Japanese management techniques, including just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing and quality circles (QC), have gained much attention in recent years as American companies have focused on improving their profit performance and their competitiveness in the international market. However, it is not possible to simply transport Japanese management approaches without taking into account some of the significant differences between the cultures of Japan and the United States. This research examines some of the critical cultural differences between the two countries and considers how those cultural differences affect business operations in the two nations, and, specifically, within the automotive industry.
Key Cultural Aspects Compared Between Japan and the USA
One of the greatest cultural differences between Japan and the United States is the importance placed on the relationship of the individual to the overall society. In Japan, the individual's own needs are secondary to the needs of the group, be it the family, a company, or the country as a whole. In the United States, each individual is considered to have rights which, except in rare circumstances, supersede those of any group. Many of the cultural differences in behavior stem from this fundamental difference.
For example, a person's rank within a specific hierarchy (such as a company) determines how that person is addressed and how others behave in his presence in Japan. This extends to the depth and duration of bowing, and helps to maintain a social order based on the group. In the United States, formal titles and behaviors are often abandoned in organizations where all employees, for example, may be addressed by first name.
Personal space is also handled differently in Japan and the United States. At first, this can appear to be in contradiction to the high level of respect which is paid in Japanese society, but upon closer examination, it again stems from the differe...