Preparing Western Managers for Business in Japan. An Analysis of the Japanese Culture

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.