Look at the Japanese Business from Cultural Perspectives

Transcription

1 Look at the Japanese Business from Cultural Perspectives Why BeyondPacific.com works By Ken Ito BeyondPacific.com

2 Overview The Japanese culture is a mix of traditional Asia values and borrowed Western values. As a result, its culture is complex and unique in that it does not quite fit in either The typical Asian social settings nor Western social settings. On the other hand, it is quite evident that one of the oldest values practiced face-saving throughout its history still finds a place in this complex culture. Face-saving, based on Confucianism and Collectivism, is a major influence in inter-personal and social interactions. Understanding this concept and applying this to a given situation will help you ways to effectively communicate with the Japanese, and thus improve the business effectiveness in the market.

3 Theories Behind Preferred Communication Patters of Japanese Confucianism -Harmony -Collectivism Japanese Cognitive Process -Priority/Group -Conformity/Hierarchy Face-saving -Non-aggressive behavior -Shame

4 Applying the cultural sensitivities to the Business Conducts (1) The Japanese takes an issue as a group matter. Not only convincing the direct contact(s), but also convincing others such as his boss and other involved is important. (2) There is a hierarchy in which the order of it must be respected. Knowing this order in society and act accordingly with the order is advised in successfully communication. (3) Face-giving and saving is the core of communication. Even if it is your competitor, you need to consider how to save their face. You never know when you have to deal with them in the market!

5 Confucianism It is said that because Confucianism was adopted as the official philosophy in East Asian countries, such as Korea, Japan, and China, it has had the overwhelming influence on those countries. However, in Korea and Japan unlike in China, the Western cultural influence has arrived due to the modernization of the society. As a result, still partially preserving social and political values derived from Confucianism, Korea and Japan have deviated from the mainstream of Confucianism. However, the some basics of Confucianism still finds their place in society today. Confucianism is "a philosophy of human nature that considers proper human relationships as the basis of society. In studying human nature and motivation, Confucianism sets forth four principles from which right conduct arises: Humanism Faithfulness Propriety Wisdom or Freedom on Obtaining Education

6 Confucianism (cont.) Humanism signifies warm human feelings between people. Confucius says that "practicing Humanism is not to do to another man what you yourself don't want." In Confucianism, individual feeling and desire are ranked below the harmony of people. Faithfulness is the second principle of Confucianism. It indicates faithfulness, loyalty, or justice, which display the importance of social relationship. Again, individual interest or profit is not concerned a great deal in Confucianism. Propriety means propriety, rite, and respect for social forms. It is known as the fundamental regulatory etiquette of human behavior. Wisdom or Freedom of Obtaining Education is seen in other cultures. It is a reinforcing message of the importance of education. As one can see, Confucianism values social relationships, and individualism is not part of its concern.

7 Japanese Cognitive Process As one can predict from the principles of Confucianism, in Japanese society, harmony is heavily valued, and Japanese society is identified as Collectivism. "The stress is not so much upon the individual and his/her interests, but on the maintenance of the collectivity and the continuation of harmonious relationships of member within the Japanese society. This is frequently contrasted to the greater individualism and egocentrism which is said to be characteristic of Anglo American culture."(hofstede, 1980). Westerners attempting to do business in Japan is suggested to comply with the concept of priority, "group," Compared to the individual. This may sound odd to many people; however, it is a vital element of Japanese culture in which you have to be successful.

8 Japanese Cognitive Process (cont.) Conformity is also at the heart of Japanese culture. It is a product of the Confucian concept of propriety, which structures interpersonal relationships into hierarchical duality's: prince-minister, father-son, husband-wife, older brotheryounger brother, and senior-friend-younger-friend. As a result of the Japanese hierarchy, the Japanese expect you to behave or talk in accordance with their hierarchy. In regard to the existence of hierarchy in Japanese society, the Japanese are taught to avoid confrontation. Also, this is the reflection of the concept of harmony in Confucianism. The Japanese are cautious in maintaining Harmony among people.

9 Japanese Cognitive Process(cont.) Japanese thought processes are said to be characterized by an holistic perspective and by a high degree of sensitivity to context."(redding, 1980). It is clear, from the statement above, that holism and contextualism are the souses of Japanese perception which does not allow an individual issue to be separated from totality of the situation where the issue emerged. "When conflicts emerge, there may be tendency to diffuse them by locating the issue in terms of the wider scheme of things. This process also connects with the search for harmony by seeing issues as part of a unite whole."(kirkbide, Tang, and Westwood, 1991).

10 Japanese Cognitive Process(cont.) The Japanese are also said to perceive time as non-linear, repetitive and associated with events, in contrast with what takes to be a 'Western' orientation where time is perceived as monochromic, sequential, absolute and prompt. Because of uniqueness of the Japanese concept of time, Japanese handling of conflicts and negotiation patterns are noticeably complicated for Westerners. Japanese traders and commentators have repeatedly referred to the difficulties and frustrations that Anglo-Americans encounter a different view of the time dimension and different notions about the timeliness of events and abut progress, represents a potential source of confusion between Japanese and others."(davidson, Wang, Rae in Kirbridge, 1991).

11 Japanese Cognitive Process(cont.) It is certainly true that the concept of time differs from culture to culture. For example, in certain areas of the world, people take a long lunch break, which may make Americans wonder because Americans are used to the Fast-food society and time is money for the most of industrialized countries. For the Japanese, careful determination for decision making is more valuable than a quick answer, which can potentially lead them to a shameful mistake. Being ashamed in public is not Tolerated in Japan because the Japanese culture values feeling of the people, which is conceptualized as "Face-saving."

12 Face-saving "Face has been defined as the positive social value a person effectively claims for himself by line others assume he has taken during a particular contact. Face is an image of self delineated in terms of approved social attributes."(goffman in Kirbrige,1991). "In conflict situations, aggressive behavior from either party can damage the face of the other. As not giving face to a person is perceived as denying that person's pride and dignity, the Japanese are mindful about the implications of antagonism and aggression and will normally be hesitant about engaging in such behavior."(brunner, and Wang in Kirbrige,1991). The Japanese constantly attempt to maintain the harmony among people; therefore, the application of the concepts of face-giving and face-saving are valued heavily and appreciated in any type of confrontations. More over, Japanese and other Asian societies are characterized as "shame" oriented cultures in which people avoid to degrade and to humiliate others, and they even avoid to show their inner feelings while they talk.