...GUNG HO! CULTURAL ANALYSIS Michael Hamilton MKTG 3852 – Second Summer 2012 7/22/12 GUNG HO- CULTURAL ANALYSIS Cultural differences influence how business is conducted in today’s rapidly expanding global market. These cultural barriers affect human interactions through our perspective of one another, credibility, time frames, as well as through communication. The success of international business depends upon the ability to set aside our differences, unite and strengthen one another. Many of these challenges can be seen throughout the movie Gung Ho. The movie portrays the relationship between the Japanese and Americans in a lightly comically point of view through an auto factory. However, when comparing and contrasting the interactions of these two cultures, both in and out of the film, they’re dynamics of become more apparent. The connections and exchanges between the Japanese management team and the American workers throughout the film present examples for each of the five dimensions in Geert Hofstede’s cultural dynamics analysis: Individualism/Collectivism, Uncertainty Avoidance, Power Distance, Masculinity/Femininity, and the later added Long-term Orientation. I. Hofstede’s Cultural Dynamics The results from Hofstede’s analysis for the United States and Japan are in the following table. When comparing the two we see that the Americans have a highly individualistic, male reinforced, ambiguous, society with a slight hierarchy with a weak connection to tradition...
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...Cross Cultural Management of Japan & United States One concern of the merger between these two companies involves group interaction and sense of space. People in the United States take great pride in themselves on individualism and informality. The Japanese culture values groups and formality. People in the United States admire a person who excels above everyone else. If this merger takes place and it makes the price of stock to rise, the American company might want to buy more stock and the Japanese might not agree with this and be more cautious which could result in a cross-culture conflict. Cultural differences and cross culture conflicts is the biggest challenge in terms of cross-cultural management that will arise in the merger of these two companies (Chen, 2013). Due to differences in culture in terms of beliefs, priorities and lifestyles, management of cross culture operations will be difficult for both companies. It is because cultural differences affect the human thinking, feeling, acting and behavior that can result in cross culture conflicts within the organization (Adekola and Sergi, 2012). For example, in terms of language, religion, value, and attitudes, there are several cultural differences in both countries: U.S. and Japan, which can affect decisions and choices of employees or people from these countries and can cause to cross culture conflicts (Yoder, 2011). The women who are employed at Tokyo Electron worry that their jobs might be eliminated...
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...healthcare setting. The artwork installation on entrance doors and in elevators lobbies also welcomes patients. Globalization Splashes of Hope is blossoming and growing into an international organization. They receive requests for custom artwork and prints to be installed from facilities throughout the United States and the world. Splashes of Hope is doing research to find a country to expand their business and manufacturing process. Expansion in a country high in creativity and manufacturing skills is the next stage. The human resources department views Japan as a leading country of choice for the globalization of Splashes of Hope therapeutic art division. Japan has a long history of adopting of imported ideas (Japan painting, 1994). They established a copying process ranging from emulation to synthesis (Japan painting, 1994). The majority of the labor force would consist of routine intensive labor. Evaluation and understanding of communication practices and cultural differences between the United States and Japan will insure success in expanding the business in Japan. Language and Communication Differences The official language of Japan is Japanese. Despite of the importance Japan culture within the global economy, comparatively few Americans speak the language. The Japanese language has no true ties to any other linguistic family. In addition, Japanese writing is significantly more complex than the writing of...
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...THE KOREAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Cultural, Political, Economic Foundations Chan Sup Chang and Nahn Joo Chang Q Quorum Books Westport, Connecticut London Preface We approached the Korean management system from a cultural context. Although they share a common Oriental culture with other neighboring nations, Koreans maintain a unique culture. This culture, combined with the impact of the geopolitical environment of the Korean peninsula, results in a unique behavioral pattern. Thus, managers and workers in the Korean management system behave differently from their counterparts in other countries. The Koreans have accomplished remarkable economic success since the 1960s, and their management system has played a major role in contributing to this phenomenal economic achievement. Entrepreneurs, top executives, managers, and workers in the management system are all integral parts of the system, and they have performed their assigned jobs effectively. Therefore, to comprehend the unique nature of this Korean management system, we performed an in-depth analysis on its performance. The external environment of the Korean management system is a crucial factor in understanding it. In this kind of environment, the role of government is prominent because without active support from the government, no enterprise can survive and prosper. The government, in return, demands some favors from these enterprises, making this a quid pro quo, a unique feature of the Korean management system. We will...
