Understanding Cross-Cultural Differences in Business Practices and Communication

In today’s globalized business environment, understanding cross-cultural differences is essential for effective management and business practices. This sample work explores the cultural contrasts between the U.S. and Japan, two of the world’s most influential economies. By analyzing key aspects such as communication styles, traditions, and business practices, this case study offers valuable insights for students in business and management programs.

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Exploring Cross-Cultural Differences In Business Practices and Communication

Introduction

There are various types of cultures present in different countries with different beliefs, practices, languages, and behaviors. Some of the countries have the same cultural backgrounds as well. To identify the major differences in culture; the first thing is to analyze the cultural background, their sensitivity, their emotions, judging sense, dressing sense, and several rituals that need to be performed respectively (Jenkins, 2020). This report will reflect the major differences between the two countries of culture. The countries that have been chosen are the US and Japan; based on these the researcher will identify the major cultural differences and make this report highlight the perpetual conception of the information. Along with this, this report also contrasts the major differences of culture with the comparison of self-cultural background; to the creation of biography.

Formation of two intercultural autobiographies (From interview)

Based on the differences in culture, the two countries have been taken into consideration for making the major cultural differences. The entire process has been taken place through interview conduction of face to face. As the interview has been presented based on the US and Japan; I have made the conception of two attendees based on the interview. During the interview process, I have identified the major differences between them. The two attendees, George (from the US) and another one named as Suzuki (from Japan) have been taken into consideration. During the interview, starting with George I asked various intellectual questions relating to his cultural background, their food, their dressing sense, their family rituals, their mother languages, their personalized hobbies, and all (Korol, 2020). Based on that the answer that I have received is that all Americans speak English and most US citizens possess a greyish-white body color. They like to eat hamburgers most of the time. They strongly believe in Jesus and go to church daily respectively. He added that most of the US citizens like to wear black suits with a white shirt worn inside to maintain professionalism. He also exclaimed that their languages are very common and can be taken as a very common language in many different countries as well. Based on the Japanese person named Suzuki, I have asked the same questions relating to identifying the major differences; based on that he added that their language is subtitle; they tend to speak Japonica language. They believe in Buddhism religion. Their national food is considered as curry rice with various types of cuisines as well. He also exclaimed that their languages are very uncommon and very likely to understand. He also added some demographics that most of the Japanese traditions are based on electronic foundations with advanced technology as well. The flag of the US and Japan is also different. Their clothing sense is based on traditions and culture respectively. The way that Suzuki was speaking during the interview shows that most Japanese are very fast and very goal-oriented. Coming back to George and Suzuki together, I have differentiated their belongings and related questions in face-to-face communication; to identify the speaking sense and their country traditions respectively. 

Contrasting and comparing the information

Based on the interview, I have perceived a very meaningful and logical connection between them. There are many differences between country culture and tradition. Firstly, their country’s flag is different (color and shapes), their national food is very uncommon (for the US it is a hamburger and for Japan, it is curry rice), and their way of communicating the languages is quite different (English and Japanese); by which I have articulated that US language is very common and it can be spoken in many parts of the world; while the Japanese language is very uncommon; it is restricted to its origin as well (Palm, 2019). In addition to this, their traditions and rituals are very different, the US believes in Jesus While Japanese citizens believe in Buddhist traditions respectively. Based on the interview, I have found one activity in common; that is their dressing sense in a professional way of mode. Both like to wear black suits and white-collar shirts sore inside. Along with their economic perspective, George has explained that their country comprises most strongest and highest economic power in the world; while Suzuki has added that their country’s rate of technology rate is very high. Despite their differences; I fully agree about their traditions and cultural backgrounds. In addition to this, based on the interview I have concluded that both The USA and Japan a developed countries; hence based on the economy, languages, traditions, flags, rituals, dressing sense, and food flavors; it has been proven quite differences between them respectively (Kalisch, 2019).

Identifying the result using the framework

Japan and the United States have a different cultural framework. People leaving them will know the difference between the works and the words. They have different ways of showing their culture and expressing it which provides them a huge view of the influence part of both countries. This helps to identify the differences between the two cultures. The two frameworks will be done side by side so that it becomes easy to work accordingly and it just helps to create the cultural difference. The cultural framework of Japan and the United States are as follows:

• They have their faith and beliefs in trees. They have a thousand-year-old tree which is named Hanami. It is a cherry blossom tree and they have this festival which is a flower viewing festival where they witness the cherry blossom of the whole tree. In 1912 japan gave more than 3000 cherry blossoms to the United States to maintain their relationship (Savicki, 2020).
• There’s an indication from the cherry blossom tree that the fallen cherry blossom is a fallen “samurai”. This means the fight of the fighter is over.

• Japanese is spoken by small business owners and they don’t speak in any other language other than that. The most important part of the language is “Honorifics”. The suffixes should be used properly otherwise the tone and work of the whole thing will be different and a simple conversation will turn into a document.

