This document discusses cultural issues that arose when Toyota opened a factory in Valenciennes, France. Some key cultural differences between French and Japanese culture included individualism vs collectivism, long vs short-term orientation, and high vs low power distance. Issues at the Toyota factory included language barriers, differences in corporate vs national culture regarding uniforms and seniority, and misunderstandings due to cultural differences. Toyota addressed these issues by providing language support, encouraging flatter hierarchies, involving young workers, and increasing informal cultural exchange between Japanese and French employees. Their efforts helped improve communication and acceptance of Toyota's practices, enhancing cross-cultural awareness and collaboration.
3. Introduction
An understanding of cross-cultural issues coming up
when Toyota opened its factory in France
Research questions:
•What cultural issues in Valenciennes factory of Toyota were
caused related to the differences and interaction between
French and Japanese culture?
•How could these issues be resolved and how to increase
cross-cultural awareness?
9. Cultural Issues
Language and communication
Power Distance
Individualism versus Collectivism
Long-term orientation
Corporate culture versus National culture
15. Corporate Culture versus National Culture
Toyota
- Uniform for the
employees
- Prefer to hiring young
employees
French employees
- Seniority is a privilege
- Do not like wearing
uniform
17. Preparation and Policies
Minimising the influence of cultural differences
is TMMF’s strategy
Many Japanese employees had been sent to
live and study in France
18. Toyota’s efforts
‧Language - Communication
Inviting interpreters to the work floor,
even in every interview to assure that no
misunderstanding happen.
‧PDI
Encourage a flatter organizational structure.
Enhance internal communication.
Inspire young workers to participate to group
discussion and to speak up their opinions.
- Creating green fields
Recruiting unskilled young people
19. The fruit of their efforts
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-Employees did exercises together at 8h every morning
before starting their work.
- The company's attire was accepted
- Alcohol ban at workplace was respected by employees
20. Enhancing Cross-cultural Awareness
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-By increasing the informal exchange of information,
Toyota is able to generate and leverage knowledge
and create a ‘learning company’.
-The influence of corporate culture can be improved
if the company closely links to the employee
community
- The interaction between national culture and
corporate culture can create competitive advantages
and disadvantages
25. Conclusion
‧Clarify the theories of culture and management
declared by Hofstede, Hall and GLOBE study
‧Analysis of the cultural conflicts between the
expatriate subsidiary with local workers and the
evaluation their solutions aim to illustrate for the
study of Heenan and Perlmutter (1979).
26. Conclusion
‧Good preparation for organisation's internationalisation
‧Utilising the contrasts and avoiding blind spot cannot
be forgotten.
‧Underlying cultures conflicts always exist in MNCs