A Briefing on Cultural and Communicative Sources of Western‐Japanese Interorganizational Conflict

Abstract

Offers Western managerial psychology a synthesis of cross‐cultural perspectives on Western‐Japanese inter‐organizational conflict. Argues that Graeco‐Roman and Confucian‐Buddhist‐based cultural and communicative codes are fundamentally antagonistic, contributing to misperceptions and conflict between Western and Japanese management. Presents the briefing as a blueprint or prototype for (a) identifying roots of Western‐Japanese conflict, (b) utilizing cross‐cultural data as a means for conceptualizing a broader based Western managerial psychology cognizant of East Asian protocol, (c) developing predeparture training for Western managers anticipating long– or short‐term assignments with Japanese associates. Recommends a Z‐Communication hybrid as a means whereby seemingly dichotomous Western and Japanese communication codes presented in the briefing may be converged and negotiated, and culturally based organizational and managerial conflict reduced.

Citation

Goldman, A. (1994), "A Briefing on Cultural and Communicative Sources of Western‐Japanese Interorganizational Conflict", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 9 No. 1, pp. 7-12. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683949410051459