TEAM 83: JAPAN Joris Eeland Matt Pruente Regina Schraick Haiyan (Helen) Yao

Part I: Team 83 R EGINA S CHRAICK Austrian Exchange Student at UC Irvine Education: Business Administration and Business Education at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration Work: part time at Palace of Schönbrunn Hobbies: Travelling, Movies M ATTHEW P RUENTE Michigan Student at MSU, Michigan Education: MSc of Accounting BA of Accounting at MSU Work: last Summer – Royal Dutch Shell after Graduation: Pricewaterhouse- coopers Chicago Hobbies: Golf, Raquetball J ORIS E ELAND Dutch Student at MIM Program at ESADE, Spain Education: MSc of international Management at ESADE, Spain international BA at Holland Work: Internship at Links International Hobbies: Tennis HAIYAN (HELEN) YAO Chinese Student at Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration, Finland Education: MSc of International Management, Finland Bachelor of Business, Finland Bachelor of Chinese literature and education, China Work: AREA travel, Finnair group Hobbies: Travelling, Horseback riding, Portrait painting

Dominant Values o Source of Values  Confucianism o Masculinity dominate  Shinto, Buddhism, and Taoism o Japanese Business Values  Wa (Harmony) o Indirect expressions of ‘No’  Kao (Preservation of Face)  Omoiyari (Empathy and Loyalty)  Respect for Elders

EXPECTATION–for Foreign Business people o Gaijin (The Japanese View of Foreigner) o Networking for Profit o Deal with Japanese on the First Meeting  Sending Delegations  Arranging the Meeting  Meeting the Company o Patience

BUSINESS PRACTICES  Rituals for Relationship Building o After-work drinks o Karaoke bars o Business cards o Process more important than outcome  Consensus Decision Making o Harmony o Confucian aspect of ´Face´  Reputation  Hierarchy o Bowing o Seniority o Respective Roles  Commitment o Market Dominance o Long-term Strategic Planning

 Communication style o Verbal:  Indirect Speech  No Direct Disagreement  Silence o Non-Verbal:  M inimalist and Impassive  Importance of Understanding True Meaning  Avoid pointing  Eye contact o Considered Impolite and Disrespectful  Personal Space o Highly Valued o Prefer Distance Between One Another  Strong Work Ethic o Strong Collectivistic Values o Karoshi  Death by Overwork Behavior

Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions CountryPDIIDVMASUAILTO Japan Austria NA China Netherlands United States

Countries of Origin Vs. Japan Values  Austria o Lower power distance  China o Share the same root o Tolerance is essential  Netherlands o Dutch society is more feminine  United States o Greater importance on individualism and equality o More informality Business Practices  Austria o Similar Levels of Masculinity  Unlike behavioral priorities  China o Mostly Similar  Respect “face” and patience  Create “ guanxi ”  Netherlands o More Equality  Race, gender, origin, etc.  United States o Utilization of Resources o Less Long-term Planning

Countries of Origin Vs. Japan Behaviours  Austria o Eye contact o Increased closeness  China o Similar  Indirect speech  Implicit actions  Netherlands o Directness of speech  United States o Directness o Privacy and space Expectations  Austria o Similar long-term relations o Formal etiquette  China o State-owned companies  Hierarchy and Long Term o Chinese private sector  Similar to Western Business Culture  Netherlands o Dutch do not alter signed deals  United States o Privacy, Liberty, and Timeliness

 Dominant Values o Handling of religion leads to open-mindness o New influences through Western countries  Expectations o Long-term view essential  Establish relationships o Foreigners expected to try to understand culture  Business Practices o Progress is very important o Western greeting standards (handshake)  Behavior o Foreigners must read between lines o High commitment to company by employees Verifying of Information

Do’s  Try to understand the Japanese Culture  Be Natural o Do not adjust too much  Listen Carefully o Read between the lines  Establish Relationships Before Negotiations  Maintain Harmony o Be decent and care about others  Be Prepared for Meetings Don’ts  Do not rush things o Take things slowly in the beginning o Understanding the real causes of problems  Joke if Unsure of Reaction  Stare at Someone  Assume Understanding  Bow or Say "san" After Name o Western standards are common  Be Afraid of Silences Training guide for AN EXPATRIATE in Japan

Team PROCESS  Overall a very smooth process o All team members were actively involved  Even with seemingly low commitment obligations due to the distance o Good teamwork  Able to trust one another’s research and have an informed discussion of the findings o Team members delivered as promised  Accomplishing the Task o Part II was the point of breakthrough for increased productivity  Able to exchange content and ideas and put topics in their respective locations within the presentation o Parts done in succession  Built upon one another, which strengthened previous slides

Team PROCESS  Points of Difficulties o Time differences  Establishing a meeting time o Internet difficulties o Establishing a common understanding  Means of resolving communication problems o Team members were flexibly o Constant communication  Discussed major points and not just findings o Ensured a common understanding before any delegation of research  Discussed each topic in length