Japanese Style in Decision-Making

Talking about problem solving or decision making suggests investigating many complicated cultural forces and measuring the effects of these forces on modern life. It also means using dangerous comparisons and explaining certain fundamental concepts.

To comprehend the Japanese style of problem solving, we should realize the difference between the west and Japan regarding the professional identity. In the west, the stress is on what a man or a woman does for a living, while in Japan the most essential thing is what organization you are working for.

There are several features of the Japanese environment that in some way affect decision making. To begin with, we have the ‘’you to you’’ approach developed from the westerners’ ‘’I to you ‘’ approach. In the west, the ‘’I to you’’ approach is based on both sides introducing their argument from their own point of view. Consequently, a conflict situation is constructed. On the other hand, the ‘’ you to you’’ approach in Japan is based on trying to appreciate the other person’s opinion. Accordingly, the direction of the meeting is a shared effort to reducing confrontation and accomplishing an accord.

A second characteristic is one based on ‘’consensus opinion’’ or ‘’bottom up direction’’. In Japan, great regard is given to opinions of everyone of all levels. So, a decision making can be created at the lowest level. Unlike the case in Japan, the western style in decision making starts from top management and often does not consult middle management.

A third feature is negotiations. It is based on communication and it aims at achieving harmony which places time in different perspective. It means that the Japanese consider the western deadline approach secondary to a thorough job. They are careful in their meetings and production and are always raring to execution.

So, how Nomura securities in Japan has succeeded to escape the paper log jam? First, in Japan there is very advanced computerization. Worthy of saying is that when Nomura switched to computers, the company did not free the seven hundred employees but they became securities sales people and some of them are leading sales people of the company. Second, the employees responsible for processing the transaction stay till the job is done. Their willingness to participate is always an important aspect of a problem solving.

In conclusion, willingness and intelligence are two major elements a company needs to succeed.

This article is adapted from a speech by Mr. Terasawa, presidentd of Nomura Securities International, Inc., before the commonwealth club of San Francisco.

Summerized by:

Sarah N. Maghraby

Conflict Resolution Resources

http://bbll.com/ch22.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_David_Accords

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negotiation

Conflict Resolution

A conflict is a situation in which different people or parties with contradicted goals affect each other. A conflict can be as big as a war, or it can be as small as a disagreement, a negative or a positive one depending on the way it is solved. To illustrate, it can lead to a big fight or it can teach people to respect each others’ opinions and learn how to stand up for their own. In order to achieve that latter result, violence is not an option when it comes to conflict resolution. Passive ways are always the best choice. One good example of a passive peaceful way is negotiations.

Negotiation is always number one choice in so many situations that we face at work, home and specifically when it comes to disputes between countries, but what is negotiation? Negotiation according to the dictionary definition is “to discuss with the goal of finding terms of agreement”. In other words, negotiation means trying to meet other person’s goals without losing sight of your own. Therefore, it is a smart pick when things are at the stake to just have a meeting with the people you are arguing with and try to solve the problem you are facing, as the absence of a calm conversation leads to the worse. In fact, if it was not for negotiations, so many countries would have been doomed, for the failure of negotiations between countries usually leads to the other despised choice which is war.

Since negotiation is such a major method of solving a problem, it is an art that has specific techniques that should be followed to grantee the win of it. In the case of conflict between parties, companies or even countries, the art of negotiation states that each party should assign a skilled negotiator to speak for his party. A negotiator should be patient, smart, well aware of the situation and also aware of the other party’s weaknesses and strengths, what they are willing to do and what is out of discussion. He has to have manners of how to lead a civilized conversation and know how to make quick decisions without messing up things. To hold successful negotiations each party should be ready to compromise without giving up their main rights.

The role of negotiation cannot be denied as one safe resort to many politicians who has been always aware of the significance of reaching a nonviolent resolution to help their countries avoid war. One good example of a successful negotiation is what El Sadat, the late Egyptian president, was able to accomplish through negotiating with the Israelis which led to Camp David accord. Twelve days of secret negotiations guaranteed Egypt peace and stability since 1979 till this very moment. This victorious negotiation proved the truth of JF Kennedy’s famous saying ‘’never negotiate out of fear, but we should never fear to negotiate’’ that’s because in some cases the results are magnificent.

All in all, a conflict is a situation that is better be solved serenely to make sure that we get the best out of it. Since negotiation proved to be successful in so many complicated situations, its skills are considered the most significant elements of a career success whether political or even in business. The art of negotiation should be learned and practiced by anyone who wishes to lead a life of self fulfillment.