Business Relation in Japan-Free-Samples for Students-Myassignment

Question: You are to prepare a formal analytical essay of strictly no more than 1500 words on Japanese business etiquette and steps that Emily can use to make a favourable first impression when she visits Japan to meet with Mr. Hamasaki. Answer: Introduction In contemporary world, there are several codes of conduct and behavioral patterns which are accepted to be appropriate. These conventions are even more important in the social and professional domains of the individuals and are often collectively known as Etiquette. Having its origin from the French term tiquette, which means label, the word in broad sense refers to maintenance of an overall decent behavior in the social and professional domains[1]. This is especially important in the professional sphere as the etiquette of an individual in his workplace, have immense implications (positive as well as negative) on the career and professional progress of the individual. This is mainly because people have a tendency to judge the credibility and professional attitudes of individuals by observing various attributes of the same, of which etiquette is one of the primary ones[2]. Considering this, the essay tries to analyze the etiquettes prevailing in general in Japan, taking into account the countries rich cultural and social patterns. The essay also tries to highlight the aspects in this regard, which may be observed and incorporated by the foreign entrepreneurs, who are trying to venture in the markets of Japan. To study the same, the essay takes into account the case of Emily, who being an Australian and owning The Aromatic Condiment Shop, flies to Japan to meet a Japanese potential client, with the objective of expanding her business. The essay also tries to highlight the code of conduct, which she can incorporate to create a positive impression on her potential Japanese client[3]. Japan: Economy and Culture Japan, has over the years emerged as one of the global economic giant in the contemporary international scenario and is currently the fourth largest of the economies in the world, with the per capita GNP of the country being more than $45,000. The country has achieved immense success in technological aspects and with years the country has emerged as one of the most lucrative economies for the investors, both domestic as well as international, to venture and expand their businesses[4]. However, despite of progressing hugely in the economic and industrial aspects, Japan is also known for their immensely deep-rooted cultural heritage, which have been maintained and preserved through generations. Japanese people diligently preserve and practice the strict etiquettes and behavioral pattern, in their social as well as professional domain[5]. Keeping this in consideration, if Emily wants to venture in the markets of Japan, to expand her business prospects, then in order to be successful in her endeavor, Emily needs to emphasize on incorporation of the professional etiquettes of the country. This may help her create a positive impression in the first meeting with Mr. Hamasaki, who is a senior single Japanese businessperson and the store manager of the popular Japanese store with which Emily wants to collaborate. Professional Etiquettes in Japan Professional etiquettes though may apparently appear to be trivial or insignificant, holds immense significance in creating professional impressions about a person in Japan, especially when the person is a Non-Asian and it is his or her first meeting with a Japanese. This is because there are huge cross-cultural differences and variations in professional etiquettes in these two regions, which may affect the business deals indirectly. The aspects in this regard, which have to be emphasized upon are as follows: First impression- The first impression of a person, in any kind of communication, is of utmost importance as it does the work of image building of a person, if not at least the last. Moreover, in Japan, this is of utmost importance as Japan has a strict framework of etiquettes especially in formal communications. In Japan, while addressing people, usage of Mr. or Mrs. is absolutely mandatory which has to be followed by surnames. It is not recommended to use first names to address someone in very first meeting. Meishi or business cards and the ways in which they are given and received play significant role in initiation business communications[6]. Conversations- The most significant part of a meeting in Japan, where etiquettes are of utmost importance, are the conversations. In Japan, silence is preferred over loud talks as Japanese people treats silence and composed behavior as a sign of intelligence, wisdom and self-control. This aspect of behavior in Japan is strikingly different than those in the Non-Asian countries, where being outgoing in the professional domain is treated as a sign of smartness. Japanese people also respect individual privacy to such an extent that they also have the right to remove their names from phone books according to their will. Thus, Emily should also be careful to refrain from asking personal questions to Mr. Hamasaki as this may be treated as a rude gesture on her part. Etiquettes with aged person- Japanese people link age with wisdom and seniority and thus, in Japan, an aged person is shown more respect