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...Abstract Intercultural communications is often marked by the impact of cultural differences on communication, commonly resulting in miscommunication or misunderstanding. This paper examines the challenges influencing intercultural communications between the Japanese and the Americans. In its conclusion, it emphasizes on the sensitivity to the mentioned cultural differences in order to create harmony and understanding amongst people with different ethnic backgrounds. Intercultural Communications between the United States and Japan Introduction According to Dima (1990), intercultural communication refers to the exchange of ideas between people belonging to different cultures, in spite of them using the same language. Intercultural communication plays an important role, in that cultural differences can often lead to miscommunication and misunderstanding. This is increasingly becoming important in today’s multicultural society such as in the US (Inoue, 2007). What are the common challenges of intercultural communications between America and Japan? How do cultural differences play part in shaping the Japan-American intercultural communication? As defined by Peace (2002), culture is a "system of beliefs, values, and assumptions about life that guides behavior and is shared by a group of people; and these are transmitted from generation to generation, rarely with explicit instructions," (p.14). There are a variety of cultures that...
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...in: An American in Japan SNHU Communication between people is always unique as no two people are alike and this difference is even greater when we communicate with people outside our own culture or country. As humans we generally strive for the same basic needs in life; food, shelter, companionship, but beyond those points we can find it difficult to communicate more complex ideas with those of different backgrounds. Once we are aware of another person’s differences and we can understand their point of view we increase the chances of better comprehension, fewer misunderstandings, and a mutual respect for one another (Academia). For this discussion we will examine the differences between a high-context culture, Japan, and a low-context culture, the United States, and how people from each are able to work on communication despite the language and culture barriers. I was able to speak with Maiko Suzuki, a colleague of my wife, who is from Japan and has lived in the United States since 2010 working in a PhD program as well as a research lab in Boston. From the start I knew she had trouble understanding the research I was trying to do but we were able to overcome this in time. Like most foreigners, even those who have a firm grasp on the English language, they still struggle to make communication that is native to the United States due to the cultural differences. From that point Maiko was able to describe how she has been able to overcome the differences in communication here...
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...Krishelle Cruz EGT1 – Task 4 Student ID: 000265638 Expanding a business from the United States to an Asian country can have many advantages. In considering an expansion, one must evaluate the possible cross-cultural differences and what changes need to be made on practices that are currently in place for its business in the United States when entering the Asian market. Sensitivity to the culture is imperative, as commonalities in the United States may not be received well by those in the Asian country. For purposes of this essay, we will compare the cross-cultural differences between the United States and Japan. Three major challenges in entering into their market are language barriers, procedures on decision-making, and regulatory hurdles....
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...Company A will be moving part of its business overseas into Japan in the 4th quarter of 2010. In order to prepare for any cross-cultural issues or communication differences that may impact the company’s marketing approach and strategies I have prepared a brief summary of some of these challenges. I have also touched on certain cross-cultural ethical differences between Japan and the United States. Marketing Approach It is important to become aware of the culture around you. Take into consideration what the culture is, the customs, the history, the language, and communication styles. What works in the United States and Great Britain will not necessarily work in Japan too. Marketing tools like commercials, slogans, and music will need to be researched prior to any rollout. The phrases or gestures alone could be enough to damage future success in the country. Because unspoken language can often tell businesspeople something that spoken language does not, they should know something about this form of cross-cultural communication. In Japan it is not considered professional to use extreme hand gestures or facial expressions. The Japanese are very formal and will expect you to dress your part and be prompt. Business in America over the years has given way to a casual approach to business, so gird up. Communication While doing business in Japan it is important to understand the differences in communication style. In the West it is acceptable to get...
