The country that I choose for this assignment is Japan and Singapore.

The bar chart above are

showing the comparison of the Hofstede’s Cultural Dimension score between the two country. First is the
power distance dimension, the bar chart above shown that Singapore score (74) were slightly higher than
China (54). This is because in within the company in Singapore, the decision making power is centralized
and executives depend on their bosses without questioning any reasonable action made by the upper tier
employees and their attitude toward executives is very formal and mostly communication with the
executives is indirect. Compared to Japan, even though they are always aware of their hierarchical situation
in any context and behave accordingly but they were not as hierarchical compared to Singapore.

Next is for the individualism value. The chart above show that japan were more toward the
individualism because Japanese prefer to do things by themselves. Japanese people´s self-image is defined
in terms of “I” rather than “We” as they were more concern about themselves rather than being in a group
or belong into a certain community. Japanese were also known for their loyalty toward their company
compared to Singaporean that were ready to hop their job anytime if offered with better offer. However, in
doing work, Japanese need to have authoritarian and humanism in the workplace as they also emphasis on
participative management, consensus, and duty in work.

After that is for the masculinity, Japan also score higher than Singapore in term of the masculinity
value. As we known, Japan is one of the world's most masculine societies. In Japan, you see that staff are
most driven when they fight against their rivals in a winning team as they were drive for excellence and
perfection in in every aspect of life. They were also more toward wanting to having recognition, luxury life
and certainty in career rather toward the feminity value that practiced by other country that prefer on having
life balance.

Next is uncertainty avoidance. Japan score more than Singapore for the uncertainty avoidance value
as is one of the most uncertain avoiding nations on earth. In Japan, a lot of time and energy is spent on
feasibility studies and all risk variables need to be worked out before any project can begin. Before taking
any choice, managers ask for all the accurate facts and figures. This strong need for an Uncertainty
Avoidance is one of the reasons why changes in Japan are so hard to achieve.

Then is the Long-term orientation. Japanese were also scored higher than Singapore as their need
for the certain future were higher. As describe in the masculinity value, they were mostly would avoid any
risky future. In Japan also, a lot of time and energy is spent on feasibility studies and all risk variables need
to be worked out before any project can begin. Before taking any choice, managers ask for all the accurate
facts and figures. This strong need for an Uncertainty Avoidance is one of the reasons why changes in Japan
are so hard to achieve.

The last Hofstede culture dimension above, is the indulgence value. Japan, with a low score of 42
compared to the Singapore, is shown to have a culture of restraint as compared to the Singapore as they
were easier in adapting any situation. Also, in contrast to Indulgent societies, restrained societies do not put
much emphasis on leisure time and control the gratification of their desires. People with this orientation
have the perception that their actions are restrained by social norms and feel that indulging themselves is
somewhat wrong.

Discuss 2 possible implications on business practices arising from the cultural differences of the two
countries

The two 2 possible implications on business practices arising from the cultural differences in this
two country is firstly is, if you were planned to doing business in Singapore, are you might faced some
cultural clashing as Singapore is a multiethnic society of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian communities
that have their own culture practiced from way back that might hard to do some changes. Doing business
in Japan were also require some understanding in culture in the way they behave and doing business as they
also have their own culture and how they practice their social behavior in the society. The organization
must also aware on the Japan as they were constantly threatened by natural disasters from earthquakes,
tsunamis typhoons to volcano eruptions therefore, the company there must have their plan, mission and
goals in what to do. The company should also have a high uncertainty avoidance value as according to the
chart above shown that Japanese were practicing uncertainty avoidance value in they life to last long there.

Next, the company should also need to aware of the cultural barrier such as language when
practicing business in both country might arise. For example, English might be the working language in
Singapore but the official languages are Chinese, Malay and Tamil. Difference from Japan, local were more
prefer to use their own language to communicate as they expect other to know their language as they very
value their language. Other than that, is that if you were planned in doing business Japan, as they were low
tolerance of uncertainty, they has developed a culture that strictly according to laws and regulations.
Evidence of this can be seen in low crime rates and on time trains time that you could monitor system. They
also practice some etiquette that include using comprehensive vocabulary and grammar for polite
discussion, different style in providing and receiving gifts, and values for bowing and exchanging name
cards when doing any business. All of these value must be adapt when doing business with Japan as they
were very value the importace of relationship within the organization or toward their business partners.
Japanese also have different gender role practice as women were hardly appointed as the upper manager as
they strongly practice their believe in the gender roles.