Japanese Contractors in Overseas Markets: Bridging Cultural and Communication Gaps

Description

This book explores the differences in cultural attributes and management factors to enable managers working for Japanese contractors to reduce misunderstandings and misinterpretations when communicating with project team members from different cultural backgrounds. It focuses on Japanese contractors operating in Singapore, since the Singapore construction industry has, for many years, been one of the largest overseas construction markets for the top-5 Japanese contractors. Using Hofstede’s national cultural framework for the cultural studies in construction project management, it reveals various real-world management practices and discusses national cultural differences relating to managers working for Japanese contractors in Singapore as well as the communication weaknesses of current management practices and styles. The results presented provide useful lessons for Japanese contractors operating in Singapore, as well as other parts of the world, to bridge cultural and communication gaps. Front Matter ....Pages i-xxiii Introduction (Kazuhito Suzuki, Low Sui Pheng)....Pages 1-11 Japanese Construction Industry and Exports (Kazuhito Suzuki, Low Sui Pheng)....Pages 13-36 The Construction Industry and International Firms in Singapore (Kazuhito Suzuki, Low Sui Pheng)....Pages 37-60 National Culture (Kazuhito Suzuki, Low Sui Pheng)....Pages 61-75 Communication Management (Kazuhito Suzuki, Low Sui Pheng)....Pages 77-97 Conceptual Framework (Kazuhito Suzuki, Low Sui Pheng)....Pages 99-125 Research Methodology (Kazuhito Suzuki, Low Sui Pheng)....Pages 127-147 Data Analysis (Kazuhito Suzuki, Low Sui Pheng)....Pages 149-304 Case Studies (Kazuhito Suzuki, Low Sui Pheng)....Pages 305-339 Validation Exercises (Kazuhito Suzuki, Low Sui Pheng)....Pages 341-358 Conclusions and Recommendations (Kazuhito Suzuki, Low Sui Pheng)....Pages 359-369 Back Matter ....Pages 371-427