Four Fundamentals of Management

Intro:

Kelly had been given the opportunity to head up the sales and marketing department in Tokyo, Japan as a program manager for a startup internet services company. Her boss was adamant that Kelly would climb the corporate ladder if she was successful in Japan. Kelly explained to her boss that she did not speak Japanese and that she knew nothing about Japan, however, her boss was confident in her since she had done such a great job in Boston and in recent short assignments in London and Germany. At the office, Kelly’s immediate staff in Japan included seven Japanese, two Americans and two Germans (all men).

Identification of personal & professional issues:

• Kelly’s decision to move was taken abruptly, therefore, she had no time to research the job assignment thoroughly

• Kelly only had two days to decide whether she wanted to take the assignment in Japan and had three weeks to get to Japan

• Kelly uprooted her entire family from the US to Japan with little knowledge about the living conditions, schools for her two children or work opportunities for her husband

• Due to the abrupt move - Kelly would have to support the entire family because her husband did not have time to explore his work options

• Kelly was admittedly unfamiliar with the Japanese culture, customs and language;

• Staff members were not well informed about Kelly's position at the office (as they thought Kelly was a man)

• Kelly's greeting (staff unorganized/the business was not prepared and initial meetings were postponed due to this issue)

• Culture shock regarding values, ethnicity & morals

• Business card incident - the client company’s CEO handed Kelly his business card, she put it in her pocket without a glance and did not give him her card in return. In Japan, business cards are a “must have” – never flick, throw, slide or push your Japanese business card across the table. The card must be presented by holding it with both hands and accepted with respect, using both hands...