A California-based software company has just started a joint venture with a Japanese company in Tokyo. Doug, a U.S. expatriate, is the new general manager of the joint-venture. He is very excited about his foreign assignment in Japan. However, Doug has quickly become frustrated with the lack of assertiveness of his Japanese managers and employees. He feels things are not accomplished fast enough. What should Doug do?
A) Confront his Japanese managers and employees about their lack of assertiveness.
B) Train his Japanese managers and employees on how to become more assertive.
C) Reward his Japanese managers and employees for being assertive.
D) Make an effort to better understand the Japanese culture.
E) Make an effort to speak with his managers and employees in Japanese more often.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Doug should make an effort to better understand the Japanese culture. Japan has a collectivist culture where group harmony is highly valued, and assertiveness is often seen as confrontational and aggressive. Doug needs to adapt to the Japanese way of doing things and find ways to work within their culture to achieve his goals. This may involve building relationships with his Japanese counterparts, taking a more indirect approach to communication, and being patient with the pace of decision-making. Training, rewards, and speaking more Japanese may also be helpful, but they should be done in conjunction with a deeper understanding of Japanese culture.

A California-Based Software Company Has Just Started a Joint Venture