gung ho movie
"Culture is more often a source of conflict than of synergy. Cultural differences are a nuisance at best and often a disaster." - Dr. Geert Hofstede (Beyond your Borders). The movie Gung Ho (a Chinese expression for "work together"), demonstrates a cross-cultural relationship between the Americans and the Japanese working together towards achieving the goal of reviving an American car manufacturing plant (Assan Motors) (Definition of Gung Ho). However, conflict arises due to the tremendously different cultures and work ethics of the two groups.
In the beginning of the movie, Oishi Kazihiro is in a training camp for failing executives. He has been a failure in his business career thus far because he is too lenient on his workers. He is tagged with countless banners and it is screaming particular phrases repetitively. This shows the dedication and rigorous conformity required in the Japanese work culture and the often extreme methods used to achieve satisfactory work demeanor.
When Michael Keaton meets with the Japanese board of directors, there are several cultural differences he encounters. The first is during the presentation he blatantly asks “do you guys speak English?” to which one of the Japanese businessmen belligerently replies “yes.” Later during the presentation, Mr. Keaton takes a more relaxed demeanor, making politically incorrect remarks and profanities, to which the Japanese business men do not laugh or even adjust their rigid manner. Finally at the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Keaton asks if anyone has any questions and seeing it rude to ask questions, the Japanese business men all remain silent.
Mr. Keaton went to Japan because local auto plant in Hadleyville, Pennsylvania, which supplied most of the town’s jobs, has been closed for nine months. As the former foreman for the plant, Mr. Keaton goes to Tokyo to try to convince the Assan Motors Corporation to reopen the plant and produce their automobiles there. The closure of North
In the beginning of the movie, Oishi Kazihiro is in a training camp for failing executives. He has been a failure in his business career thus far because he is too lenient on his workers. He is tagged with countless banners and it is screaming particular phrases repetitively. This shows the dedication and rigorous conformity required in the Japanese work culture and the often extreme methods used to achieve satisfactory work demeanor.
When Michael Keaton meets with the Japanese board of directors, there are several cultural differences he encounters. The first is during the presentation he blatantly asks “do you guys speak English?” to which one of the Japanese businessmen belligerently replies “yes.” Later during the presentation, Mr. Keaton takes a more relaxed demeanor, making politically incorrect remarks and profanities, to which the Japanese business men do not laugh or even adjust their rigid manner. Finally at the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Keaton asks if anyone has any questions and seeing it rude to ask questions, the Japanese business men all remain silent.
Mr. Keaton went to Japan because local auto plant in Hadleyville, Pennsylvania, which supplied most of the town’s jobs, has been closed for nine months. As the former foreman for the plant, Mr. Keaton goes to Tokyo to try to convince the Assan Motors Corporation to reopen the plant and produce their automobiles there. The closure of North
References: Beyond your borders: Overcoming cultural differences that so often cause conflict. Retrieved on November 17, 2013, from http://globaleduc.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/beyond-your-borders-overcoming-cultural-differences-that-so-often-cause-conflict/ Definition for Gung Ho. Retrieved on November 17, 2013, from http://www.definitions.net/definition/gung%20ho Gung Ho. Retrieved on November 16, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj1p- loLdWI Gung Ho Movie Analysis. Retrieved on November 16, 2013, from http://schoolworkhelper.net/gung-ho-movie-analysis/