The Different Management Styles between East and West

Second Economic Forum

Casa AsiaWorld Trade Center

Barcelona, Spain

November 22, 2004

Japanese English

• I can understand your opinion.– I have a different opinion.

• Let me think about it.– Forget about it.

• Let me try.– It will be refused.

• Yes, Yes.– Thank you for your agreement.

Two Different Cultures

ＨＵＮＴＥＲ ＦＡＲＭＥＲ

ＷＥＳＴＥＲＮ ＡＳ IＡＮ

ＩＮＤＩＶＩＳＵＡＬ ＧＲＯＵＰ

Decision 　 Making Process

TIME

DE

CIS

SIO

N

MA

KIN

G

PROJECT

WESTEN ASIAN

What are the differences?

• EAST WEST• RELIGION 　 Multi Mono

• BEHAVOIR Modest Selfish

• VISION Wide-angle Telescope

• CONTRACT Flexible Solid

• COMMUNICATION 　 Indirect Direct

•

Communication

• 　　　　　　 EAST WEST

We I

How Why Jain(Ja+Nein) Yes or No

Complicated Simple

Discussions

• Asians are seldom seen in favor of Discussions. They don’t confront others in public (Lose face). You learn more by listening than speaking.

• “Speech is silver, silence is gold.”

• “The eagle with brain will never shows the claws.”

How the differences are formed?

• Since the time of infant baby.– East: Mother sleeps with the baby.– West:Mother sleeps separate.

• Child education.– East: Always taught the relation with others.– West: Always be independent.

How differences have derived?

The Western mother says. “Stop!” or “Don’tdo it

The Asian mother says, “The teddy bear says ‘Ouch.” “The floor says, ‘It hurts’.”

Cultural Differences

• Monochrome Culture

• Polychrome Culture

– Prof. Edward Hall, Univ. of New Mexico

Differences between Monochrome and Polychrome

• Monochrome Polychrome– One thing at a time. Many things at a time.– Punctual Not punctual– Low context inf. High context information– Stick to the plan Change plan often– Respect others Family, close friends

come first– Respect rules Rules can be changed

High and Low Context

10

1

9

9

1

+ =

10+ =

Low Context (Monochrome)

High Context (Polychrome)

StoredInformation

TransferredInformation

Decision 　 Making Process

TIME

DE

CIS

SIO

N

MA

KIN

G

PROJECT

WESTEN ASIAN

EAST & WESTMONO & POLYCHROME

MONOCHROME

POLYCHROME

WEST EAST

JAPANCHINAKOREA

SPAINFRANCEITALY

GERMANSWISSSWEDEN

French Style

Japanese Style

Washing Machine

Conventional New Innovation

ClothMoves

Clothstays still

Propellerturns

Drumturns

Ideal Management Style

SHEPHERDSHEPHERD

HUNTERHUNTER FARMERFARMER