and his words are heard more sincerely than the younger people are. Emily has to keep this in mind, while meeting Mr. Hamasaki and she needs to greet him cordially and treat him with utmost respect. The business card should also be offered to him first before offering to the younger people[7]. Exchange of token of appreciations or gifts- Japan has an age-old tradition of exchanging gifts, especially in the first meeting, which they also maintain in their professional domain. This symbolizes acceptance and helps in building up of professional rapport. However, while gifting anything to Mr. Hamasaki, few things should be avoided, which includes potted plants, white flowers (as they symbolizes death) or four or nines set of any commodity (as these numbers are deemed to be unlucky in Japanese culture)[8]. Community Feeling- One of the most unique and impressive features in the culture of Japan is the feeling of solidarity and their preference of community welfare over individual betterment. Japans age-old culture and history have taught them to work together and achieve collective goals of maximizing social welfare as a whole. This is even reflected in their professional etiquettes as they prefer team recognition and appreciation to individual accolades and practice the former in their business etiquettes. Business Proposal Approach- Japanese people prefer the persuasive and gentle business approach highly over direct approach, unlike the Non-Asian countries. Keeping this in mind, Emily should focus on the virtue of her business and the quality of the products she proposes to sell. Her products being mainly condiments, she should highlight the absence of preservatives in them and the usage of organic materials only, as Japanese people tend to value the virtues and welfare aspects of business immensely. She can also use supplements of her products as they may prove to be beneficial in building up professional relationships. She should also give time to her potential clients to take decisions, as Japanese people tend to avoid rushing into decisions[9]. Dress Code- One of the primary aspects of business etiquettes in Japan is the maintenance of proper dress code. For this purpose, it may be beneficial for Emily to choose conservative and formal attires over accessory loaded flashy colors. In Japan, high heels are not appreciated as they make females look taller than their male colleagues do. Emily can also try a kimono, the traditional dress in the country, as that can be seen as a warm gesture on her part[10]. Dining- Professional dining in Japan is an area of strict etiquettes. If invited to a dinner, Emily should preferably accept the same as rejection signifies rudeness. O-shibori (wet towel) offered has to be used only for wiping hands and while using chopsticks, proper etiquettes should also be maintained and after eating, those should be kept back in the envelopes or holders. Emily can even offer to pour drink for Mr. Hamasaki first. Cultural Miscommunication: Hofestedes Framework The cultural miscommunications between Japan and Non-Asian countries (Australia in this case), which can be faced by Emily in building up business relations can be explained with the help of the Hofestedes Framework: Masculinity versus Femininity- The culture of Japan is highly inclined to masculinity as the same is treated to be similar to success and galore. The culture of Australia is however gender unbiased in this dimension. Individualism versus Collectivism- Japan ranks high in collectivism as discussed above while Australians focus more on individual achievements, thereby ranking high in individualism[11]. Large and Small Power Distance- The power distance in Japan is pretty high as there exists a predominant hierarchical structure in the country unlike that of Australia, where the power distance is small[12]. Indulgence versus Restraint- Japanese people tends to respect restraint more than indulgence, which in turn is more common in the culture of Australia. Conclusion As is evident from the above discussion, for building successful business relation in Japan, Emily needs to put considerable emphasis on the professional etiquettes that are practiced in the country. Maintaining a calm, polite and restrained attitude and showing ample respect to Mr. Hamasaki, along with incorporation of Japanese professional and behavioral etiquettes can help Emily in making an extremely positive impression on her client, which may help her in the long run, in expanding her business possibilities in Japan, which may contribute in success of her future endeavors. References Aismar.net,Excuse Us, Your Manners Are Missing! The Role Of Business Etiquette In TodayS Era Of Cross- Cultural Communication(2017) Aismar.net https://www.aismar.net/UploadLinkPageimages/TBRV2N1June2014.pdf#page=27 Americanexpress.com,Doing Business In Japan: 10 Etiquette Rules You Should Know(2017) OPEN Forum https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/articles/doing-business-in-japan-10-etiquette-rules-you-should-know/ Baylor-ir.tdl.org,Employee-Employer Relations In Japan: An Analysis Of Honor-Shame And Authority-Power Relations Within The Modern Japanese Workplace(2017) Baylor-ir.tdl.org https://baylor-ir.tdl.org/baylor-ir/bitstream/handle/2104/8888/Cole_Short_HonorsThesis.pdf?sequence=1 Books.google.co.in,Business Communication Today(2017) Google Books https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=enlr=id=_xAwDwAAQBAJoi=fndpg=PP2dq=business+etiquetteots=7qdQ97hPTvsig=hDkB42uHImG3Zle3rWRspTALuKo#v=onepageq=business%20etiquettef=false Brage.bibsys.no,Hofstede Revisited: Is Making The Ecological Fallacy When Using HofstedeS Instrument On Individual Behavior Really Unavoidable?