After a written test I was selected for the final viva of Bangladesh Japan ICT Engineers’ training program. Before the viva there was an assignment and for that I prepared this document focusing on the difference/similarity of working environment between Bangladeshi and Japanese companies.

1. Though there is strong friendship between Japan and Bangladesh, there are some difference
of working environment between these two countries. As I have two years of working
experience in bangladesh, I have seen how people work in their office in bangladesh. Some of
my friends work in Japan and I have come to know how they work there. Now I am trying to
describe my knowledge that I’ve gathered by reading blog and talking with my friends.
Reference of the blog will be also shared in this article.
​Characteristic ​Japan ​Bangladesh
Time management &
punctuality
Japanese people are very punctual.
Office workers arrive at the office at
8:45 and open their laptops right
away even though the labor time
starts from 9:00. They also leave
office late and it has become their
tradition.
Bangladeshi people are also punctual.
Office workers try to come office in
time and leave office in time. Though
in some IT firm office time is strictly
followed by the junior and also the
senior engineer.
Long working hours
The Japanese are well known as
hard working people. Average
Japanese works at least 9 hours in a
day and 45 hours in a week.
Bangladeshi people also works hard.
Average bangladeshi works at least 8
hours in a day and 40 hours in a week.
Drinking with colleagues
The Japanese like to drink after the
workday. It is recommended to have
a drink with subordinates. It will
bring a positive change as the
subordinates will be more honest
with each other about any
disagreements pertaining to the job
which they seem to agree about at
the office.
Bangladeshi workers like to eat in
between the workday. They eat lunch
together to make strong team
building. In some offices there might
be some facilities for soft drink and
smoking after lunch.
Silence in office
Japanese working environment is
normally quiet and focused. Being
too much of an extrovert can be
considered a bad attitude. They do
not say their disagreements directly
and openly.
Bangladeshi working environment is
also quiet but sometimes there may be
some noise when discussing thing with
co-workers. In some office being
extrovert can be considered as a sign
of confidence.

2.
Office meeting
Japanese have many meetings and
spend a lot of time in meetings
because they value the process to
agree with everyone who is related
to their project.
Bangladeshi have fewer meeting.
Seniors make the decision first and
then discuss it with the juniors and
sometimes juniors also take part in
meetings.
Day to day communications
Japanese respect meeting each
other face to face. It is important to
them for conducting business
relationships.
Contacting clients by email or on the
phone seems to be more natural in
conducting business relationship in
bangladesh.
Structured working styles
Most Japanese companies work
regular office hours and they don’t
permit working at home.
In IT companies, software engineers
can get the opportunity to work from
home if they are sick.
Project commitment
If the Japanese feel that it’s possible
to achieve most likely 100%, they
don’t say “Yes”. Their agreement is
careful because they want to be
accurate.
Bangladeshi engineers possess can-do
attitude. Even though if they feel that
it’s possible to achieve most likely
60-80%, they say “Yes”.
Roles & Responsibilities
Each team has a leader and the
leader is responsible for outlining
the day’s work in a morning meeting
(​chorei​).
Each team has a senior team lead and
he is responsible for managing the
team by distributing task with
estimated deadline. In some offices,
scrum meeting is also strongly
followed.
Workplace spaces
Japanese desks are organized in an
open plan (​obeya seido​), in which
desks are grouped together in teams
of coworkers. The work environment
is set like a school class where the
head of the department is at the top
of a row of desks.
There is no specific office setup in
Bangladesh. Most of the offices have
cubicles, desk divider and co-workers
sit not too far from each other.

3.
References:
1. https://www.justlanded.com/english/Japan/Japan-Guide/Jobs/Working-in-Japan
2. http://jpninfo.com/3614
3. https://www.quora.com/How-is-the-working-environment-of-different-software-firms-in-Ba
ngladesh
4. http://blog.btrax.com/en/2010/12/15/10-cultural-contrasts-between-us-and-japanese-com
panies-a-personal-view/
5. https://www.export.gov/article?id=Bangladesh-Local-Time