Intercultural issues-Can anyone please help?

[jd5968]

Hello, I am working on an assignment for a business communications class that I am taking in college. I am supposed to interview someone from another culture. I decided I wanted to interview someone from Japan because I served three years in Okinawa while in the Air Force, and I already knew a little about the culture. Below are the questions I neeed answered:

1. How is negative news handled in the Japanese culture?
2. How would typical business communicators refuse a request for a business favor (such as a contribution to a charity)?
3. How would typical business communicators refuse a customer's claim?
4. How would an individual be turned down for a job?

**Also I am supposed to collect a sample or samples of a typical Japanese business letter. Does anyone know where I can find this??

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks,
Jared

 

[Glenski]

I'm not Japanese, but perhaps I can lend a little help in your question format.

1. How is negative news handled in the Japanese culture?
This one needs to have the wording changed. What do you mean by "negative news"? About what (about Japan itself, or just something bad in itself like a crime)? You seem to be asking these questions for business people, so I think you should be more specific and give examples:
a. you're fired/laid off
b. the company is losing money
c. you lost the contract with a client
d. boss is giving the news, or a subordinate is, or the main office is?
e. news to employees or to the press (the latter is often denied first, then later ashamedly announced with a press conference and formal bows, and often followed by a high ranking person resigning to take responsibility, but again we need to know the circumstances you mean)

3. How would typical business communicators refuse a customer's claim?
Claim for what? Damages? Late shipment? Legal proceedings? Claim that some product is defective? Do you mean a Japanese or foreign customer?

4. How would an individual be turned down for a job?
I assume you mean when he is in the interview process. In my experience you're going to get one of 2 answers: you get a letter saying "thanks, but we found someone else", or you don't hear at all.

I am supposed to collect a sample or samples of a typical Japanese business letter.
This is far too general. What do you mean? Any letters written in Japan are likely going to be written in Japanese. Will that be acceptable to your teacher?