Intercultural Communication Of Emily Visiting Japan †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Intercultural Communication A Case Study Of Emily Visiting Japan To Meet Mr. Hamasaki For A Business Meeting. Answer: Intercultural Communication Intercultural communication refers to communication involving two individuals who are from different cultural origin or linguistics. It involved conversation with a person of different background(Dervin, 2011). Understanding intercultural communication enables individuals to acquire abilities to deal with across culture with engaging with an individual from another culture. Therefore, intercultural communication techniques act as survival tactics for successful communication when meeting business partners or potential arrays in a foreign country. The following essay analysis Japanese business etiquette and steps that Emily who is an Australian has to follow in her visit to Japan in order to create favorable first impression to Mr. Hamasaki. The essay will also define ethnorelativism, outline Hofstede dimensions and areas of potential cross culture miscommunication. In addition, the essay will recommend suitable adjustments that Emily will make to increase success when meeting Mr. Ham asaki. Japanese business etiquette can be analyzed in terms of appearance, behavior, and communication. Japanese place high level to appearance of an individual when conducting business. They value appropriateness and impression that the counterpart in business appears in(Dunn, 2013). The following are the generally accepted appearance in Japanese business code; first the dressing code should be impressive and matching status. For women, they are not allowed to wear pants when meeting for business purpose. Secondly, women are supposed to wear low heeled shoes and the dress should be conservative. Thirdly, one should not blow ones nose in public or even point in public. Japanese business behaviors in business meeting include the following; first, whoever hosts the business meeting is the one to pay for the meal or drink and incase one wants to pay has to insist. Secondly, there is no entertainment in Japanese home for visitors. Thirdly, there is no openly displaying of money in Japan. Another behavior in Japanese business behavior is that tipping is not allowed in business discussions because it has different meaning compared to western societies. Lastly, gifts are important in business and should be given at the end of the meeting. The following business communication etiquettes are generally accepted in Japan; first, business cards are used in every business meeting. The handling and receiving of business cards should be in both hands and show of appreciation. Business meetings cannot also begin before the business cards exchange process is complete. Secondly, greetings are done by bowing which as to be equivalent to how low the counterpart bow. Thirdly, there is preference in Japan not to use the word no. Introduction has to be done with the last name. They prefer calling individuals by their last name. Lastly, one should avoid using the number 4 because it signifies bad luck in Japan. Hofstede dimensions analysis on Japanese cultures enables understanding of the drives of the Japanese culture compared to other world cultures. These dimensions include; individualism, power distance, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, long term orientation and indulgence. The first dimension is individualism. The degree of interdependency in the Japanese society is low compared to western societies. The society has characteristics of a collective society where the interests of the groups are placed higher compared to individual interests (De Mooij, Hofstede, 2010). The second dimension is masculinity. The Japanese society is amongst the most masculine society in the world. Competition is group based where employees enjoy competing in teams. The society also has a strong drive to excellence and perfection in material services, material production, and presentation. These factors are evident in every aspect of their life. The third dimension is uncertainty avoidance. The Japanese society is amongst the countries that have high level of uncertainty avoidance in the whole world. Japanese are highly conscious about the future uncertainty and prepare themselves for uncertain events. The fourth dimension is power distance. Japanese are highly hierarchical a nd are very cautious about their position and status. Decisions have to be confirmed form the headquarters (Winther-Tamaki, Yoshida, 2016). In addition, the society has an education system that equals all people in terms of opportunities and achievement. The fifth dimension is long term orientation. Japanese society is long term oriented. Japanese perception is life is based on the short moment that they have in the story of mankind. In business, individuals like investing in long term investments (Okoro, 2012). The sixth dimension is indulgence. The Japan society culture is characterized by low score of indulgence. They have a culture of restraint. People tend to show control and do not emphasis on leisure time. There is a perception that involving in foreign activities that are outside their social norms is wrong (Abe, 2009). Ethnorelativism is an ability acquired that