Negotiation Using a Mediator Between Japanese and American Delegation
Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum,
Read Chapter 5: Negotiation Skills and Resolving Conflicts With Others in the required course textbook.
Read 5 Major Differences Between Japanese and American Workplaces
Review 15 Tips to Realign and Resolve Conflict With Your Business Partner
Two countries may have incompatible negotiating styles that could greatly hamper negotiations or even cause them to fail. As a mediator, it is important to consider what should be done in such cases to increase the chance that a negotiation will be successful by gathering information about the culture of the members of both countries.
In a post of at least 300 words, answer the following questions:
What cultural information would you gather and why if you were going to serve as mediator between a Japanese delegation and an American delegation?
How will that information help you with moving the two delegations towards a solution?
In trying to resolve the conflict, what questions would you be uncomfortable asking the two parties and why?
Text
Jandt, F. E. (2016). Conflict and communication. Sage.
Negotiation Using a Mediator
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Collecting cultural information is vital for successful negotiation between an American and Japanese delegation. It would be critical to gather information concerning the communication styles and values of the two cultures. Since Japanese culture extensively focuses on nonverbal and indirect communication, a mediator would understand the nuances of their facial expressions, body language, and gestures. In contrast, American communication is more explicit and direct. Such cultural information is vital in avoiding miscommunication and misinterpretations in the negotiation process. Also, it is crucial to collect information on the hierarchical structures of the two delegations. Japanese organizations follow a well-structured hierarchy where superiors approve significant decisions, as evident in the “ho-ren-so” concept (Merchant, 2018). On the other hand, American workplaces significantly foster individualism and thus may lack such hierarchical structures. Comprehending the above distinctions in decision-making processes is critical in anticipating conflicts and ensuring seamless negotiation decisions. Furthermore, understanding the cultural norms about teamwork and conflict resolution is essential (Jandt, 2016). Japanese workplaces focus on group harmony and cohesion, while Americans encourage individual freedom and career development. Understanding such cultural differences wil...