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Updated: 28 Jan 2021

Japanese Business Communication

business-relationship

Summary

A case study that shows how a business relationship can fall apart when communications between the partners are not maintained.

The importance of keeping the lines of communication open with your business partners cannot be overemphasized. Both our domestic partnerships and especially our foreign partnerships are premised extensively on the how frequently and on which important issues the partners talk.

Lines of communications need to be a two way process, flowing back and forth. Too many international negotiators do not take the time, and dismiss the need to include some frank discussion in how the two parties will maintain their negotiation deal once signed. They assume wrongly that the communication process will evolve on its own. The time to discuss the line of communications is when the venture is being negotiated. They should not consider the issue later, and after the fact, when serious problems have arisen that may challenge the viability of the joint venture.

Take the case that occurred between one particular U.S. company and their Japanese partner for example. The agreement that they signed stipulated that the Japanese company would supply the manufacturing, management, and marketing components of the deal, while the American company would supply the technology.

The American representative, who was based in Hong Kong, met with their Japanese counterparts only once every three months where all aspects of the operation would be discussed.

In between these quarterly visits, the two parties exchanged communications through written correspondence and infrequent phone calls. To the Japanese negotiating partner, this periodic though infrequent contact signaled that the American partner was not overly committed to building a trusting relationship in Japan. Needless to say, the Japanese commitment to the partnership began to dwindle as well. As time progressed, the U.S. company’s strategy altered as they began to concentrate on a smaller product line. The American company never bothered to advise their Japanese negotiation partner of the change in their strategy. Also, due to this smaller line, there was the additional fiasco in that the Japanese company was not going to be receiving the technology it had negotiated with the American firm.

The Japanese took a dim view of what they now perceived as an agreement that was signed in ‘bad faith’. The Japanese became bitter as the relationship soured and ended in arbitration. What was the result the arbitration? The partnership was dissolved.

This illustrates the importance and need for continued open communication. The American firm should have informed their counterpart about the change in their strategy. The Japanese should have communicated their displeasure sooner, rather than allowing their disgruntlement to fester. Be careful to not underestimate the importance that open lines of communications can exert on your business relationships.

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6 comments
  • 10
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    Tracy Ware on

    It is important to communicate with partners because if we fail to do so, the lack of feedback can cause misunderstandings and chaos. One partner may think we are saying one thing when we really mean another, but without correction the mistake may go without notice until an error occurs in the product line or program. This can be be costly to both sides.
    If we are slow to communicate it may also give our partners the impression of lack of interest in the venture… They could decide it isn't worth it to do business with us and back out of the deal because they fear we are not enthusiastic about doing our part and it won't be profitable.

  • 2
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    Jacky Chen on

    why not make a Chinese translation?

  • 8
    1
    Stephanie on

    Want to know who is the author and when he/she pubilished this article. Thanks

  • 8
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    Martel on

    Great!

  • 8
    4
    srijan banjara on

    thanks

  • 11
    3
    shailendra p garg on

    Excellent. In the present context of glolal meltdown this is more relevent to keep faith and trust alive of all patties particularly of oversea.

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