a disaster. Both men and women are often confused about what "casual" means and about how to dress casually and still look professional. Some people in management positions feel employees goof off on casual dress day. This report will look at all these issues as well as a conclusion about the effectiveness of casual dress days.
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In order to do business in Japan we must first understand the Japanese culture. The Japanese culture has a deep history and is very complex. When analyzing and trying to understand the Japanese culture we must look at various aspects such as: communication, languages, manners and customs, values and attitudes, ethics, and religion, and social structures. We must also consider how these aspects of culture play into doing business in Japan and how they compare to Canada’s way of culture and business
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Based on Richard R. Gesteland book, the patterns of cross-cultural business behavior can be categorized into deal-focus vs. relationship-focus, informal vs. formal cultures, rigid-time vs. fluid-time cultures, and emotionally expressive vs. emotionally reserved cultures. Those four categories need to be learned by business people to solve the cross-culture problem. Furthermore, there will be some elucidations regarding the patterns of cross-cultural business behavior.
Since the end of World War II, international operations have become a reality for an increasing number of corporations. Many of these initial efforts began as simple export schemes to sell goods overseas to supplement domestic sales. Over time, however, international operations have become increasingly more complex: from joint-ventures to purchasing existing foreign firms to ‘green-field’ start-ups. While export operations usually require no more than extended business trips overseas, more complex international operations demand long-term assignments of key personnel outside their home-country. What would normally be considered routine business transactions in the home country can become very complicated when they are conducted between individuals and organizations from different cultures. In this essay we will examine how this cultural gap can affect international business and joint ventures.
“Red is a positive color in Denmark, but represents witchcraft and death in many African countries,” (Understand and heed, 1991, p.1). Simple understandings, such as this one, can make the difference in a business’ success or failure in a foreign country. Various countries have different customs and beliefs that need to be accustomed to when business are to be successful. American businesses especially have difficulties with this concept. “At times in the past, Americans have not had a good track record of being sensitive to cultural distinctions,” (Understand and heed, 1991, p.3). Perhaps this is because America is made up of so many different cultures that American people have become so used to easily adjusting to each other’s differences that they forget that other cultures are not as flexible. Today, more American’s are becoming more sensitive to the differences of other cultures. This sensitivity and understanding has come with a price, after a long string of business failures. It is not until a business fails miserably in another country that they see the adjustments that should have been made in order for their success to be a possibility. With an understanding and sensitivity to the customs and beliefs of other cultures, it is possible for successful businesses that have originated in western cultures to also be successful in foreign countries as well.
When in Japan there are a multitude of customary behaviors to adhere to. This is important because not following certain traditional ways, even as foreigners can be disrespectful. These traditional Japanese manners, customs, and courtesies play a vital role in their society.
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To make sure you are dressed right; make sure that your business clothing is seen as conservative as men and women has to avoid wearing bright or any coloured outfits so stick with a conservative look. Shoes should be easy to slip on and off because the Japanese regularly remove their shoes.