The Divine Wind Vault: "How many German or Japanese firms send employees to the US who can't speak English?"

Sunday, November 21, 2010

"How many German or Japanese firms send employees to the US who can't speak English?"

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Gearing up

Category: Travel and Places

I remember back in 2004, I had only been in Japan for a few months, and the weather had turned cold and ugly. It was before we owned a bed or had cable TV. I would almost dare say that we were "roughing it" but won't considering my terrible living conditions on a 35 year old aircraft carrier my first time around in Japan in 1993.

Since I don't like cold weather (nine years in California spoiled me), and sleeping on the floor as the Japanese do on a futon just brings back bad memories of sleeping in my rack on the ship (and very inconvenient when comes to getting some lovin'). Furthermore, the basic TV channels available in my apartment are suitable for the Japanese people, and even a guy like me who struggles with the Japanese language. Japan's equivalent to the UK's BBC or maybe the US's PBS (cross between the two), NHK, provides bilingual news as well as the other Japanese networks (TBS and Fuji TV). Beyond the news, Japanese TV leaves a lot to be desired. The Japanese's sense of humor is just different than people from the West.

So, as you can imagine, the early days of my current stint in Japan was a period of trials and tribulations. Looking back, I regret letting my emotions get the best of me and was very fortunate to have my wife and her family to lean on.

Anyway, around this time, I was watching NHK's bilingual news broadcast, wearing three layers of clothes and bundled up in a blanket just to keep warm on this particular cold winter evening. The segment of the broadcast was showing the influx of people from India were coming to Japan to work in the various IT jobs. I guess in Chiba-ken (where Naritia Airport is located) has several IT offices according to the segment. The segment continued with showing these group of foreigners getting some training back in India on the business customs in Japan. Back in Bombay they were taking a Japanese language course, learning how to greet their Japanese counterpart, etc.

Looking back, I realize that in America, we simply do not do this. While I've been in Japan as a participant on the JET Program, I have also been working on a project where American Food & Beverage companies would have sales and marketing representation in Japan/Far East "boots on the ground". The project is still ongoing with several issues remaining uncertain. Over the course of this project, I've met with several people of the industry (both Japanese and American). I've come to the conclusion that if in America we would simply do as these people from India were doing, it would be so much better for expanding business into Japan or anywhere for that matter.

Here are the facts:

1- There are 11,000 Americans engaged in business activities in Japan and only 5% speak Japanese. The percentage is even less in China.

2- Only 35% of American firms do a pre-departure cross-cultural training, aka "Diversity Training" of their employees before they enter into business relationships with other countries.

3- Private firms in other industrialized countries invest more in cross-cultural training than do US companies.

4- Cross-cultural experts state that it is not a coincidence that about twice as many American executives fail to complete overseas assignments compared to European or Japanese executives.

Here's a question for you to ponder..."How many German or Japanese firms send employees to the US who can't speak English?"

Source: Greenville Magazine, September 2006 issue

Today's Picture was taken at Greenville-Spartanburg Airport located in Greer, South Carolina. Greer as well as the Upstate has seen a surge in international presence due to the favorable issues of affordable cost of living and a labor force not hindered with unions. German automaker, BMW, has been making cars at their plant in Greer since 1992.