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...the town’s biggest employer-a failing automobile assembly factory. He is sent to Japan to convince the Japanese that buying this factory is in mutual interest. The movie is about how the Japanese and American cultures try to work together to successfully run the factory. For the most part, the Japanese management and the American workers cannot manage to get along because of cultural differences. The Japanese insisted on discipline, company fitness routines, and putting work before family. Keaton gets into a dispute with one Japanese middle manager over the man's unwillingness to stand up to his own uncle to ask for some time off to be with his newly born child. In the United States, people value individual rights whereas Japanese people have priority over the overall good of the group so that their individual. It is believed that Americans show more concern for interests of themselves and their families, rather than others. Therefore the early leave is acceptable within the American companies. However, being part of the group is essential in Japan; therefore, that request for early leave is against the overall good of the team, and slowing down the production. There were examples of differences as obvious as the eating in two separate break rooms. This was a very funny movie. I really enjoyed it, but I also learned a lot from it, too. It’s easy to laugh at the dramatized misunderstandings between the Japanese and the Americans, but these problems really do exist in real life...
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...References Damanpour, F. (1998). The impact of culture on management: A comparison of Japanese versus United States management. Advances in competitiveness Research , 6 (1), 39-57. Faramarz Damanpour is a Professor of Finance and International Business at James Madison University. He is an author of several business articles and has been featured in many business journals. His main purpose of this article is to get the reader to understand the differences between the cultures, decision-making, and employment strategies of Japan and the United States. This topic is suitable for my research paper because it helps me answer the first research question, which deals with the elements and dimensions of culture of Japan. Fukuda, J. (1992). The internationalization of Japanese business: different approaches, similar problems. The International Executive , 34 (1), 27-41. John Fukuda is a professor in the department of the International Business at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He has written peer reviewed articles for the International Executive. His main purpose for this article is to get the reader to understand the Japanese's approach to business versus the other countries. This article is suitable for my research paper because it helps me to answer question numbers 1 and 2 of the Business cultural analysis. Fukukawa, K., & Teramoto, Y. (2008). Understanding Japanese CSR: the reflections of managers in the field of global operations. Journal...
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...of this report is to explore the cultural determinants of both Japan and United States. The report elucidates the differences between the two countries in terms of leadership styles as influenced by their respective different cultures. The reason in selecting Japan as one of the research countries is because of its deep rooted strong cultural beliefs and group centered style in a business perspective. It is well known to the world that Japan is a closed economy but at the same time, extremely competitive. On the other hand, United States make a good contrast in terms of its open culture and individualistic style of doing business. Despite the differences, both are amongst the most competitive and successful nations in the world. The compromising Japanese and confrontational Americans do make this research journey an exciting and interesting one. Different cultures exist in the world and their impact on leadership styles in their respective countries is significant. As defined by Luthans and Doh (2009, p96), “Culture is the acquired knowledge that people use to interpret experience and generate social behaviour.” And culture is gained through transmissions between individuals in forms of symbols, rituals, languages, stories told and etc. It will be interesting to find out that the countries’ cultures do in fact influence their leadership styles to quite a great extent. In this report, two entirely different cultures; Japan and United States will be explored in depth to provide...
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...interpretation and transmission of ideas between individuals or groups. Good communication is the key to successful transfers of messages. In the article “Japan, Inc has a serious communication problem”, it speaks of the problems that Akio Toyoda has with his communication, especially with languages outside of his native language in Japan and English is one of the worst. Being a business owner that markets his business around the world, it is very important that Mr. Toyoda has good communication skills in all of the different languages. Recently, the Japanese-based corporation, Toyota has taken a number of hits that have brought to light numerous issues that the company is facing. First, it suffered through a series of recalls on its vehicles because of a safety issue. The CEO of Toyota, Akio Toyoda did not immediately respond to the United States requesting his presence at a senate hearing about the safety recalls. Due to the differences in cultures between the United States and Japan, Mr. Toyoda’s hesitation in appearing at the hearings was interpreted by the United States that he and the company simply did not care. Mr. Toyoda eventually showed up for the hearings and appointed a committee at each of their manufacturing locations to oversee safety issues and started rectifying the issues in the existing vehicles on the road. (The New York Post, January 6, 2012) Due to the cultural differences between the United States and Japan (David Metge, January 13, 2011) Mr. Toyoda’s...
