japanese work practice

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JAPAN “LAND OF THE RISING SUN” Japanese Rōdō kankō Niyori sakusei ; Parth Purohit (Ahmedabad Mgnt . Association)

WHY STUDY JAPAN?:

WHY STUDY JAPAN? However, recent global melt down hit Japanese economy badly but it can not be ignored. The standard of living is one of the highest in the world, with the highest life expectancy and the third lowest infant mortality rate. Japan’s swift economic growth from the 1960s to the 1980s is called the Japanese post-war economic miracle Called the "Land of the Rising Sun" 10 th most populated country in the world, with around 128 million residents. Japan is one of the largest economy with a GDP worth of $4.384 trillion after US and China.

FACTS:

FACTS LANGUAGE: Japanese is the sixth most spoken language in the world. 99% percent of the Japanese use it. It is recognized and acknowledged to be close in syntax to the Korean language. RELIGION: Main religions are Buddhist and Shinto with 84% of total population. Remaining 16% follows other religions including Christian 0.7%

CONTD…:

CONTD… ETHNIC MAKE UP: Japanese 99%, others 1% (Korean 511,262, Chinese 244,241, Brazilian 182,232, Filipino 89,851, other 237,914) CAPITAL: TOKYO POPULATION: 128 million.

CULTURE:

CULTURE

INTRODUCTION:

INTRODUCTION One of the industrialized and developed nations. Homogeneous culture and small number of foreign immigrants in total population. Society is characterized as strong sense of group and community. They have strong sense of duty and indebtedness. Status and position of each individual in organization is clearly identified. In case they do not know each other’s professional status they immediately exchange their business cards. Trade unions in Japan are company bases and the relationship between unions and management are based on cooperation and harmony.

CONTD…:

CONTD… Japanese follow ringi method and Quality Circle of in which employees are encouraged to effectively participate in decision making. Japanese follow management practices such as life time employment, seniority wage system and high level of investment in employee training. Life time employment ( nenko ) is operated generally by large firms and offered to one third of Japanese labour force. Japanese see their company as family which is primarily social entity. This resulted into high level of employment commitment and emotional dependence on it. However economic ‘facts of life’ in recent years have eroded employee’s commitment level to the company.

CONTD…:

CONTD… Team work and harmony style of management is distinctive feature of Japanese companies. Japanese have strong sense of obligation towards their team members and immediate supervisors. Japanese operate at rigidly hierarchy system. There is no barrier between blue collar and white collar workers with class such as different dining rooms, segmented car park etc.

HARMONY IN SOCIETY:

HARMONY IN SOCIETY Harmony is the key value in Japanese society. Harmony is the guiding philosophy for the Japanese in family and business settings and in society as a whole. The Japanese educational system emphasizes the interdependence of all people and they like to work together. This need for harmonious relationships between people is reflected in much Japanese behaviour. They place great emphasis on politeness, personal responsibility and working together rather than the individual. They see working in harmony as the crucial ingredient for working productively.

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION:

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION Since the Japanese strive for harmony and are group dependent, they rely on facial expression, tone of voice and posture to tell them what someone feels. They often trust non-verbal messages more than the spoken word as words can have several meanings. The situation in which something is said affects the meaning of the words. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the situation to fully appreciate the response. Disturbing while someone is speaking is interpreted as a sign of disagreement. Most Japanese maintain an impassive expression when speaking.

JAPANESE HIERARCHY:

JAPANESE HIERARCHY The Japanese are very conscious of age and status. Everyone has a distinct place in the hierarchy, be it the family unit, the extended family, a social or a business situation. At school, children learn to address other students as senior to them (' senpai ') or junior to them ('kohai'). The oldest person in a group is always revered and honoured. In a social situation, they will be served first and their drinks will be poured for them.

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BUSINESS ETIQUETTES

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DINING ETIQUETTES

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If invited to a large social gathering, arriving a little bit later than the invitation is acceptable, although punctuality is always appreciated. Unless you have been told the event is casual, dress as if you were going into the office. Wait to be told where to sit. There is a protocol to be followed. Never point your chopsticks at anyone. Rare occasion you are invited to a Japanese house. Arrive on time or no more than 5 minutes late if invited for dinner. The honoured guest or the eldest is the first person to begin eating.

