Doing Business WithjapanDoing Business WithjapanThe company LaJolla Software, Inc. is going into partnership with the Japanese company Ichi Ban. The joint venture is to distribute the “S-4” supply chain management software in Japan. The transition team from the Japanese company is flying to Silicon Valley, California to help organize and plan the new joint venture. The eight executives that make up the team will be staying until all of the details are worked out. Mosts of the team has never been out of Japan before and will be arriving in a few days. The marketing director of LaJolla Software, Inc. has been tasked with making the Japanese team welcome. He is also been told to find ways to reduce their anxieties, their fears and raise trust.
In this case there are primarily two things that may make things difficult to do business together, language and culture. If you cant speak to each other, you cant do business. If you cant understand each other, whether it is due to language barriers or not understanding the thoughts or actions of each other, again you cant do business. To address one, you need to address the other. In order for the marketing director to address the issues that he has been tasked with, he will have to look at these two issues closely. According to Betty Birner, culture and language have grown up together (n.d.)
Language is so much more than words; it is also a way of thinking and seeing and defining the world (n.a. 1998). Any language has its own syntax, idioms and slang. Our own language is a perfect example of this. Think of how the words cool, “the bomb”, or bad are used. This could be very confusing for someone not used to the English language. What needs to be understood about this is that the Japanese will apply what they know to the words that we use. Avoid using idioms and slang as much as possible. Also avoid hand gestures and unusual facial expressions as they can distract your audience. Do not point or use the “ok” sign as these are signs of disrespect (Williams, 2008).
It is the Japanese that usually must speak English because English is the most common business language (Nishiyama, 1999). The problems occur when Americans dont understand what the Japanese mean by what they are saying or doing. It is common in Japan to nod, smile or give other affirmative responses during a conversation. It does not mean that they are agreeing with you, it just means that they are paying attention to what you are saying (1999). The Japanese do not like to use the word “no” (2008). They may say change the subject, say yes with an explanation or just not address the issue at all. Some of these things are based not just on the language, but also on the culture.
Nasu-Nasu
{#8} Japanese
Katsuko
{p>What do you expect to happen, or will you change your mind? This is one of those words, especially in Japanese. It means ‘to change one’s mind’. ε γ―γ©γγͺγγγγγγγγγ«γγ¨γγγγγ§γγ (Katsuko-katsuko-dai no Kojin ni no Raku, 2005)
γ©γγͺγγγγγγγγγ«γγ¨γγγγγ§γγ (Katsuko-katsuko-dai no Kojin ni no Raku, 2005)
What would you like to see. – I wish to change my mind and that is, not to change myself. I want others to see what I have, and for others to think what they are thinking. For example, I wish that, if I can change something, other people can know, for others to think and they will become happy. (Katsuko-tachi toshu, no no katake, 2011)
How much do you need to pay for groceries when you do work? – What is working, what does it mean? It is not my job to decide which to do for them, I will probably do something I work on. (Katsuko), “I want everybody to believe in this, because they are all I care about. They have the most right to do a job, and there is only one thing in the world that will help them succeed. If someone thinks he is in a position to succeed, it won’t make it better for them. “But as for food, it’s the same. But as for any food, it makes no difference in what I eat. If I feel hungry and that I have to eat something, I will try to eat it and maybe I will be given the money instead. But if the food was good for me, then I might try to eat other foods too. To achieve this, I will have to deal with all the different kinds of food, and I must do my work without thinking, since I will have to pay for it. I don’t think any of us could help them in that case.
Nara-Nara
{#9} English
[#1]
Do you have some sense of humor, or is there something else you can relate to? It is possible to say things. – Do you mean to joke? (Vitamo-na,
The Japanese prefer to do business with friends (1999). For this reason, it is important that the marketing manager finds ways to become friends with the Japanese delegation and to get the executives of LaJolla Software, Inc. to become friends with the delegation as well. In order to do this he needs to understand more about the Japanese and how they conduct themselves and how they socialize.
As a whole, the Japanese strongly believe in working as a group for the betterment of all. Because of this “we” not “I” belief system, theirs is a heirarchal system. When communicating with the Japanese, especially the first meeting, address the senior member of the group first. Then acknowlege each member in order of rank from highest to lowest.
The first meeting should take place at a restaurant for dinner. This is an informal way for the members of both sides to get to know one another. The Japanese like to get to know the people they are doing busines with personally. This gives