Egt1 - Task 4 Cross Cultural Issues in Business

1627 Words7 Pages
Japan There are many advantages in a company seeking to expand into the Japanese Market, it is one of the world’s large economies. There are also cross cultural issues in an American Company marketing to Japanese Society. A company can very easily “make it” or “break it” if not sensitive to the culture and etiquette in their marketing strategies. The Japanese Culture is ancient and full of traditions that make up why someone of this descent may act or carry themselves in a certain way. This would also affect the decisions an individual makes regarding product selection. A commercial that is attractive to an American housewife may not be attractive to a Japanese housewife. A few of the differences in American and Japanese culture are importance of hierarchy, group harmony, using certain numbers in advertising and language barriers. Cross Cultural Issues Hierarchy is highly respected in Japan personally and professionally, yet in America hierarchy exists but is not held to as high of standards or tradition. This is so engrained in the Japanese Culture that children even refer to their senior and junior classmates with specific names. Personally this hierarchy is based on age, the eldest would be seated at a place of honor at the dinner table and be the first person to start eating. The significance placed on hierarchy can cause issues in a marketing campaign if the Americanized campaign was not respectful of this hierarchal tradition. Example would be rebelliousness or lack of respect for authority being portrayed in a commercial would be considered disrespectful within the Japanese Culture and thus putting a negative view on the product being advertised(Japan – Language…, n.d.). In advertising to Japan the traditional hierarchy of this culture should be represented and respected throughout the campaign. Group Harmony is also very highly valued

More about Egt1 - Task 4 Cross Cultural Issues in Business

Open Document