CONTD…:

CONTD… Mixing other food with rice is usually not done. You eat a bit of one and then a bit of the other, but they should never be mixed together as we do in many Western countries. If you do not want anything more to drink, do not finish what is in your glass. An empty glass is an invitation for someone to serve you more. When you have finished eating, place your chopsticks on the chopstick rest or on the table. Do not place your chopsticks across the top of your bowl. It is acceptable to leave a small amount of food on your plate when you have finished eating.

GIFT GIVING ETIQUETTES:

GIFT GIVING ETIQUETTES Gift-giving is highly ritualistic and meaningful. Gifts are not opened when received. Good quality chocolates or small cakes are good ideas. The ceremony of presenting the gift and the way it is wrapped is as important--sometimes more important--than the gift itself. Do not give lilies, camellias or lotus blossoms (white flowers) as they are associated with funeral. Give items in odd numbers, but not 9. light colours are the best choices for wrapping paper.

Doing Business in Japan:

Doing Business in Japan

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First names are reserved for family and close friends. Don't invite others to call you by your first name. Even if you are on a first name basis with a Japanese colleague, it may be appropriate to use his or her last name in the presence of colleagues, to avoid causing any embarrassment. Use courtesy titles such as "Mr.", "Ms.", or the suffix "san", in addition to last names.

In Japan..:

In Japan.. "San", an honorific attached to a person's last name, is not to be used when referring to your spouse or children. Also, it is not used to refer to someone in your company when talking with someone outside it. This is because it is considered bad manners to elevate people of your own group when speaking with "outsiders. The Japanese often use professional titles in the place of actual names, as an acknowledgment of a person's status.

BUSINESS MEETING ETIQUETTES:

BUSINESS MEETING ETIQUETTES Japan is a group society, even if you think you will be meeting one person, be prepared for a group meeting. It may take several meetings for your Japanese counterparts to become comfortable with you and be able to conduct business with you. You may be awarded a small amount of business as a trial to see if you meet your commitments. Appointments are required and, whenever possible, should be made several weeks in advance. Punctuality is important. Arrive on time for meetings and expect your Japanese colleagues will do the same.

CONTD…:

CONTD… If you respond quickly and with excellent service, you prove your ability and trustworthiness. Never refuse a request, no matter how difficult or non- profitable it may appear. The Japanese are looking for a long-term relationship. Always provide a package of literature about your company including articles and client testimonials.

BUSINESS CARD ETIQUETTES:

BUSINESS CARD ETIQUETTES is only in Japanese. It is wise to have one side of your business card translated into Japanese. Make sure your business card includes your title, so your Japanese colleagues know your status within your organization. Business cards are given and received with two hands and a slight bow. Examine any business card you receive very carefully. Business cards are exchanged constantly and with great ceremony. Invest in good quality cards and keep them in perfect condition. You may be given a business card that

COMMUNICATION:

COMMUNICATION The Japanese prefer to do business on the basis of personal relationships. In general, being introduced or recommended by someone who already has a good relationship with the company is extremely helpful as it allows the Japanese to know how to place you in a hierarchy relative to themselves. One way to build and maintain relationships is with greetings / seasonal cards. It is important to be a good letter writer as the Japanese hold this in high respect.

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MEET & GREET

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Greetings in Japan are very formal and ritualized. It is important to show the correct amount of respect and deference to someone based upon their status relative to your own. If at all possible, wait to be introduced. A foreign visitor ('gaijin') may bow the head slightly, since no one expects foreigners to generally understand the subtle nuances of bowing. How far you bow depends upon your relationship to the other person as well as the situation. The deeper you bow, the more respect you show.

GOOD NEWS:

GOOD NEWS Chinese and Japanese started to understand and appreciate the Western way of doing business more and more. BUT, still the Gap is WIDE

References::

References: Article : HRD (Aug-Dec 2008) Japanese work-practice Cross -Cultural Theories www.japan-101.com www.japanese.about.com www.slideshare.net www.authorstrim.com

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Arigatōgo - zaimasu (Thank You)