Science 7 - LAND and SEA BREEZE and its Characteristics
Business communication styles Japan vs. South Africa draft
1. Presentation by:
Monica Bilba
Mihaela Aleksandrova
Uyen Nhi Vu
Georgiana Hutanu
Stas Parovyi
Lisa Barkman
Institute: Fontys University of
Applied Sciences
Learning arrangement: PLA13
Didactic help: Dr. Soumit Sain
SLIDE 1/19
2. • Introduction Slide 1
• Table of contents Slide 2
• General information Slide 4
• Cultural attitudes and beliefs Slide 7
• Conversational customs and manners Slide 10
• Oral and written communication etiquette Slide 12
• Non-verbal communication etiquette Slide 15
• Dress and appearance Slide 16
• Summary and conclusion Slide 18
• List of literature Slide 19
SLIDE 2/19
4. SLIDE 4/19
Location
• Island in the Pacific Ocean
• Eastern Asia
Hofstede scores
• Power distance: 54 Uncertainty avoidance: 92
• Individualism: 46 Long-term orientation: 88
• Masculinity: 95 Indulgence: 48
5. SLIDE 5/19
Location
• Country in the south of Africa
• Cape Agulhas – southern tip
Hofstede scores
• Power distance: 49 Uncertainty avoidance: 49
• Individualism: 65 Long-term orientation: 34
• Masculinity: 63 Indulgence: 63
7. SLIDE 7/19
• Hierarchy, order and status
• Empathy and positive relations
• Individualism + Sincerity – Selfishness
• Respect for the elderly
• Openness, responsiveness, cooperation
• First impressions
8.
9. SLIDE 9/19
• No open competition/ confrontation
• Self-control, discipline
• Harmony, cooperation
• No impatience, frustration, anger in public
• Silence is valued
• Integrity, professionalism
10. • Call to make an appointment
• Be prepared for a group
meeting
• Respond quickly
• Make a good first impression
SLIDE 10/19
• Refuse a request
• Engage in confrontation
• Lose your temper/ raise your
voice
• Obligate them to say “no”
11. SLIDE 11/19
• Be direct, open and honest
• Send an agenda prior to a
meeting
• Keep a presentation precise
• Translate texts in Afrikaans
• Engage in physical contact
• Get too close to the speaker
• Make decisions based on
intuition, but facts and figures
• Expect to build personal
relationships doing business
12. • Using humor is frowned
upon in formal
environments
• Sticking to the point/ to one
subject is appreciated
• Avoiding to speak too fast –
interpreted as hurrying
• Humor is often used as an
icebreaker
• Metaphors are used to
demonstrate a point
• Building relationships
before conducting business
isn’t very important
SLIDE 12/19
13. • Always allow the partner to
sign a contract first
• Avoid using short variations
of words
• One long message is
preferred when texting
• Avoid handwriting
• Avoid discussing important
matters via text or email
• Short variations of words
are permitted via text
or email
• It is good to summarize the
content at the end of an
email
SLIDE 13/19
14. SLIDE 14/19
• Often more important than
spoken interaction
• Hand gestures can be easily
misinterpreted
• Frowning while someone is
speaking is a sign of
disagreement
• Looking down is a way to show
respect
15. • Shaking hands (firmly) in the
beginning is very important
• Women may decide whether to
shake hands or nod their heads
• Smiling and eye contact is
appreciated
• Disrespectful to stand too close
to the person speaking
SLIDE 15/19
16. SLIDE 16/19
• Formal and conservative
• Men – dark suits (blue, black),
no beards
• Women – no heels, pants
can be offensive
• Accent on quality,
dressing well
• Stylish and conservative
• Men – suits, tie, jacket or long-sleeve shirts
• Women – elegant suit or dress,
not too revealing, long-sleeve
• Ties can be taken off if it is too warm
17.
18. SLIDE 18/19
…the Japanese:
• Soft-spoken
• Silent
• Cooperative
• Formal
• Long-term oriented
…the South Africans:
• Open
• Loud
• Cooperative
• Short-term oriented
• Professional
19. • Business Etiquette in South Africa, [Internet], 2016
http://www.expatica.com/za/employment/Business-etiquette-in-South-
Africa_105889.html
• Japanese manners and etiquette, [Internet], 2014
http://www.wapedia.com/culture/japanese_manners_etiquette.shtml
• General information Japan, [Internet], 2016
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/japan-country-
profiles.html
• General information Japan, [Internet], 2012
http://www.cyborlink.com/besite/japan.htm
• General information South Africa, [Internet], 2016
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/south-africa-
country-profile.html
• Nonverbal communication Japan, [Internet], 2003
http://www.onken.com/classroom/internationalmanagement/Japan/Nonverba
lcommunication.html
• Dress code Japan, [Internet], 2016
http://www.japanesebusinessresource.com/japanese_business_etiquette/dress-
code/
SLIDE 19/19