enables one to be comfortable with other peoples culture and standards and easily adapt ones behavior to different interpersonal setting. Ethnorelativism enables one to understand that there is no culture superior compared to another culture(Wang, 2013). The ethnorelativism skills will enable Emily to accept, understand, and cope with the Japanese business etiquette. The process has three steps. They include; acceptance, adaptations and integration. The first step is acceptance that involves accepting other cultures despite not liking it. This step involves acknowledging the differences though disagreeing to do what is done in the culture. The second step involves adaptation of intercultural empathy. This requires an individual to interpret and evaluate information from other cultural perspectives. One has to have different perception about issues in order to get other peoples judgment. This process enables one to adapt to different cultura l way of interpreting and evaluating activities, actions, and information. The last step is the last one and involves assimilation of the cultures. It involves acculturation and acting in perception of a respective culture. This stage enables one to be effective in communication and business etiquette when involved in intercultural business meeting. There are several differences in appearance and behavior in Japanese business etiquette that can cause miscommunication and affect the effectiveness of the business meeting(Williams, 2017). The following are areas of potential miscommunications that can happen to Emily when in a meeting with Mr. Hamasaki; first is the use of the word OK. The word OK means money in Japanese. Therefore, Emily should avoid using the word OK in the conversation since it can means money to Mr. Hamasaki. Secondly is smiling during in a meeting. When a person smiles in the Japanese culture, it has a double meaning. Smiling can mean joy or displeasure. Therefore, smiling during the meeting, Emily should be cautions and avoid smiling to avoid misunderstanding. Lastly is the act of frowning. The act of frowning in Japanese is taken as display of affection. This is different from Australia which that shows disapproval or displeasure. The following are recommendable adjustments that Emily can do to enhance the success of favorable first impression; first, Emily should avoid tipping. Though tipping is allowed in western societies, it not allowed in Japan even in the hot debates. Secondly, Emily should wear conservative dress and have business cards in order to create first favorable impression. Thirdly, Emily should bow low when meeting Mr. Hamasaki and should not be the first to give a handshake. Emily should also avoid using gestures when talking with Mr. Hamasaki. This is because Japanese done use gestures when talking. From the analysis and discussion in this essay, it evident that there are several differences between Japanese culture and western society cultures. The Japanese culture is distinct and therefore, there is need to understand, accept, adopt, and integrate when planning to meet Japanese people in order to make favorable impression. From the analysis in this essay, Emily will be required to make adjustments that will enable her make good impression to Mr. Hamasaki during the business meeting. Therefore it can be concluded that intercultural communication is an important aspect to understand, accept, adopt and integrate when visiting a different culture for business meeting and achieve predetermined objectives. Bibliography Abe, E. (2009). Alfred Chandler's Model of Business Enterprise Structure and the Japanese-Style Enterprise System: Are They Compatible? Japanese Research In Business History, 26, 59-74. Retrieved from https://dx.doi.org/10.5029/jrbh.26.59 De Mooij, M., Hofstede, G. (2010). The Hofstede model. International Journal Of Advertising, 29(1), 85-110. Retrieved from https://dx.doi.org/10.2501/s026504870920104x Dervin, F. (2011). Introducing intercultural communication. Language And Intercultural Communication, 11(4), 408-410. Retrieved from https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2011.614551 Dunn, C. (2013). Speaking politely, kindly, and beautifully:. Ideologies of politeness in Japanese business etiquette training. Multilingua,, 32(2). Retrieved from https://dx.doi.org/10.1515/mult-2013-0011 Okoro, E. (2012). Cross-Cultural Etiquette and Communication in Global Business: Toward a Strategic Framework for Managing Corporate Expansion. International Journal Of Business And Management, 7(16). Retrieved from https://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v7n16p130 Wang, J. (2013). A Framework for Measuring and Meeting Students' Needs in Cross-Cultural Business and Technical Communication. Journal Of Technical Writing And Communication, 43(2), 201-218. Retrieved from https://dx.doi.org/10.2190/tw.43. Williams, D. (2017, August 2017 5). Japan - Japanese Business Etiquette, Vital Manners, Cross Cultural Communication, and Japan's Geert Hofstede analysis. Retrieved from Cyborlink.com. : https://www.cyborlink.com/besite/japan.htm Winther-Tamaki, B., Yoshida, K. (2016). Intercultural Negotiations of Modern and Contemporary Japanese Visual Culture. Review Of Japanese Culture And Society, 26(1), 1-12. 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