CHINESE AND JAPANESE BUSINESS CULTURE

Doing business with China

As it is with any other culture, when you are thinking on doing business with China you must know their country and what is more important, their culture to avoid misunderstanding.

The Chinese culture differs in many ways with the western; the following are some examples of their business culture and some differences with western:

·        When doing business with china time is not a concern, for them time is not related with money as it is for us.

·        In the western culture in business people always try to keep some information private while for Chinese it is necessary to give and receive all the information needed.

·        Chinese try to avoid the word “NO” they prefer to use other words as perhaps.

·        Meetings are very important and they must be lead by members in the highest positions within the company.

·        As meetings are important for Chinese, punctuality is important too and is a characteristic we don’t have especially in Colombia.

·        Chinese people appreciate presents but who give them must avoid white and black paper, shoes and watches.

·        When doing business with china take into account that you should avoid eye contact and understand that for them true is relative, they have a long time vision, yes doesn’t mean they agree, they are neutral and think in the collectivism; in all of this aspects they differ from western.

Doing business with Japan

Japan culture as the Chinese differs from western, and it is important to know and understand it before doing business.

For Japanese team-work and group cohesiveness is very important and is well marked within their society, in consequence when doing business with Japan they give importance to compromise and self-discipline in both sides.

On the other hand hierarchy is important and it implies respect, when doing business you should adapt your self and behave accordingly. Different aspects determines hierarchy, such as age, employment and some others.

In the Japanese culture bow is a very important way to show respect, is used to show gratitude, to express sympathy and as an apology; but the Japanese culture understand the difference among cultures and they also try to adapt to the other cultures they are doing business with, so they don’t expect the other part to bow during a meeting, with an handshake and a little move of the head is enough.

The exchange of business cards is kind of a ceremony; it represents the individual so it deserves respect. When introducing to Japanese is important to give your full name, company name and title, positions is important, and when exchanging the business card try to have it on one side translated.