Question

Many Japanese companies use ethnocentric staffing policies in international operations despite the difficulties that this policy can cause companies

16-1. Why do you think Japanese companies prefer to have Japanese in top management positions? 16-2. If you were working as a consultant for a Japanese company, would you recommend that it change this policy? Explain.

Culture shock is the psychological difficulties experienced when living in an unfamiliar culture and is characterized by homesickness, irritability, confusion, aggravation, and depression.
16-1. Why do you think Japanese companies prefer to have Japanese in top management positions? 16-2. If you were working as a consultant for a Japanese company, would you recommend that it change this policy? Explain.
16-3. If you have ever experienced culture shock, in which country did it occur? 16-4. What did you do to overcome the shock or lessen its effects? Explain.

Answer 1

Ethnocentric staffing means you hire management that is the same nationality as the parent company.When the parent company's procedures and operations require control and management for the company to profit, it can be appropriate to choose ethnocentric staffing for foreign offices. The employees from the parent company will have a strong working knowledge of company policies and procedures, and can ensure that company guidelines are followed.

Ethnocentric staffing offers the opportunity to transfer company values to the foreign operation. Employees who have worked at the parent company know how the company views work ethic, customer service, productivity and a host other issues. Management staff from the parent company can bring company values to bear on the building of the foreign branch.

Japanese companies typically decide to use the ethnocentric staffing policies for many reasons:- language barriers, common interest is in line with company’s home office, and transferring employees with clear performance record within company.The Japanese apply different principles and have developed different approaches and policies to tackle each of these problems. These policies, while not the key to the Japanese “economic miracle,” are certainly major factors in the astonishing rise of Japan in the last 100 years, and especially in Japan’s economic growth and performance in the last 20 years.

I would recommend changing to polycentric staffing policies because, you can loss local prospective that a host-country national will be able to better guide the company on local market and it gradually reduces the cost of foreign operations.Not only for this reason, the ethnocentric staffing policies have so many disadvantages like,

• Parent country nationals continue to experience difficulties to adjust to international assignments.
• The adaptation of expatriates is uncertain.
• Complicated personnel planning procedures.
• The private life of expatriates is severely affected.
• Difficulties in constant mentoring during the stay abroad.
• This approach to staffing limits the promotion and career opportunities of local managers, which may lead to low moral and increased turnover.
• Parent country nationals are not always sensitive to the needs and expectations of their host country subordinates.
• Legal regulations of the host country.
• Government restrictions.
• Repatriation.
• High failure rate.

Culture shock is an experience a person may have when one moves to a cultural environment which is different from one's own; it is also the personal disorientation a person may feel when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life due to immigration or a visit to a new country, a move between social environments, or simply transition to another type of life.

Yes,I had already faced this culture shock in India.You know India consists a lot of customs,traditions and languages.One day i went to bangalore for some office work.I don't know kanada and I don't have any idea about that place.I had faced so many problems like confusion,health issues,irritation....But,later i understand so many things and i had followed the following steps whenever i have to go to any other place.They are:-

Research the country of your interest (i.e. food, traditions, religion, history, languages, music, politics, sports, and social dynamics, problems, architecture, and landscapes). You can do this either on your own time or integrate it into any other website. Either way it will help prepare you for what you will be entering.

Keep an open mind Remember that you are in an environment different from your home so people may behave and perceive things differently. Instead of shying away from something that is "foreign" to you, ask questions about it. Embrace your mistakes so you can profit from them. Exercise patience and acceptance. Use it to richen your cultural learning experience.

Research via Trip advisor some fun things to do while you are visiting the country of your choice. Doing this can build on more excitement and reduce the impact of fear. If you don't know where to start, then browse the top recommended choices and build from there.

Get socially involved Check out the different social and activity organizations offered at office that you are interested in studying abroad at. When persons have common interests, they unite quicker and stick together. Check and see if there are cultural groups or groups that just make you plain old excited!

5) Reach out to other foreign exchange members. They may be feeling just as lost and alone as you do. Who knows you might make a friend.

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