Seminar paper from the year 2009 in the subject Communications - Intercultural Communication, grade: 1,7, University of applied sciences, Duisburg, course: Interkulturelle Kompetenzen, language: English, abstract: Cultural differences concerning religion, sex, generation, class, history and values lead to different ways of thinking, feeling and acting. These aspects have not only to be considered when trying to define countries and categorise people, but also when trying to understand organisations. The leadership of each corporation is based on these factors. E.g. when you are trying to define the meaning of success. Japanese companies like Toyota characterise success as quality of their products, satisfaction of their employees and customers. German corporations define profit as success. Organisational structures, corporate goals, personnel policy, suspension of staff, job description, employee suggestion system and salary history differs. Due to globalisation, expansion of the market, mergers and takeovers, companies have to deal with the various numerous of cultures in order to survive in long-term and to remain competitive.

Inhaltsangabe:Abstract: As the idea of Japan as a leader in management styles and the mythos 'collectivism' as a key to high quality performance and productivity is still in mind of German managers, this work tries to compare actual leadership styles of Japanese and German managers on the level of cultural dimensions. In the study the sample consisted of 119 persons in middle management positions (82 male and 37 female), 60 persons with work experience in Japan and 59 without experience. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding 52 leadership characteristics (e.g. the ability to assert oneself, to cooperate or to delegate) within five cultural dimensions. Participants then rated the importance of this characteristic for the specific category. Findings of the study showed significant differences in experienced and estimated management styles between the countries as well as significances regarding management traits of the german culture after working in Japan. Inhaltsverzeichnis:Table of Contents: CHAPTER ONE9 1.1INTRODUCTION9 1.2STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM11 1.3RESEARCH QUESTION14 CHAPTER TWO15 2.1INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT AND ITS CULTURAL CONTEXT15 2.1.1Culture15 2.1.2Cross-cultural Communication22 2.2.2Cross-cultural Management25 2.2.3Significance for Organization29 2.3SUCCESS FACTORS OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS31 2.4CULTURALLY COMPARATIVE MANAGEMENT RESEARCH35 2.4.1Management-oriented Cultural Research36 2.4.2Cultural Dimensions according to Hofstede40 2.4.2.1Dimension of power distance41 2.4.2.2Dimension of collectivism versus individualism43 2.4.2.3Dimension of masculinity versus femininity44 2.4.2.4Dimension of uncertainty avoidance46 2.4.3The Dimension of the Confucian Dynamic47 2.4.4Further Dimensions of Culture51 2.4.4.1Basic dimensions of culture according to Adler52 2.4.4.2Dimensions of culture according to Trompenaars54 2.5THE SOCIO-CULTURAL BACKGROUND OF JAPANESE MANAGERS57 2.5.1Japanese Confucianism58 2.5.2Corporate collectivism: The uchi mentality60 2.5.3Consensus and participation in management63 2.6THE PRESENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GERMANY AND JAPAN63 2.6.1General and political relationships63 2.6.2The Economic Relationships65 2.6.2.1Relationships to the European Union (EU)65 2.6.2.2Foreign Trade between Germany and Japan66 2.6.2.3Special Features67 2.6.3Cultural Contacts69 2.7LEADERSHIP STYLES70 2.7.1Definition and aspects of leadership70 2.7.2Differencies in the leadership [...]

Emphasising the essential techniques of business best practices, this title offers thorough analysis and discussions on concepts such as environmental analysis, strategy development and strategy implementation.

'The publication of this second edition of Culture's Consequences marks an important moment in the field of cross-cultural studies . Hofstede's framework for understanding national differences has been one of the most influential and widely used frameworks in cross-cultural business studies, in the past ten years' - Australian Journal of Management

People, processes, and technology. These are the three major drivers of business achievement. The best leaders inherently understand that great companies start with great people. This is as true now as it was during the beginning of the industrial revolution, and understanding and staying current on the latest organizational behavior research and best practices paves the way for managerial success. In this updated edition of Organizational Behavior, theory, new research and real-world case studies are combined in an engaging manner to blend together the critical concepts and skills needed to successfully manage others and build a strong organization across all levels of a company. Featuring an in-depth view of the process and practice of managing individuals, teams, and entire organizations, the text provides a solid foundation for students and future managers.

Management Ideas is a unique guide to the dominant theories influencing management practice in the late 20th century. Kermally explains how some organizations have taken these ideas on board and incorporated them in their strategies in order to survive in today's intensively competitive climate. Management Ideas looks at: * Total quality management *Benchmarking *Customer service *Business process re-engineering *Performance measurement *Empowerment *Learning and knowledge-focused organizations The ...in brief books provide a critical 'snapshot' of the major management fashions and fads influencing business strategy. They cut through the consultants' jargon and steer a practical, common sense course through the theory and hype. They provide managers with a balanced view based on evidence rather than missionary zeal, so that they can be better informed. Sultan Kermally is the senior Vice President and the Director of the Economist Conferences. Formerly he was a Senior Group Director at Management Centre Europe, Brussels. He designs conferences on leading edge management issues such as Benchmarking, Empowerment, Process Re-engineering. He is also a part-time lecturer at Durham University Business School. An expanded hardback edition of this book, Total Management Thinking, is also available - ISBN 0750626143

In his bestselling book Culture's Consequences, Geert Hofstede proposed four dimensions on which the differences among national cultures can be understood: Individualism, Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance and Masculinity. This volume comprises the first in-depth discussion of the masculinity dimension and how it can help us to understand differences among cultures. The book begins with a general explanation of the masculinity dimension, and discusses how it illuminates broad features of different cultures. The following parts apply the dimension more specifically to gender (and gender identity), sexuality (and sexual behaviour) and religion, probably the most influential variable of all. Hofstede closes the book