The Impact of Culture on Business

 

 

Community

 

Change/Risk Taking

 

Decision Making, Product-to-Market Cycle

 

Info Sharing, Communication,  Teamwork

 

故きを温ねて新しきを知る (温故知新)

Furuki o tazunete atarashiki o shiru (Onkochishin)

 (from Analects)

“Discover new things by studying the past”

Road and importance of wisdom, reverence

 

口は災いの元。

Kuchi wa wazawai no moto.

"The mouth is the root of evil."

It's what people say that gets them into trouble

 

 

出る杭は打たれる。

Deru kugi wa utareru.

"The nail that sticks out gets hammered down"

Importance of harmony with the group and "awase" or "fitting in."

 

石橋叩いて渡る。

Ishibashi tataite wataru.

"Tap the stone bridge before crossing"

Importance of proceeding slowly, thoughtfully, and carefully

 

地震、雷、火事、親父。

Jishin, kaminari, kaji, oyaji.

"Earthquakes, thunder, fires, fathers"

Powerlessness of humanity in the face of the natural order of the universe

 

毒食わば皿まで。

Doku kuwaba sara made.

"If you are going to eat poison, include the plate"

Whole-hearted commitment once the decision is made

 

千里の道も一歩から。

Senri no michi mo ippo kara.

"Even a thousand mile journey begins with one step"

Take one step at a time, and maintain a long-term view

 

三人寄れば門儒の知恵。

Sannin yoreba monju no chie.

"When three people are together there is the wisdom of god"

Importance of consulting all concerned parties to a decision

 

運否天賦

Umpu tempu.

"Trust to chance"

Importance of fate and appropriate timing; not forcing what's not meant to be.

 

改善。

Kaizen.   

“Continuous improvement”

Aiming for zero defects

 

言わぬが花。

Iwanu ga hana.

"Not saying is the flower"

Importance of feelings and intuition

 

以心伝心。

Ishin denshin.

"By means of the heart the hearts communicate"

Importance of rapport

 

不言実行。

Fugen jikkoh.

"Action before words"

Importance of actions in building trust/distrust of words

 

同じ釜の飯を食った中。

Onaji kama no meshi o kutta naka.

"Having eaten from the same pot of rice"

Importance of sharing the same experience and socializing together

 

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