This thesis deals with the adequate preparation when planning business endeavours with Japanese Companies. As Japan is the second largest market in Asia and one of the strongest markets worldwide, it is an important trading partner for Western countries. Many companies, when attempting to move into the Japanese market, run into difficulties that derive from wrong expectations and misunderstandings. These difficulties can be managed with decent preparation. Therefore, the objective of this thesis is the elaboration of a training program based on an analysis of the Japanese business culture.
To achieve this goal, we combined a profound categorization of the Japanese culture with interviews we conducted with people who have gained experience with the Japanese business culture in order to identify possible obstacles on the one hand and determine best practice preparations and to derive an exemplary training program on the other.
The results of the different parts of the thesis provide the foundation of an exemplary training program designed to simplify the transition for businesses intending to expand in the Japanese market. This training program combines extensive general culture and language orientation that help easing the transition with a focus on Japanese idiosyncrasies in business. The key elements include the unique characteristics of communication in Japanese business. This training program will improve cross-cultural communication and thus mutual business relations.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
- LIST OF FIGURES
- 1 INTRODUCTION
- 2 JAPAN AND ITS ECONOMY
- 2.1 GEOGRAPHY AND DEMOGRAPHICS
- 2.2 THE JAPANESE ECONOMY
- 2.2.1 The Economic Development after WWII
- 2.2.2 The Economy in Crisis (1990-2011)
- 2.2.3 “Abenomics” (since 2012)
- 2.3 IMPORTANCE OF THE JAPANESE MARKET FOR WESTERN ECONOMIES
- 2.4 TRADE BARRIERS BETWEEN JAPAN AND WESTERN COUNTRIES
- 3 UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF CULTURE IN BUSINESS
- 3.1 DEFINITION OF CULTURE
- 3.2 ELEMENTS AND MANIFESTATIONS OF CULTURE
- 3.3 INFLUENCES OF CULTURE ON MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS
- 4 ANALYSIS OF THE JAPANESE CULTURE
- 4.1 HOFSTEDE’S DIMENSIONS
- 4.1.1 Power Distance (PDI)
- 4.1.2 Individualism (IDV)
- 4.1.3 Masculinity (MAS)
- 4.1.4 Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI)
- 4.1.5 Long-Term Orientation (LTO)
- 4.1.6 Indulgence vs. Constraint (IND)
- 4.2 HALL’S DIMENSIONS
- 4.2.1 High-Context versus Low-Context Communication
- 4.2.2 Time Orientation
- 4.3 LEWIS MODEL OF CULTURAL TYPES
- 5 JAPANESE CULTURE IN BUSINESS
- 5.1 COMMUNICATION
- 5.2 BUSINESS RELATIONS AND LOYALTY
- 5.2.1 Establishing contact
- 5.2.2 Meetings
- 5.2.3 Negotiations
- 5.2.4 Decision Making
- 5.2.5 After Hours
- 5.3 WOMEN IN JAPANESE BUSINESS
- 5.4 WESTERN BUSINESS WOMEN IN JAPAN
- 5.5 LIFETIME EMPLOYMENT
- 5.6 BUSINESS ETHICS
- 5.7 JAPANESE BUSINESS ETIQUETTE
- 5.7.1 Business Cards
- 5.7.2 Addressing the Business Partner
- 5.7.3 Dress Code
- 5.7.4 Gift Giving
- 5.7.5 Personal Habits
- 6 INTERVIEWS
- 6.1 PREPARATION OF WESTERN CONTACTS FOR JAPANESE BUSINESS
- 6.1.1 Necessity of Preparation
- 6.1.2 Failures in Preparation
- 6.1.3 The Language Barrier
- 6.1.4 Assistance by the Japanese partners
- 6.2 BEHAVIOUR AT THE WORKPLACE
- 6.2.1 Communication
- 6.2.2 Meetings and Decision Making
- 7 TRAINING
- 7.1 BENEFITS OF PREPARATION
- 7.2 STEPS OF TRAINING
- 8 CONCLUSION
- 9 REFERENCES
- 10 APPENDIX
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This thesis aims to analyze the Japanese business culture in order to provide Western business people with the necessary preparation for successful collaboration with Japanese partners. The ultimate goal is to elaborate a training program based on the insights gained from the analysis.
- The importance of the Japanese market for Western economies and the trade barriers that exist.
- The role of culture in business and its influence on management functions.
- An in-depth analysis of the Japanese culture using dimensions introduced by Hofstede, Hall, and Lewis.
- The specific characteristics of the Japanese business culture, including communication, business relations, decision-making, and etiquette.
- An exemplary training program designed to equip Western businesses for successful ventures in the Japanese market.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter introduces the topic of cross-cultural understanding in business, highlighting the significance of the Japanese market for Western economies. It outlines the thesis's objective: to prepare Western business people for dealing with Japanese counterparts.
Chapter two provides a brief overview of Japan's geography, demographics, and economic history, emphasizing the country's economic strength and its importance for international trade.
Chapter three defines culture and its elements, explaining how cultural influences shape individual behavior and affect management functions in different cultural contexts.
Chapter four presents a detailed analysis of the Japanese culture through the frameworks developed by Hofstede, Hall, and Lewis. These frameworks provide valuable insights into the Japanese values, standards, and communication styles.
Chapter five focuses specifically on the Japanese business culture, analyzing communication patterns, business relations, decision-making processes, and ethical considerations.
Chapter six presents the results of interviews conducted with Western business people and Japanese individuals with experience in international business. The interviews provide valuable real-world insights into the challenges and opportunities of cross-cultural collaboration.
Chapter seven highlights the benefits of a comprehensive training program for Western businesses seeking to expand into the Japanese market. It proposes an exemplary training program that incorporates key elements of Japanese culture and business practices.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This thesis focuses on the key topics of intercultural communication, Japanese business culture, training for international business, cross-cultural management, cultural dimensions, and the importance of the Japanese market for Western economies.
- Quote paper
- Hannah Christina Glock (Author), 2014, Preparing Western Managers for Business in Japan. An Analysis of the Japanese Culture, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/339717
