Upgrade to Pro — share decks privately, control downloads, hide ads and more …

Five Cultural Differences and Learning Points for Japanese Companies

Alexander Hsu
August 05, 2016
1.3k

Five Cultural Differences and Learning Points for Japanese Companies

レアジョブ

Alexander Hsu

August 05, 2016
Tweet

Transcript

  1. Disclaimer • The following are just my observations from my

    personal experience and what I have heard from friends who also work in Japan • Not all Japanese companies are the same so please take it with a grain of salt • The examples are all somewhat exaggerated for presentation purposes and the comparison are really just relatively speaking • I love Japan!
  2. Japan US • World’s Most Formal Emails • Honorifics (Keigo)

    • World’s Most Informal Emails (?) • Casual (“Hey”) • More Polite (? not necessarily) • Longer • Wordy • Rude (? not necessarily) • Shorter • Straight to the point
  3. Japan US • Strict on working time • Uncomfortable to

    leave “on time” unless you do not “read the air” • Based more on time • Flexible on working time except for mandatory meetings • Manage your own time and responsibilities • Based more on performance • Easier to manage • Less motivated (not necessarily) • Harder to manage (Pokemon GO?) • More motivated (not necessarily)
  4. Japan US • Arrive on start time • Leave a

    little later after end time • No pingpong during work hours • Play pingpong at 2:30pm • Work at 2:30am EXAMPLE
  5. Question for thought: Do Longer hours = Better results? Do

    Flexible working hours = Better results?
  6. Japan US • Not a lot of feedback • Everyone

    is too polite and scared to offend other people or their work • I like XXX but I wish … • Honest feedback (?) • Less conflicts • Harder to identify area for improvement • More conflicts • Easier to identify area for improvement
  7. Japan US • I love the creativity • The color

    is very nice! • Very cool 3D modeling! • めっちゃいいね • I like XXX but I wish … • Can we redo the whole thing? • Wow… who designed these? EXAMPLE
  8. Question for thought: Do you want feedbacks from others even

    if they’re not necessarily pleasant?
  9. Japan US • Decisions are made collectively • Everyone needs

    to be happy about the decision • A lot of meetings • Not a lot of negative feedback • More free and to the point • Individuals are relatively more empowered to make decisions • Less meetings • Better decisions (?) • Takes longer • Relies on individuals’ ability more • Faster
  10. Japan US • “But XXX might be unhappy about this

    decision” • “Let’s decide it next week when XXX is here” • “Can you confirm with XXX just to make sure?” • Involve a few key persons in the meeting • Decide and do it EXAMPLE
  11. Japan US • Salaries can drop but you will probably

    not get fired • You’re safe as long as you do your hours • Over time, company’s quality can deteriorate due to poor hiring decisions • More contract-based employments and pays less • Based on Performance • You get fired if you cannot do your job • By firing poor hiring decisions, company can stay lean and fit • Pays more