It will focus on differences about workers characteristics and management policies towards workers, and then give out some main reasons that lead to these differences. Managers may find some necessary information contained herein to have them applied in their business.
MAIN PART.
1. Differences between Japanese and American workers characteristics and traditional management policies towards workers.
1.1. Workers Characteristics.
It seems subjective to generalize characteristics of millions of people. However, a number of typical and obvious differences between Japanese and American workers characteristics still appear to exist.
Firstly, the Japanese sense of self is very different from the American's. Japanese people build up identities that reinforce friendships, relatives and coworkers to share feelings and improve on weaknesses. Work group is very popular in Japanese firms. Unlike the Japanese, American workers are for the most part individualist. They prefer to act independently and try to be as self-sufficient as possible. While we can easily find Japanese workers sit together singing the company's traditional song, Americans view this action as such a culture of tribe.
Secondly, although people in the two countries both have a strong sense of nationalism, there are many racial conflicts in America that obviously reduce their ability to work together. .
These above reasons may explain why we often see Japanese people are more cooperative and willing to work in teams than the U.S. .
Thirdly, opposing to Japanese workers, the Americans are likely to show their highest performance once motivated by competition and individual recognitions. The Americans like freedom from rules. Japanese workers, on the other hand, seem to be more conservative and more respect to rules and regulations. They appear to be reliant on group decision and do not like to take risks.
Fourthly, Japanese workers have an entirely different attitude towards work.