Assignment 3: Cultural Influence in Business Psychology Mark Jones, a Production
ID: 3491205 • Letter: A
Question
Assignment 3: Cultural Influence in Business Psychology
Mark Jones, a Production Manager, has been transferred from the manufacturing plant in his hometown of Chicago to his company's overseas manufacturing plant in Osaka, Japan.
You are the company's I-O psychologist. Using Hofstede's Five Basic Elements of Culture Distinction, write an e-mail message to the Vice President (VP) of Production discussing at least three cultural differences that Mark will experience in managing front-line plant workers in Japan in contrast to in the United States. Also address how cultural differences may play a role in individual differences Mark will experience.
Your e-mail message should also include at least three recommendations on how managers can take up overseas tasks with minimum transition problems. State the rationale for your recommendations.
Because the VP of Production is a busy individual, restrict your e-mail message to one to two pages.
Explanation / Answer
The key dimensions of cultural distinction proposed by Geert Hofstede include following six -
1. Power Distance
2. Individualism versus colelctivism
3. Masculanity versus faminity
4. Uncertainty Avoidance
5. Long term versus short term orientation
6. Indulgence versus restraint
Hofstede has provided his measures of different countaries in these dimensions in his website - https://geert-hofstede.com/japan.html
A comparative figure of Japan and USA on these dimensions according to Hofstede is as below
Given the profiles we can write the email as below -
To
Vice President Production
Osaka, Japan
Transfer of Mr Mark Jones and his adjustment to new culture
Mr Vice President, this is to bring to to your notice that Mark Jones whohas been posted as produciton manager at our company's Chicago plant has been transfered to your plant at Osaka, Japan. As an Industrial Orgnaizaitonal psychologist I would want to bring your special attention to the fact that the culture in USA is vary different as copared to Japan. Mr Mark may face diffculties in adjusting to ways of thinking, decision making, and other social behaviors in the local culture of Japan due to different cultural norms and values which he has aquired a s a result of upbringng in USA.
According my my knowlede more specifically he may manifest following differences in his behaviors -
1. He may not maintain heirarchical distance with his subordinates and also may feel confused if his superiors attempts to maintain a distance and formality
2. His orientaiton and behaviors may be more individual oriented and he may find it diffcult to appreciate work practices that encourage colelctive responsibilities or recognitions for performance
3. He may also not try to differentiate in workplace behaviors or mannerisms between male and female colleagues
4. He might seek more certainty in terms of specificaiton and deadlines and exterting extra efforts to control the ourcomes and may feel uncomforatble with lack clarity/assurances about outcomes
5. His orientation of project management may be setting more short terms goals and seekingmore immediate feedbacks
6. Finally he might involve in more self indulging behaviors may not appraciate the expectations of self control on the part of colleagues
Finally, I expects you to keep in mind these expected behavioral differences and help Mark in terms giving more time and preferably arranges for training (mentoring) for better adjustemnt in culture and help his perform better.
Regards
HR
Cultural Dimension Japan USA Power Distance 54 40 Individualism 46 91 Masculanity 95 62 Uncertainty Avoidence 92 46 Long term Orientation 88 26 Indulgence 42 68