Question

In Chapter 15, Matsumoto & Juang (2013) pose the following to us: How do the organizations to which you belong make decisions? Is it top-down, bottom-up, or something else? How does it compare to the Japanese system described in the text? What system would work best, and why?

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary. Also, since I do not know or have the book you are referring to, you will have to conclude the response by comparing it with the Japanese system. I have only found some of their work and used that for the answer.

(Answer) A typical American workplace is full of citizens from the country itself. These are individuals who have been brought up with through an individualistic culture. This means that they focus on their personal well-being, growth, happiness etc. It is an attitude of the “self” before the “community.”

This attitude is reflective in the workplace as well. If one has experience working in a typical American organisation with a hierarchical authority structure, this cultural structure is implied. Each individual puts their professional growth before that of the group. Their success is openly stated and authority over the employees is not something that needs to be inhibitions. A boss can easily give orders and an employee can easily make themselves a priority.

On the other hand, eastern cultures have people raised with a “community living” mentality. These are people who have to make the well-being of their community a priority. Even if they acquire success, these are people who will not particularly brandish it so as to stay modest within a group and be considerate of others.

This attitude permeates into the Japanese workplace. Individuals would not readily give orders and might request instead of delegate work. Authority is not made obvious because everyone in the group must be considered and not just the worth of oneself. This system would be “linear” as opposed to a “hierarchy” because authority is evenly distributed and each member of the team is viewed as essential and equal within a community of members.