Kelly’s Assignment in Japan

Title: Solutions to Kelly’s Assignment in Japan Case Study
Module Title and Number: Managing Across Borders MGT 3203

Date : January 28, 2013
Word Count : 1650

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE Introduction 3
Culture Shock Stages Reflection…………………………..………………………….………………..3 Assessment of Clashes 5 Successful International Assignments 5 Suggestions to Remedy the Situation 6 Conclusion 7 REFERENCES 8 APPENDICES Appendix 1 10 Appendix 2 11 Appendix 3 13

INTRODUCTION The American and Japanese cultures have been compared in a general context for their contrasting values. In addition, the two cultures have been described as …show more content…

Moreover, the Americans and Germans ,being affective cultures, accepted to talk about their achievements and families whereas the Japanese did not as they were more neutral and formal. In addition, Japan is known for its power distance culture where formalities especially with clients and employees who are of higher-level is a must. Adding to that, getting direct to business is accepted in the US due to its universalistic culture but not in Japan’s particulistic culture. The culture in Japan is also high context seeing that rejecting Kelly’s proposal was done in a nonverbal and implicit communication manner. The cultural clashes were also a result of unexpected living space, demographics and qualifications creating many conflicts. It can also be argued that if a Japanese colleague joined Kelly’s meeting with the client, a better negotiation outcome may have been a result. This is because understanding the client’s culture plays a crucial role in the negotiation process (Deresky, 2011). Clashes were also related to the leisure aspect of life. In short, many cultural clashes due to both cultures different values arose throughout the case.

SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS
(Answer to Third Question)
In this case both Kelly, and the company should have considered key factors to insure a successful international assignment as explained below:
Employee