Marketing Across Cultures (Essay Sample)

PROFILE OF JAPAN AND ITS CULTURE Student’s Name The Name of the Class (Course) Professor (Tutor) The Name of the School (University) The City and State where it is located The Date Part 1: Introduction Culture and business are two of the most important factors in a foreign country. By understanding a country's culture, businesses can more effectively operate in that country. Additionally, by understanding a country's business practices, businesses can more effectively negotiate with business partners in that country. I have chosen to research culture and business in Japan because it is a country with a very different culture from my own. Additionally, Japan is a major economic power, and understanding its business practices is essential for doing business with Japanese companies. The United States of America is a culturally diverse country with a rich history. I have chosen to focus my research on the country's business and cultural aspects to understand better how these two areas interact. Japan has very different cultures and business practices, and by researching the United States and Japan, I will be able to compare and contrast the two cultures and business environment (Kanezaki et al,2022). This research will be beneficial in several ways. First, it will allow me to deepen my understanding of my own culture and business practices. Second, it will help me better understand another culture and how business is conducted in that country. Finally, this research will allow me to develop cross-cultural communication and research skills that will be valuable in my future career. The purpose of conducting an in-depth analysis of a foreign culture and business environment is better to understand the opportunities and challenges in that market. This understanding can help organizations make more informed decisions about business in that country (Kanezaki et al,2022). There are many factors to consider when conducting an in-depth analysis, including the political and economic stability of the country, the level of infrastructure development, the availability of skilled labour, and the overall business climate. Additionally, it is important to understand the cultural norms and values of the country, as this can impact the way business is conducted. Japan is an attractive destination for many businesses due to its strong economy and favourable business environment (Hattori et al,2021). Additionally, Japan is a culturally rich country with a long history and interesting traditions. Understanding the Japanese culture and business environment can give organizations a competitive advantage when operating in Japan. Part 2: Business Environment 2.1 Pestle Analysis Political The current political situation in Japan is relatively stable. The country has a parliamentary government, and the Prime Minister is the head of government (Zhao, 2022). The Diet is the country's primary legislative body. The Emperor of Japan is the head of state but holds very little power. The country is a member of the United Nations, the G8, and the G20. It is also a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Economic The Japanese economy is the third largest in the world and is a key player in the global economy. The country has a highly developed export-oriented economy with a strong focus on manufacturing and technology (Flath, 2022). The country has a high level of economic freedom and ranks highly on the Index of Economic Freedom. It also ranks highly on the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Index. Social The population of Japan is around 127 million. The country has a very high life expectancy and a low birth rate (Hattori et al,2021). The population is aging rapidly, with around 23% over 65. The country has a very homogeneous society with a strong emphasis on group harmony. The culture is very formal and polite, emphasizing respect for elders and authority figures. Technology Japan is a world leader in technology and innovation. The country has a very high level of technological development and ranks highly on the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Index. The country has a strong focus on research and development. It has a very high level of expenditure on R&D (Hattori et al,2021). It also ranks highly on the World Intellectual Property Organization's Index of Patent Applications. Environmental Japan is a highly developed country with a very high level of environmental protection. The country has a very low pollution level and ranks highly on the Environmental Performance Index. Cultural The culture of Japan is unique and has a strong influence on the country's business environment. The country strongly focuses on group harmony and respect for elders and authority figures. The culture is also very formal and polite. The Tapestry and Sarathy (2006) model is a sociological model that attempts to explain the culture of Japan. The model states that Japan has four main cultural dimensions: social organization, values and beliefs, religion, and language. Social organization in Japan is characterized by a high degree of collectivism. The Japanese value group harmony and loyalty to one's family, company, or social group. The Japanese also have a strong sense of hierarchy and respect for authority (Kim and Lee, 2020). Values and beliefs in Japanese culture include focusing on the group rather than the individual, a high value placed on hard work and diligence, and a belief in the importance of social harmony (Bröhl et al,2019). Religion is less important in Japanese culture than in many other cultures. Most Japanese people are not religious, and those who are religious often practice a blend of Shinto and Buddhism (Chua et al,2019). The Japanese language is unique in several ways. The written language is based on Chinese characters, and the spoken language includes many loanwords from Chinese. The Japanese also have a very strong sense of honor and politeness, reflected in their language. Part 3: Cross-Cultural Analysis The Hofstede and Lewis model of cross-cultural analysis is a tool that can be used to highlight the cultural differences between two countries. This model is based on the work of Geert Hofstede and Richard Lewis, who developed it to understand better how different cultures interact. The model comprises four dimensions: power distance, individualism, masculinity, and uncertainty avoidance (Paul, 2019). Each of these dimensions represents a different aspect of culture. By looking at all four dimensions together, it is possible to get a complete picture of the cultural differences between the two countries. In-N-Out Burger is a fast food chain that originated in the United States. The company has a strong focus on customer service, and its employees are known for being friendly and helpful. In-N-Out Burger is also known for its quality food, and its burgers are considered some of the best in the fast food industry. Japan is a country with a very different culture from the United States. The Japanese people are known for their politeness and their dedication to work (Ito and Hoshi,2020). They also emphasize group harmony greatly, and individualism is less valued in Japanese culture than in American culture (Koskinen, 2020). When looking at In-N-Out Burger and Japan from the perspective of the Hofstede and Lewis model of cross-cultural analysis, it is clear that there are some significant cultural differences between these two countries. In the United States, individualism is highly valued, and people are expected to be self-reliant and independent. In Japan, however, group harmony is more important, and people are more likely to conform to the expectations of their group (Arefin et al,2020) This difference can be seen in how In-N-Out Burger and Japan operate. In-N-Out Burger strongly emphasizes customer service, and its employees are expected to be friendly and helpful. In Japan, however, customer service is less important, and employees are not expected to be as friendly or helpful (Hattori et al,2021). Another significant difference between In-N-Out Burger and Japan is how they view power distance. In the United States, power distance is low, so people are more likely to challenge authority figures. In Japan, power distance is high, so people are more likely to respect authority figures (Holt, 2018). This difference can be seen in how In-N-Out Burger and Japan operate. In-N-Out Burger allows its employees to take the initiative and make decisions independently, whereas, in Japan, employees are more likely to defer to their superiors (Koskinen, 2020). Finally, there is a significant difference between In-N-Out Burger and Japan regarding uncertainty avoidance. In the United States, uncertainty avoidance is low, meaning people are more comfortable with change and risk. In Japan, however, uncertainty avoidance is high, meaning that people are more resistant to change and risk-averse (Howes, 2021). This difference can be seen in how In-N-Out Burger and Japan operate. In-N-Out Burger is constantly innovating and changing its menu and operations, whereas, in Japan, change is more likely to happen slowly and incrementally. Overall, the Hofstede and Lewis model of cross-cultural analysis highlights some of the major cultural differences between In-N-Out Burger and Japan. These differences can be seen in how the two companies operate, and they can also be seen in how the two cultures view individualism, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance. References Arefin, M.S., Hoque, M.R. and Rasul, T., 2020. Organizational learning culture and business intelligence systems of health-care organizations in an emerging economy. Journal of Knowledge Management. Bröhl, C., Nelles, J., Brandl, C., Mertens, A. and Nitsch, V., 2019. Human–robot collaboration acceptance model: development and comparison for Germany, Japan, China and the USA. International Journal of Social Robotics, 11...