Cross-Cultural DifferencesCross-Cultural Differences

Michael GregsonMichael GregsonManfred HlinaManfred Hlina

Matt Holt Matt Holt Georg KlampferGeorg KlampferRandi RobertsRandi Roberts

MarinoMarino

JAPANJAPAN

Name: Marino ToyokuraName: Marino Toyokura Language: Japanese Language: Japanese Role of women in the workforce: Role of women in the workforce:

• Payment is almost equal because of a Payment is almost equal because of a lawlaw

• Still discriminationStill discrimination Hiring: sometimes they don’t even ask Hiring: sometimes they don’t even ask

women when they are applying for a jobwomen when they are applying for a job Strong discrimination in government and the Strong discrimination in government and the

police police not many female police officers and not many female police officers and politicianspoliticians

JAPANJAPAN• In small villages thinking is very In small villages thinking is very

traditional, that seems like traditional, that seems like discrimination; “women has to bring the discrimination; “women has to bring the tea to the men”tea to the men”

• Pregnancy:Pregnancy: 1 to 3 month period of rest (it depends on 1 to 3 month period of rest (it depends on

the company)the company) Usually just 1 monthUsually just 1 month

• In higher positions there are still more In higher positions there are still more male managers, just a few womenmale managers, just a few women

• But it’s changing now; there will be But it’s changing now; there will be more and more female high positionsmore and more female high positions

JAPANJAPAN

Benefits provided to employees:Benefits provided to employees:• VacationsVacations

One week a year plus every month one day One week a year plus every month one day extraextra

• Working hours:Working hours: Usually from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. during the weekUsually from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. during the week On Saturdays only from 8 a.m. – 12. p.m.On Saturdays only from 8 a.m. – 12. p.m.

JapanJapan

How managers treat their How managers treat their employees:employees: Treatment is still traditional Japanese: Treatment is still traditional Japanese:

still one boss who decides everything; still one boss who decides everything; insured workers sit beside their working insured workers sit beside their working station, even if they are not able to workstation, even if they are not able to work

JapanJapan

General management practices:General management practices: Distance/respect between younger and Distance/respect between younger and

older people is very high older people is very high

JAPANJAPAN

What were your greatest difficulties in What were your greatest difficulties in adapting to this (US) culture?adapting to this (US) culture?• First of all the languageFirst of all the language• Bathing culture in Japan is different than Bathing culture in Japan is different than

in USA (first washing, than bathing for in USA (first washing, than bathing for relaxing)relaxing)

• There is no public transportation in the There is no public transportation in the U.S.; In Japan public transportation is U.S.; In Japan public transportation is everywhere (fast and cheap)everywhere (fast and cheap)

JAPANJAPAN

• It’s hard to get liquor here und you have It’s hard to get liquor here und you have to show your ID; in Japan you are to show your ID; in Japan you are allowed to drink alcohol starting when allowed to drink alcohol starting when you’re 20 years oldyou’re 20 years old

• AC is too much here; in Japan there are AC is too much here; in Japan there are intelligent ventilation systemsintelligent ventilation systems

JAPANJAPAN Marketing Management Advice:Marketing Management Advice:

• Very important to know the culture (it’s very Very important to know the culture (it’s very important to exchange the business cards: you important to exchange the business cards: you give them with both hands and take them with give them with both hands and take them with both hands)both hands)

• More distance; they don’t like to touch each More distance; they don’t like to touch each other; more privacyother; more privacy

• Friendship between workers is very importantFriendship between workers is very important• Younger generations love western culture and Younger generations love western culture and

style (celebrating the wedding in a church style (celebrating the wedding in a church (usually there are Zen-Buddhists)) (usually there are Zen-Buddhists))

JAPANJAPAN

Japanese are not very proud of their Japanese are not very proud of their culture; they are ignorant (because culture; they are ignorant (because of the island)of the island)

Japanese think that western states Japanese think that western states have more and better technologyhave more and better technology

But there are things that would never But there are things that would never work: Wal-Mart and Ikea (because of work: Wal-Mart and Ikea (because of the sizes)the sizes)

JAPANJAPAN Education:Education:

• Public universities are cheaper than Public universities are cheaper than herehere

But it’s very difficult to get in these But it’s very difficult to get in these universitiesuniversities

• It’s easier to get in private universities, It’s easier to get in private universities, but they are more expensive than here but they are more expensive than here in the USin the US

At least $ 10,000,- a year At least $ 10,000,- a year

• You also have to pay for High SchoolYou also have to pay for High School About $ 300- For one semesterAbout $ 300- For one semester Private Schools are more expensivePrivate Schools are more expensive

