Business Culture

Running head: BUSINESS CULTURE
Business Culture
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1BUSINESS CULTURE
Culture is an integral component in every businesses and it has a significant impact on
the strategic direction taken by the businesses. It is very important for the international
business people and managers who do business in foreign countries or plan to do so to
consider having some knowledge regarding the behaviours, rules and etiquettes acceptable in
the professional and social relationship in the host country (Grant 2016). This essay is going
to elaborate on the topic- business culture. It shall highlight the Japanese business etiquette
and shall include the steps that Mary in the given case study can take for making a favourable
first impression when she visits Japan and meets Mr Moro. Furthermore, the different areas
of potential cross cultural miscommunication shall also be assessed by using the Hofstede
models of culture. Lastly, the paper shall provide suitable suggestions for Mary that will help
her in increasing the success at her meeting with Mr Moro and in her future business
arrangements.
Case- Mary is from Dubbo and started a small business of her own known as “The
Aroma Shop”, where she manufactures a good range of condiments including jams, chilli
sauces, chutneys etc. However, she wish to expand her business in international market and
chose to do that in Japan. She is sure that her products will bring in good sale in the Japanese
market. She therefore plan to meet Mr Moro, a 55 year old business man, living in Tokyo,
Japan. However, she is not aware of the business etiquettes acceptable in Japan and wants to
know about their culture in order to ensure that they will be succeeding in the business
meeting with Mr Moro. She wants to make a favourable first impression.
Japanese business etiquette- Japanese business etiquette is one of the most
misunderstood aspects of doing business in Japan. It is no way different from good business
etiquette in other parts of the world. However, the significant difference with their etiquette is
that businesses in Japan are conducted in very formal manner and therefore, they are more
obvious, particularly in the very first meeting where the hierarchical exchange of the business

2BUSINESS CULTURE
cards is ritualistic (Dunn 2018). Furthermore, regarding the dress code of women, it must be
noted that the Mary should wear shorter hair, trouser suits or longer skirt suits with some
seasonal colours (Islam 2017). For example, in the period in between October to April, they
prefer wearing dark coloured suits with white shirt and subdued tie. On the other hand, in the
months between May to September they wear grey colour suits.
In regard to greetings in Japan, it is to note that a bow could be a way of greeting that
Mary can use. It is a simple gesture and can do a lot in helping her establishing rapport with
Mr Moro. However, the depth of her bow depends on the status of the counterpart (Rothlin
and McCann 2016). Furthermore, Mary should also note that in her meeting with Mr. Moro
she should not address him by his first name until and unless she is invited to do so. She may
use titles like “Mr” or may even add “San”. For example, to Mr Moro, she can address as
calling “Moro San”. Moreover, the last and the most vital part for Mary in regard to Japanese
business etiquette is that of the business mentality of Japanese. It is to note that the business
people in Japan often wants to learn as much as possible regarding the professional
background and the qualifications of their client or the ones with whom they are going to
conduct business (Teramoto et al. 2017). With the same, in order to ensure success, in the
business meeting, she must describe how her products could enhance the reputation and
prosperity of Mr Moro in Japan. Also, it is to mention that the Japanese generally prefer
verbal agreements instead of written ones and therefore, Mary should not pressurise Mr Moro
in signing any document initially and must remain co-operative.
After being well-aware of the Japanese business etiquette, Mary can take certain steps
for making a favourable first impression in her meeting. However, it should be noted that in
Japan, it is less about language and more about manners. While meeting with Mr Moro for
the first time, she should bow, representing her respect for Mr Moro. Furthermore, the
contents in her business card should be written in both English and Japanese language. She