First,make brief answer for this which the teacher asked me,I will apply the file you wrote to me
Has your experience with Americans been the same as those shown in the movie, Gung Ho”? How have your experiences been similar? What is different for you?
And i have to response two other students in class, below are their airticle, just brief response, whatever from which aspect
First one
- This kind of approach is impossible in an American firm. In America, the company managers often use ‘positive methods’ to enforce employees’ motivation. Most of managers encourage their subsidiaries more than blaming or complaining on them. The country-background of America and Japan are very different. Japan have more clear social class-concept, they distinguish the social levels strictly, e.g.: if I am the leader, you have to listen to me because I am ‘Boss’; the student should not express opposite opinions to their teachers, because it kind of means ‘disrespect’. If we use the Japanese standard in American firms, employees will be unhappy, and low-motivated. In some Asia cultures, the reinforcement is more effective, but in some Western cultures, you better choose ‘feedback’, a more-accurate way to communicate with your employees.
2. For the Movie <Gung Ho>, we can see the differences between Japanese and American work attitudes. For Japanese, they speak directly; believe ‘no one is special’; work for ‘loyalty’; overwork is a common thing; they are self-subjugation, and pursue 100% perfection. For American, they say opposing views euphemistic; like to being specially; work for pay; no overwork; they are not self-subjugation, they hope to have a relax work environment.
Finally, they made successful. This is all owe to, they noticed that cultural differences between each other, and also worked very well on adapting it thereafter. This movie well illustrate that, when there is a multicultural work environment to work with, you have to have a clear thinking about culture differences, set rules depends on the actually situation. Like, ‘What are main differences? How to avoid conflict? What is the taboo? How to fix problem if we face it in the future?’ In the end, the most important thing is, always remember respecting other’s culture, no matter how it is different with yours.
3.Japan is collectivism country, and America is an individualism country. Within collectivism country, they are group-focus; they are accustomed to living with more family members or other people. Within individualism country, people are personal-focus, they are more willing live with less people, and they do not like to be disturbed. In Japan, people usually do not have a appointment to see a doctor, but in Americans life, they are more habituated to make an appointment before they go to see a doctor. In my opinion, this is because, in Japanese’ mind, doctors are ready for the patients at any time; but for American, they think make an appointment is more convince and high-efficient for either patients or doctors.
4. For the softball game in the movie, it reflects both Japanese and American want to win, but the different is Japanese make the honor more ‘family-honor’, we can see many of Japanese’ family came to the game. And in the end, when the American guy got the Japanese manager down on the ground, then days later, he was demoted by this Japanese manager. From here, we can see that, in America, the game is game. Work is work; but in Japan, the game is not only for ‘making fun’, but also important for, and will effect on the work.
Second one
Q5. The authority in Japanese culture is no way to be challenged while the authority in American has room for democrat discussion. In actuality, both Americans and Japanese are expected to be compliance. George’s actions in American culture is considered as a behavior to express their own ideas and feelings. For this, American mangers can adjust their management practice accordingly. However, George’s actions interpreted in Japanese culture can be a huge rebellion. The authority forbidden any disagreements. They expect uniformity and one way to do management. American manger think it is democratic to consider different ideas while Japanese managers think it challenges their authority and power position. Therefore, they would be seen as different by an American manager as compared with a Japanese manger.
Q6. Americans and Japanese might differ in their approach to resolving conflicts. Americans are more open and frank in dealing with their conflicts while Japanese are more reserve and serious. From the the movie, we can see such typical difference. Hunt takes a cigarette and loosely sat on the chair to deal with the conflict. While Karz’s team sat more seriously and they do allow their family participate into the discussion. Americans’ relax emotion will actually promote the problem-solving. Also, we can see the high power distance in Japanese family while low power distance in American family. In regarding to make permission, Japanese mangers always make team discussion while Americans are more quick in decision-making.
Q7. Both cultures approach the role of work in one’s life differently. Japanese managers emphasize the value of work. As Karz said, Japanese always work hard to obtain honor. Work ranks the most priority place. From the movie, the manager expresses that new machines can promote 5% productivity. However, Japanese’s strong working spirit will contribute to an increase of 50% in productivity. However, American managers consider the family while work hard (Williams & Stacey, 2005). They take care of the family affairs. For example, Hunt allow their employee to take off and take his child to hospital while Karz’s employee still in working position while his wife give birth to his daughter. To be balance, Japanese women are responsible to take care of family members. As American women enjoy equity in workplace, they shoulder family responsibilities with men. The expectations changed over time from forty years ago. In 21st century, more and more women are leaders in important Japanese companies and more and more women join the workplace. Japanese men tend to take family responsibility also.
Q8. Japanese managers think they should be responsible for their subordinators. For this, Japanese managers would be “shamed” if one of their subordinates was seriously injured on the job. American and Japanese management work practices are different. Specifically, Japanese managers emphasize on the zero defect products and their subordinates should work hard to this without any excuses. American managers often set goals at first; however, their subordinators often expect to pursue a balance between work and life. American managers allow a compromise in production for work-and-life balance. Another difference is that Japanese managers demand respect, loyalty and hard-working for their subordinators. American managers hope their subordinators live a happy life. For this, Japanese managers do not give any discount for their subordinators’ assignments while American want to their subordinators be relax and happy in finishing their assignments.
