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DECISION-MAKING:JAPAN & U.S.
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Cross-cultural differences.... More...
5 Pages / 1125 Words
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Paper Abstract:
Cross-cultural differences.

Paper Introduction:
While America is still a formidable economic force in the world, Japan has become number one in many industries. What is most interesting is how quickly it happened. The purpose of this research will be to look at the reasons behind Japan's dramatic growth by analyzing the differences in business practices and decision-making between the two economic powers. In doing so, a brief review of their historic, cultural and social dissimilarities will also be included. The strongest elements in Japanese business relations are loyalty and trust, the virtues upon which all decisions are based. The history of relations between the United States and Japan has been one of long, mutual distrust, thus coloring the growth of and current business activities between them. This distrust began when the United States, under the

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Other key points America was responsible for incorporating into theJapanese method of doing business were as follows. This distrust began when the United States, under the leadership ofCommodore Matthew C. InAmerica, while staff my be involved in the initial discussion process, thehead of the company makes all major decisions, a reflection of thecountry's emphasis on individualism and individual achievement. If one part is weak, thewhole system will be weak. Tarshis, L. Inherent In the Japanese culture is the principle that the typicalbusiness is more than an employer, it is a family with each worker playinga vital role: "The people at the top of the company have a responsibilityto lead that family faithfully and be concerned about the members," saysSony's chairman, Ako Norita (Tarshis, 1989, p. In addition, theyadapted principles from the traditional Japanese family structure andincorporated them into business life, creating a corporate cultureincreasingly unlike America's. This idea was thatevery part of a factory or a whole organization should be scientificallyanalyzed and redesigned to achieve the most efficient output (p. 72). A stormy friendship. Fear after World War IIthat this policy would resurface, brought about the agreement whereby theUnited States pledged to defend Japan if ever attacked. 14-15.----------------------- 4 Navy, first forced open the"bamboo" gates of Japan to the trading world in 1853 (Manning, 1989, p.14). While America is still a formidable economic force in the world,Japan has become number one in many industries. 18). Learning from Japan's success.Scholastic Update, pp. Japan had begun its military buildup after World War 1. 18) Further, it leads in the electronics, thesemiconductor and the machine-tool industries (p. 72, 74). As aresult, the new crop of MBAs came in seeking cost-cutting methods toincrease profits even further. And, where quality control became Japan'strademark, lack of such controls became America's ultimate downfall. Thefuture leaders of Japan were instructed in what has become known as thesystems approach to manufacturing (Wood, 1989, p. 19).Such stability and dedication give the Japanese economy an increasedadvantage in quality and efficiency. 14). 18-19. Every company needs a statement of purpose, one that provides awell-defined target for the idealistic efforts of the employees. While Americans are now taking cues from the Japanese and havesucceeded in implementing many of their management techniques, learning howto do business with their Asian counterparts has been difficult. Perry and the U.S. Business Week, p. 3. By this dramatic action Americaprovided the Japanese keys to expansion and growth through other means:trade. The strongest elements in Japanese business relations are loyalty andtrust, the virtues upon which all decisions are based. In Japan,building a relationship on trust is the most important thing, a belief thathas served the economy well and one which America should be striving toadopt (Holden & Woolley, 1989, p. She had wonthe war and it was now time to demonstrate success immediately. 1. Thus began the demise of America's role inmanufacturing. A lesson learned and a lessonforgotten. Many believe America has forgotten the lessons. This basic contrastinfluences directly and indirectly all elements of decision-making in theirrespective business practices. The delicate art ofdoing business in Japan. 12 . (1989, February 6). In Japanese corporate life, all decisions are made by committee andmust be compatible to the company's overall goals and objectives. As such, the companydemands hard work and devotion, requiring an employee to work long hours,six days a week, and spend most evenings socializing with coworkers. Though America succeeded in its endeavor, the shoguns were overthrown bythe militant young Japanese samurai (warrior) who were intent on makingJapan a first-rate military and industrial power able to fend off Westernaggression (p. MostAmerican business deals are structured around suspicion and distrust.Lawyers and legal documents set the tone for the relationship. Over ninety years later, this nearly-realized dreamwas crushed under the atoxic bomb. 18). Holden, T. Inother words, managers should look at every aspect of an operation as itwere a piece of a puzzle or integrated system. The Japanese aren't creative; however, theyare efficient and intent on manufacturing high-quality products and, as aresult, were able to take the lead in industries. 72). Manning, S. Therefore, as part of reconstruction, America sent over businessexperts to teach the Japanese capitalistic management practices. In the 195 s and 196 s, however, many Americancompanies saw a conflict between "scientific" management and "democratic"management. Forbes, pp. Further, it was in America's best interest thatJapan rebuild its economy. (1989, October 2). 75) Many say this shift in business ideas began in theacademic world where it vas observed that business leaders and academiacommunicated poorly. With 6 million people to feed and little land to grow food, and facingdifficulties in selling its manufactured goods abroad as the United Statesand other nations placed high import taxes on their products, extremenationalist groups and militarists succeeded in convincing Japan'sgovernment to pursue a policy of expansionism. The purpose of this research will be to lookat the reasons behind Japan's dramatic growth by analyzing the differencesin business practices and decision-making between the two economic powers.In doing so, a brief review of their historic, cultural and socialdissimilarities will also be included. When it comes to running companies, the Japanese have followed someof the most basic rules: win the loyalty of employees and consumers andkeep producing better products (Tarshis, 1989, p. 14). This prevailing team spirit isprobably the greatest difference between Japanese and American businesses.While the Japanese worker is laboring for the good of the company, theAmerican worker is toiling for him or herself. References Wood, R. In return, the worker is promised life-long employment, emotionalsupport and regular bonuses tied to the company's earnings. 7 -78. What is most interestingis how quickly it happened. However, theultimate results were most unexpected. (1989, December 8). 2. While their people have been responsible for the major innovationsand inventions of the 2 th century, American business leaders now realizethis doesn't necessarily add up to a great economy unless the products canbe manufactured efficiently. Today, Japanese companies own nine of the world's 1 richest banks,and the country is the largest contributor of foreign aid to the developingworld (Tarshis, 1989, p. Not needing to spend money ondefense, Japan was free to pour its resources into economic development(Manning, 1989, p. This new breed of "human relations" experts started tostigmatize practitioners of scientific management on the grounds that theyfocused on nuts and bolts whereas managers should care mainly about people(Wood, 1989, p. Quality must come before profits, pursuing it with suchtechniques as statistical quality control. 12 . As a result,workers can be expected to deliver a high level of performance that is notpossible in America except during time of crisis (Tarshis, 1989, p. (1989, December 8). 18). Every employee deserves the same kind of respect as managers and,good management is "democratic management" (Wood, 1989, pp. Quality control is not a new concept in the United States.Analytical methods for monitoring quality were developed in the 192 s andapplied to business. But America was number one in exports. TheJapanese, once a feudalistic and militaristic people now humbled bymilitary defeat, were willing to listen and take advantage of the advicegiven. The history ofrelations between the United States and Japan has been one of long, mutualdistrust, thus coloring the growth of and current business activitiesbetween them. C. & Woolley, S. The country had been closed and isolated for two hundred years by the"shoguns," the military rulers of Japan, who were attempting to preservethe traditional Japanese way of life by keeping out all Western influences. ScholasticUpdate, pp.

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