Cultural Dimensions: The U.S. and Japan
This paper applies Hofstede’s five cultural dimensions to compare and contrast the American and the Japanese cultures/societies to enhance intercultural communication between Japanese and American people. This is because different communication symbols (choice of words, gestures, clues, use of space and facial expressions) create a diversity of meanings across the world (Dowling, Festing, & Engle, 2008). For instance, a native may feel insulted by a gesture from a naïve traveler.
Similarities and Differences between the U.S. and Japan
Power Distance
Both the American and the Japanese cultures have mild sensitivity to power distance because of their meritocratic nature. According to Naoi (2012), the meritocratic nature of Japanese culture is because of industrialization. Industrialization operates on the principles of capitalism, which enhances a sense of equity in the society. However, the Japanese retains some sense of power distance because of the effects of the Meiji Restoration in the country. Based on such state, juniors would still bend lower than their seniors during greetings.
The American society is less sensitive to power distance compared to the Japanese society because of the constitutional doctrines of equity and liberty. However, the Americans still keep distance and use terms such as “sir” when addressing their seniors.
Individual or Collectivism
Both the American and Japanese cultures have some sense of individualism and collectivism. Individualism in Japan and the United States is subject to the effects of capitalism. However, individualism is more profound in American than Japan because of the American culture and constitution emphasizes self-reliance. For instance, the American children often start sleeping alone from childhood; this enforces individualism in the society. Such value is often reinforced by culture because the Americans are mostly trained to start being independent right from 18 years. Then the pursuit of happiness drives individuals to work more and socialize less thereby lowering the degree of collectivism in the United States (Mogilner, 2010). However, the American collectivism is evident during disasters when Americans from all walks of life donate to help the needy. However, individualism is stronger in the United States.
Nonetheless, in Japan the level of individualism is lower because Japan has a history of imperial socialism. According to Crump (2010), socialism thought emerged during the Meiji era. Nonetheless, collectivism in Japan is rooted in the Japanese family culture because Japanese live in closely-knit family structures. However, capitalism and economic growth for the Japanese society has boosted the growth of individual thought. For instance, most Japanese live and work in cities, which have led to the growth of the individual sense of self-gratification in a rather competitive environment. Nonetheless, collectivism in Japan is more elaborate; Japanese often value groups’ interests compared to individual interests.
Masculinity and Femininity
Both the United States and Japan record high levels of masculinity and femininity. Masculinity in the United States is because of the spirit of capitalism and the pursuit of happiness. In this case, the society encourages women to “think like men and act like women” because the American society socializes men to be aggressive. Japanese also emphasize about success which comes through hard work and determination.
Nonetheless, the Japanese society has a higher sense of masculinity compared to the Americans. This is because the Meiji Restoration instilled hardworking culture among the Japanese people. Capitalism and education have enhanced such aggression. Nonetheless, Japanese are less assertive and competitive compared to the Americans because Japanese society embraces socialistic values.
Uncertainty Avoidance
American and Japanese have some degree of uncertainty avoidance. The American’s uncertainty avoidance is anchored on their ability to adapt to change and openness to criticism. The Japanese base their uncertainty avoidance on their consistent experience with natural disasters; typhoons and earthquakes.
Nonetheless, individual Japanese have a relatively lower degree of adaptability compared to the Americans. Japanese base their decision on evidence; Americans often treat each challenge on its unique capacity. For instance, the American business persons make decisions basing on their desire to try new ideas and things. As such, one would find it hard to move and transform Japanese because of their higher degree of conservativeness.
Short-or Long-Term Orientation
Both American and Japanese have some degree of short and long-term orientations. Americans’ short-term orientation is based on the American capitalism and search for happiness. Most Americans strive to excel in life at a lower cost to their individual being. On the other hand, the American long-term orientation is based the ethical and legal part of doing business. On the other hand, Japanese also have a sense to short-term orientation thereby justifying the reason for mechanization of Japan as a country in the world. At the same time, Japanese have a stronger value for long-term orientation. Japanese base their long-term orientation on a Confucius mentality, which emphasize ethics and the need to do good to other people.
However, the American society has a stronger short-term orientation compared to Japan. The American’s values place more emphasis on success while the Japanese values are based on the common good. Owing to such difference, the Americans are likely to take short-cuts compared to the Japanese.
Case Scenario
An American multinational wants to operate from Japan; the company should choose measures to minimize cultural conflict. In this case, the company should train the expatriates on major cultural elements. The expatriates should first learn the cultural values and norms of the natives. Secondly, they should then learn taboo phrases, topics, issues and words. Thirdly, the expatriates should learn taboo gestures, greetings, and the meaning associated to each symbol. For instance, they should learn the use of space, facial expression, and basic communication skills to reduce confrontation with the Japanese authorities, children, and senior members of the community.
Conclusion
In conclusion, an American company can only succeed in Japan by respecting the Japanese culture. As such, the American company should ensure that its workers are trained about what are consider as either right or wrong form of communication and how to exploit Japanese culture when it comes to business negotiations.
References
Crump, J. (2010). The origins of socialist thought in Japan (Vol. 5). Taylor & Francis US.
Top of Form
Dowling, P., Festing, M., & Engle, A. D. (2008). International human resource management: Managing people in a multinational context. London: Thomson Learning.
Hamamura, T. (2012). Are cultures becoming individualistic? A cross-temporal comparison of individualism–collectivism in the United States and Japan. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 16(1), 3-24.
Mogilner, C. (2010). The pursuit of happiness time, money, and social connection. Psychological Science, 21(9), 1348-1354.
Naoi, A. (2012). Industrialization, social structure and meritocracy in japan. Retrieved 14, January, 2013, from, http://ir.library.osaka-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/11094/4543/1/ahs10_y001.pdf
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