Managing in a Different Culture: The Experiences of Canadian Managers in Japan
Objectives
The aim of this assignment is to provide learners with a specific example of why it is important to understand the culture of a foreign country. A video interview database of Canadian managers in Japan is the forum for sharing this insight.
Instructor Comments
Aside from solid research and textual web based explanations, another means to understand the nuances of a nation’s culture is to listen to what people have to say about it. We travelled to Tokyo in the summer of 2006 and decided to ask a group of Canadian managers what they thought about working and living in a different culture. We were curious about their experiences, their struggles, their preparations, their prior misconceptions, the role of business networks and the advice that they might be able to offer others.
We also wanted to know about what made the culture of Japan unique from those of other countries. We asked these Canadians about the use of business cards, the role of silence, the set up of a business office, the etiquette surrounding dining, the role of seniority, the way to start a business relationship, the patterns of communication, the way to constructively criticize a Japanese colleague, the means to motivate a team and other important challenges such as maintaining the respect of colleagues. The collection of interviews is a fascinating look at a different culture from the perspective of outsiders. The interview responses were unscripted and respondents spoke from the heart.
Assignment
This assignment seeks to help you understand the answer to a broader concern and that is, “What are some of the cultural features specific to Japan that managers should pay attention to when operating in that country?” You should base your responses to the following questions on the answers offered by Canadian managers to questions posed in the video interview database.
In order to complete this assignment you will be using the AIEIS video interview database.
Note: This process provides you with a password to access the Acadia Multi-Media Case Management System (AMCMS) which includes AIEIS – this does not change your ACORN account information.
Step 1: Get Your Password
1)     Go to http://amcms.acadiau.ca/
2)Â Â Â Â Â Select Lost Password
Enter your username (ACORN username – last six digits student number first letter of last name)
Email account registered
Select Go – you should see a message indicating “A new password has been sent to your registered email account…â€
3)    You should now have an email with your password and should log in and change your password via the ‘My Account’ option in the Navigation block.
Step 2: Login to access the materials for your assignment
1) If not still or already at the AMCMS site go to http://amcms.acadiau.ca/ – When logging into the AMCMS site, you would enter your institution as ACADIAU and enter your username and new password.
2) Once logged in you should see your course listed and follow the links to the interviews.
Note: You may need to install Quicktime to access the video content of this site.
How to get access to AIEIS video database: (click to open/close)
Note: This process provides you with a password to access the Acadia Multi-Media Case Management System (AMCMS) which includes AIEIS – this does not change your ACORN account information.
Step 1: Get Your Password
1)     Go to http://amcms.acadiau.ca/
2)Â Â Â Â Â Select Lost Password
Enter your username (ACORN username – last six digits student number first letter of last name)
Email account registered
Select Go – you should see a message indicating “A new password has been sent to your registered email account…â€
3)    You should now have an email with your password and should log in and change your password via the ‘My Account’ option in the Navigation block.
Step 2: Login to access the materials for your assignment
1) If not still or already at the AMCMS site go to http://amcms.acadiau.ca/ – When logging into the AMCMS site, you would enter your institution as ACADIAU and enter your username and new password.
2) Once logged in you should see your course listed and follow the links to the interviews.
Note: You may need to install Quicktime to access the video content of this site.
Access the videos at
Busi 3913 Cross Cultural Management -> Business Culture of Japan -> Business Culture of Japan
For each of the first three questions below, please compare and summarize in one-half page each, the responses of five of the respondents.
Can you please describe a typical work day for yourself in Japan including how you get to and from work? WORK DAY
In your opinion, what factors would you suggest most likely contribute to the difficulties of expatriates who are unable to successfully adapt to working in Japan? FAILURE TO ADAPT
What advice would you give other Canadians getting ready to work as an expatriate in Japan? ADVICE
For each of the two questions below, please compare and summarize in one-half page each, the responses of the respondents.
What is the role of silence when ideas are being discussed with Japanese colleagues? SILENCE
Can you describe the logic and etiquette surrounding the exchange of business cards in Japan? BUSINESS CARDS
Please limit your response to this assignment to three single spaced, typed pages. Please cite your sources in the text and please reference them at the end of your assignment. Please end your write-up with one paragraph that summarizes what you think is the importance of this assignment.
