Women in Global Business

Journal of Comprehensive Research, Page 56

Take a bow: culturally preparing expatriates for doing business in Japan
Giuliana Scagliotti Nova Southeastern University Bahaudin Mujtaba Nova Southeastern University Abstract There are many cultural dimensions that firms should always consider and implement in their expatriate training programs. Insufficient cultural training can lead to business disasters for the multinational and the expatriate. Appropriate cultural training for expatriates can bring limitless possibilities. In this paper, expatriate cultural awareness training for foreign assignments in Japan will be examined before embarking on the international assignment, and therefore having a better chance at success. Key words: Japan, expatriate training, cultural training, doing business in Japan.

Journal of Comprehensive Research, Page 57 Cultural Conditioning As part of the socialization process, our cultures are programmed into all of us. Culture is shaped by many factors. These factors do not just appear over night and cannot be chosen. They took time to install themselves in each of us. Hence, culture is often described as a shaping process occurring over time that creates relative stability, reflecting a collective knowledge structure that shares values, behavioral norms, and patterns of behavior (Dowling, Festing, & Engle, Sr., 2009). Culture has a system for dividing right from wrong, or good from evil (Morrison, & Conaway, 2007). This process can be almost non-existent, as it is something so instituted and founded so deeply within our being that it is hard to pinpoint and trace. Its’ extent and effectiveness is not seen or confirmed until one encounters others from a different culture; the greater the difference between both cultures, the greater the values, attitudes, and behaviors from ones’ culture that will be noticed. This is precisely why culture is so very tightly connected to business. More importantly, international business has a more

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