• There is a dish named Japanese hotpot. This dish actually brings people together and even if you are working with family or friends you just have to work with them. This shows that the work is not only about eating it is also about organizational skills.
• Oden stalls are also a part of this culture where hungry passerby is given food and alcohol and they also have an overwhelming welcome so that the passerby does not feel lonely.
• Japanese have different clothing and their signature clothes is a KIMONO. This dress is made to conceal the feminine parts but it is nowadays not used by the normal public. It’s only used for the occasion (Guan and Wang, 2020). 
• The culture of their work is actually being shown in their amines which actually shows all the work for their cultural difference.
• They have very good politeness which becomes a bit more annoying for people but that is also one of the benefits of their culture.

• The most important lack of the whole cultural framework is actually the power distance where the concept of superior and inferior comes and it just depicts class.
• One of the other parts of this culture is their individualism. Everyone has their own point of view and they don’t like that to be questioned.
• This society has become more of a masculine society where power is more than the work.

Analyzing Cultural Difference

• The cultural difference between both countries is quite differentiable. Some of the differences are as follows:

• No Portable food: There is no availability of portable food and the Japanese people feel it to be very disrespectful to not have food while walking or working. In the U.S. you can actually hold a coffee and roam around the whole world but it is not there somewhere.

• PDA is something that is always frowned upon by countries. Japan doesn’t actually follow. They find it very difficult to work like that (Savicki, 2020).
• The difference actually is that the Japanese know the value of their time and in the States that is something that is rarely been. In Japan, businessmen walk in three-piece suits on the streets.

• One of the most important key factors is their hygiene. They don’t need to have everything in their topic to keep it growing but once you buy something in Japan then you won’t find a place to throw it because trash cans are not available. They have to return to the hotel and throw the garbage in a much more classified dustbin.
• One of the major differences is complicated toilets. They have different switches which makes the user confused at most of the time. The companies need to have all the things and they will not bother him or herself at that point of the crucial time. People need to train toilette training via YouTube for visiting Japan.
• These are the major cultural differences between Japan and the U.S. and it has actually shown that Japan is more culturally active than the U.S.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the only work that Japan has to follow is to control its strictness. The country need not change their cultural patterns and they need not bring any change in their work. They will just have to come hand in hand with the modern world. Japan has been working with many other countries for their technological advancement but they never fell apart because of their cultural beliefs and this proves that the country’s cultural belief is far stronger than any other country. The country will be moving forward with many other works of its own. In another hand, the United States lacks a lot of cultural beliefs. There is no hint of culture they all follow modern techniques to do something or the other in their daily chores. 

The United States has been a country where they promote callousness. The discipline word is missing in all its work patterns. They have a huge work difference with Japan because Japan never compromises on their work and culture for other reasons. For them, their work is an act of devotion to God. The people of the States need to learn a lot from the Japanese and Japan needs to be a bit more social with their relationships because time goes on and sometimes it is necessary to submit the work. These are the major differences that are lacking in both cultures. Somewhere or the other Japan is at the top and it still is on the top for culture.

Reference

de Hei, M., Tabacaru, C., Sjoer, E., Rippe, R. and Walenkamp, J., 2020. Developing intercultural competence through collaborative learning in international higher education. Journal of Studies in International Education, 24(2), pp.190-211.

Denton‐Borhaug, K., 2020. Martyrdom Discourse in Contemporary US War‐culture. The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Christian Martyrdom, pp.469-484.

Farooq, Q., Hao, Y. and Liu, X., 2019. Understanding corporate social responsibility with cross‐cultural differences: A deeper look at religiosity. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 26(4), pp.965-971.

Guan, L. and Wang, Q., 2020. Does sharing memories make us feel closer? The roles of memory type and culture.

Jenkins, S., 2020. Understanding the Impact of Cross-Cultural Communication Between American and Japanese Businesses.

Jiang, T., Li, H. and Hou, Y., 2019. Cultural differences in humor perception, usage, and implications. Frontiers in psychology, 10, p.123.

Kalisch, M., 2019. The politics of male friendship in contemporary American fiction (Doctoral dissertation, University of Cambridge).

Kohli Bagwe, T. and Haskollar, E., 2020. Variables Impacting Intercultural Competence: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, pp.1-26.

Korol, O., 2020. Intercultural communication course design: needs and challenges.

López-Pérez, B. and Pacella, D., 2019. Interpersonal emotion regulation in children: Age, gender, and cross-cultural differences using a serious game. Emotion.

Meleady, R., Seger, C. and Vermue, M., 2020. Evidence of a dynamic association between intergroup contact and intercultural competence. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, p.1368430220940400.

Palm, R., 2019. Illusions of safety: Culture and earthquake hazard response in California and Japan. Routledge.

Savicki, V. ed., 2020. Developing intercultural competence and transformation: Theory, research, and application in international education. Stylus Publishing, LLC.

Smith, L.E. and Nelson, C.L., 2019. World Englishes and issues of intelligibility. The handbook of world Englishes, pp.430-446.

Thapa, S., 2020. Assessing Intercultural Competence in Teacher Education: A Missing Link. In Visions for Intercultural Music Teacher Education (pp. 163-176). Springer, Cham.

Tuomi, A., Tussyadiah, I. and Stienmetz, J., 2020. Service robots and the changing roles of employees in restaurants: A cross-cultural study. E-review of Tourism Research, 17(5).

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