JAPANJAPAN

• Not many scholarships for universitiesNot many scholarships for universities• But most people go thereBut most people go there• Parents have to pay for everythingParents have to pay for everything• When you apply for a private School you When you apply for a private School you

have to pay $ 2000, otherwise you are have to pay $ 2000, otherwise you are not allowed to take the application test; not allowed to take the application test; also when you failalso when you fail

Jean-PhilippeJean-Philippe

Jean-Philippe is single: 870-275-3673

FRANCEFRANCE

Name: Name: Jean-Philippe RavartJean-Philippe Ravart Language: FrenchLanguage: French Role of women in the workforce:Role of women in the workforce:

• More and more women with key More and more women with key positionspositions

Still most of these positions are taken by Still most of these positions are taken by men; e.g. CEOsmen; e.g. CEOs

French government: 3 female and 20 male French government: 3 female and 20 male politicianspoliticians

FRANCEFRANCE

Benefits provided to employees:Benefits provided to employees:• There are a lot of benefits:There are a lot of benefits:

5 weeks of holidays5 weeks of holidays 35 hours / week 35 hours / week Lots of help: Christmas, Travelling, and Lots of help: Christmas, Travelling, and

WeddingsWeddings

FRANCEFRANCE

How managers treat their How managers treat their employees:employees:• Very high power-distance between Very high power-distance between

managers and employees (on the top of managers and employees (on the top of Hofstede’s list of distances between Hofstede’s list of distances between managers and employees)managers and employees)

Also in a university you don’t talk to your Also in a university you don’t talk to your professors like hereprofessors like here

FRANCEFRANCE

General management practices:General management practices:• Management is more vertical than horizontal; Management is more vertical than horizontal;

there are more levels of management for there are more levels of management for decisionsdecisions

• Everything you do will be controlled by a Everything you do will be controlled by a manager above youmanager above you

• French are kind of arrogant: “we like the French are kind of arrogant: “we like the power”power”

• Not often teamwork, when there is teamwork, Not often teamwork, when there is teamwork, they try to eliminate the team membersthey try to eliminate the team members

• French do not like to be proud, but they areFrench do not like to be proud, but they are

FRANCEFRANCE

What were your greatest difficulties What were your greatest difficulties in adapting to this (US) culture?in adapting to this (US) culture?• Language Language • In France everything is more formal In France everything is more formal

You have to wear perfect suites in businessYou have to wear perfect suites in business Everybody looks at you and judges youEverybody looks at you and judges you

• Food is much better in variety and tasteFood is much better in variety and taste

FRANCEFRANCE Marketing Management Advice:Marketing Management Advice:

• Image of the brand is very importantImage of the brand is very important• Image is power for the product’s ownerImage is power for the product’s owner• The brand is more important than the The brand is more important than the

product itselfproduct itself• People always complain about products People always complain about products

Customer service is much more difficultCustomer service is much more difficult Take care what you advertise, because they Take care what you advertise, because they

will judge it when they see itwill judge it when they see it

• It’s hard to do research because there It’s hard to do research because there are so many different customer groupsare so many different customer groups

But when you have divided the groups it’s But when you have divided the groups it’s easy to target easy to target

FRANCEFRANCE

Education:Education:• Everything is freeEverything is free• No student limits on universityNo student limits on university• Poor students get between $ 500-1000 Poor students get between $ 500-1000

every month for living when they are every month for living when they are studyingstudying

ARGENTINAARGENTINA

Name: Mariano BalcarceName: Mariano Balcarce Language: Lunfardo (mix Italian and Language: Lunfardo (mix Italian and

Spanish)Spanish)

ARGENTINAARGENTINA Culture of the Culture of the

workforce:workforce:• Argentina is a very Argentina is a very

European country. European country. Their working laws Their working laws are similar to those of are similar to those of Italy (35% of Italy (35% of Argentina’s Argentina’s population), Spain population), Spain (20% of population), (20% of population), German (20% of German (20% of population), and population), and French laws. French laws.

ARGENTINAARGENTINA

General management practices: General management practices: • Unions are very strong, so once you’ve Unions are very strong, so once you’ve

hired someone, it is very hard to fire hired someone, it is very hard to fire that person. If you hire someone and that person. If you hire someone and they pass the 3-month period, you must they pass the 3-month period, you must keep that person for 2 years or pay keep that person for 2 years or pay double compensation. double compensation.

ARGENTINAARGENTINA

What were your greatest difficulties What were your greatest difficulties in adapting to this (US) culture?in adapting to this (US) culture?• None in the Northern U.S. None in the Northern U.S.

ARGENTINAARGENTINA Marketing Management Advice:Marketing Management Advice:

• Do business with an open minded Do business with an open minded perspective perspective

ARGENTINAARGENTINA

Education: Education: • Education in Argentina is free, however Education in Argentina is free, however

every degree is seven years which is every degree is seven years which is equivalent to a bachelors and masters in equivalent to a bachelors and masters in the United States.the United States.

THE ENDTHE END