(2017) Brage.bibsys.no https://brage.bibsys.no/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/93582/Grenness_IJBM_2012.pdf?sequence=1 Japan-guide.com,Japanese Table Manners(2017) Japan-guide.com https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2005.html Rep.polessu.by,EXCHANGING BUSINESS CARDS AS A MAIN ELEMENT OF BUSINESS MEETING(2017) Rep.polessu.by https://rep.polessu.by/bitstream/123456789/2603/1/91.pdf S3.amazonaws.com,A Critique Of HofstedeS Fifth National Culture Dimension(2017) S3.amazonaws.com https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/2536994/Fang__2003___A_Critique_of_Hofstede__IJCCM_2003.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIWOWYYGZ2Y53UL3AExpires=1511243657Signature=%2BaPIdx5Q5NSr%2Bh47BsSwSXC95nA%3Dresponse-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DFang_2003_._A_critique_of_Hofstede_s_fif.pdf S3.amazonaws.com,Formal Forms Or Verbal Strategies? Politeness Theory And Japanese Business Etiquette Training(2017) S3.amazonaws.com https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/38475420/Dunn2011.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIWOWYYGZ2Y53UL3AExpires=1511236201Signature=fHn8neC0HpTmnCGJvmnhTyFyQfU%3Dresponse-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DFormal_Forms_or_Verbal_Strategies_Polite.pdf Scholarworks.uni.edu,Speaking Politely, Kindly, And Beautifully: Ideologies Of Politeness In Japanese Business Etiquette Training(2017) Scholarworks.uni.edu https://scholarworks.uni.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000context=sac_facpub Unpan1.un.org,Cities And Growth: Theory And Evidence From France And Japan(2017) Unpan1.un.org https://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN014315.pdf Venturejapan.com,Secrets Of Japanese Business Etiquette Venture Japan(2017) Doing business in Japan https://www.venturejapan.com/business-in-japan/doing-business-in-japan/secrets-of-japanese-business-etiquette Books.google.co.in,Business Communication Today(2017) Google Books https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=enlr=id=_xAwDwAAQBAJoi=fndpg=PP2dq=business+etiquetteots=7qdQ97hPTvsig=hDkB42uHImG3Zle3rWRspTALuKo#v=onepageq=business%20etiquettef=false. Aismar.net,Excuse Us, Your Manners Are Missing! The Role Of Business Etiquette In TodayS Era Of Cross- Cultural Communication(2017) Aismar.net https://www.aismar.net/UploadLinkPageimages/TBRV2N1June2014.pdf#page=27. S3.amazonaws.com,Formal Forms Or Verbal Strategies? Politeness Theory And Japanese Business Etiquette Training(2017) S3.amazonaws.com https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/38475420/Dunn2011.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIWOWYYGZ2Y53UL3AExpires=1511236201Signature=fHn8neC0HpTmnCGJvmnhTyFyQfU%3Dresponse-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DFormal_Forms_or_Verbal_Strategies_Polite.pdf Unpan1.un.org,Cities And Growth: Theory And Evidence From France And Japan(2017) Unpan1.un.org https://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN014315.pdf Scholarworks.uni.edu,Speaking Politely, Kindly, And Beautifully: Ideologies Of Politeness In Japanese Business Etiquette Training(2017) Scholarworks.uni.edu https://scholarworks.uni.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000context=sac_facpub. Rep.polessu.by,EXCHANGING BUSINESS CARDS AS A MAIN ELEMENT OF BUSINESS MEETING(2017) Rep.polessu.by https://rep.polessu.by/bitstream/123456789/2603/1/91.pdf. Baylor-ir.tdl.org,Employee-Employer Relations In Japan: An Analysis Of Honor-Shame And Authority-Power Relations Within The Modern Japanese Workplace(2017) Baylor-ir.tdl.org https://baylor-ir.tdl.org/baylor-ir/bitstream/handle/2104/8888/Cole_Short_HonorsThesis.pdf?sequence=1. Americanexpress.com,Doing Business In Japan: 10 Etiquette Rules You Should Know(2017) OPEN Forum https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/articles/doing-business-in-japan-10-etiquette-rules-you-should-know/. Venturejapan.com,Secrets Of Japanese Business Etiquette Venture Japan(2017) Doing business in Japan https://www.venturejapan.com/business-in-japan/doing-business-in-japan/secrets-of-japanese-business-etiquette/. Japan-guide.com,Japanese Table Manners(2017) Japan-guide.com https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2005.html. Brage.bibsys.no,Hofstede Revisited: Is Making The Ecological Fallacy When Using HofstedeS Instrument On Individual Behavior Really Unavoidable?(2017) Brage.bibsys.no https://brage.bibsys.no/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/93582/Grenness_IJBM_2012.pdf?sequence=1. S3.amazonaws.com,A Critique Of HofstedeS Fifth National Culture Dimension(2017) S3.amazonaws.com https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/2536994/Fang__2003___A_Critique_of_Hofstede__IJCCM_2003.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIWOWYYGZ2Y53UL3AExpires=1511243657Signature=%2BaPIdx5Q5NSr%2Bh47BsSwSXC95nA%3Dresponse-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DFang_2003_._A_critique_of_Hofstede_s_fif.pdf.