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...Outline Procter & Gamble in Japan: from Marketing Failure to Success Introduction The Globalization of Markets? Market Segmentation Product Attributes Cultural Differences Economic Differences Product and Technical Standards Distribution Strategy A Typical Distribution System Differences between Countries Choosing a Distribution Strategy Communication Strategy Barriers to International Communication Push versus Pull Strategies Global Advertising Pricing Strategy Price Discrimination Strategic Pricing Regulatory Influences on Prices Configuring the Marketing Mix New Product Development The Location of R&D Integrating R&D, Marketing, and Production Cross-Functional Teams Implications for the International Business Chapter Summary Critical Discussion Questions Nike--The Ugly American? Procter & Gamble in Japan: from Marketing Failure to Success Procter & Gamble (P&G), the large US consumer products company, has a well-earned reputation as one of the world's best marketers. With its 80-plus major brands, P&G generates more than $37 billion in annual revenues worldwide. Along with Unilever, P&G is a dominant global force in laundry detergents, cleaning products, and personal care products. P&G expanded abroad after World War II by exporting its brands and marketing policies to Western Europe, initially with considerable success. Over the next 30 years, this policy of developing new products and marketing strategies in the United States and then transferring...
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...INDEX Introduction The challenge of crossing cultural boundaries The meaning of culture: foundation concepts Why culture matters in international business National, professional, and corporate culture Interpretations of culture Key dimensions of culture Language as a key dimension of culture Culture and contemporary issues Managerial guidelines for cross-cultural success Page 1 to 1 Page 1 to 5 Page 5 to 6 Page 7 to 9 Page 9 to 9 Page 10 to 14 Page 14 to 17 Page 17 to 19 Page 19 to 21 Page 21 to 23 1 Introduction There are few things more representative of U.S. culture than American football. It is an extravaganza, complete with exciting halftime shows and peppy cheerleaders. The game exemplifies national pride. The national anthem is played, flags are unfurled, and uniformed players charge up and down the field like an army in the throes of often violent conflict. The teams’ huddles divide the game into small planning sessions for the next play. In the United States, the National Football League (NFL) oversees the sport and, like any successful business, wants to score in new markets. The NFL first tackled Europe in 1991, with plans to establish American football there. After years of failed attempts, NFL Europe emerged as six teams, five of which were based in Germany (such as the Berlin Thunder, the Cologne Centurions, and the Hamburg Sea Devils). Earlier teams established in Spain had failed. Why did American football triumph in Germany but fail in Spain? An...
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...Different dimensions of culture Cultural differences between countries can be difficult to work through for businesses. The actions and believes of others in different cultures can be shocking and sometimes viewed as unethical by other cultures. Imagine the problems these differences can create when in negotiations with a different culture. Working through those differences has become a necessity for business today in the fast growing global market. To successfully do business in the international market it has become critical to understand other cultures that you may be doing business with. To fully understand different cultures we need to explore the dimensions of different cultures. To effectively begin to understand different cultures you will need to identify whether the culture is a high-context culture or a low context-culture. In high-context culture, people rely heavily on nonverbal and subtle situational messages when communicating with others (Kreitner, 2009 pg 97). This type of culture is highly important when doing business in Japan and Hong Kong. People from low-context cultures convey messages and meaning primarily with words (Kreitner, 2009 pg 97). This type of culture is highly important when doing business in Germany and Great Britain. To gain even further in-depth understanding of other cultures we will look at nine different dimensions. The first dimension to focus on is the power distance. This dimension analysis the extent to which the less powerful...
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