Cultural Business Practices Report

Companies that has plan to join the global business market and those with a diverse workforce, it is vital to acknowledge the importance of cross-cultural communication. This communications includes understanding different cultures, languages and people, how they speak and perceive the world. Organizational cross-cultural communication deals with learning, understanding and acknowledging different communication strategies, cultures, beliefs and business customs. High context vs. Low context, language disparities, cultural differences and power distance are factors that affect cross-cultural communication (Warren). This can be attributed to the fact that there markets have individualistic and direct employees that base their choices on facts and might have trust issues. This culture adopts the use of explicit communication. On the other hand, High-context culture is persistent in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

It is the direct opposite of low-context culture whereby trust is an important business aspect. Companies or organizations that employ high-context culture employees are collectivists and often focus on interpersonal relationships. This is experienced by various organizations and Japan is one of those. When doing business or planning to start an international venture, organizations must try to identify themselves with the local language, customer and employer expectations, culture and customs of the country. This they believe ensure proper business relationships (Warren). Despite foreign views, Japan and its culture is not homogeneous as often as imagined. There is variation in community size, region, rural and urban locations, work, education and minorities. Business practices in the United States Culture The United States is a country for immigrants often called a save heaven a land that makes dreams come true.

Founded on the basis of equality and freedom the country is home to over 290M people that range in culture, language, race and religion(Jondle and Ardichvili). The culture reveals a deeply instilled sense of ethnical and regional identity represented by its immense regional and geographical diversity. It is unmistakable the impact the United States has on global business. Nevertheless, understanding its cultural values and concepts is just as vital as sales for any organization that plans to conduct products in the United States. The society recognizes equal opportunities, social obligations and rights all through the concept of individual excellence. Theories Involved in cross-cultural communication Hofstede’s 5 dimensions model This dimensional theory is a framework for cross-cultural communication that was developed by Geert Hodfstede.

The theory describes how societal or cultural values affect individuals and their behavior through factor analysis. He travelled to over 50 countries and analyzed employee that worked for IBM. He later on acknowledged six dimensions that distinguished one culture from another. It address how the society deals with inequality in the society. Societies with high power index acknowledge hierarchical orders however, those with low power index strive to create equality. Japan ranks high in Masculinity, long-term orientation and Uncertainty avoidance(Jondle and Ardichvili). Women in Japan work but most often perform ordinary tasks like secretaries. Business in Japan require more durations to make a deal as compared to US companies. Defense- Individuals in this stage view their culture as the best from all the rest.

They feel a sense of superiority when it comes to their culture. They are often threatened by the thought of cultural difference hence critic other cultures regardless of who they might be communicating with. Minimization- Here, elements of individual culture are viewed universally. It absolutes deep cultural difference. Comparing Doing Business in Japan and America According to Geert Hofstede, culture is a source of synergy but not more than conflict. Cultural dissimilarities are often a disaster and nuisances at best. Culture negatively affects global business instead of creating synergies and ultimately restricting marketing attempts. But the right approach and the adaptation of the cross-cultural theories might ease the transition. The United States are countries with very rich cultures and attaining synergy for international businesses might prove futile without a proper understanding of the business culture and the society at large.

Conclusion Organizations and companies that have diverse workforce are largely dependent on cross-cultural communication to ensure they thrive in the global economy. The cultures of Japan and the United States are different but both can learn from each other. American business men are often after short-term profits and closing deals, they could learn the essence of patience from the Japanese culture so as to develop strong and long-lasting business relationships. Companies that has plan to join the global business market and those with a diverse workforce, it is vital to acknowledge the importance of cross-cultural communication. This communications includes understanding different cultures, languages and people, how they speak and perceive the world. "ISO Standards and Cross-Cultural Communication: Materials for Teachers. " Teaching Intercultural Rhetoric and Technical Communication: Theories, Curriculum, Pedagogies, and Practice, 2011.