Case study of yellow auto company
Case Study – Sick Leave Personality and Value based
Analysis of Decisions and Issues
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ii
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. CRITICAL DECISIONS 1
2.1 Key Decision 1 - Recruitment 1
2.2 Key Decision 2 - Contract 2
2.3 Key Decision 3 - Training 2
3. ISSUES 3
3.1 National Cultures and Values 3
3.1.1 Power Distance 4
3.1.2 Uncertainty Avoidance 4
3.1.3 Collectivism 5
3.1.4 Masculinity 5
3.1.5 Long-term Orientation 5
3.2 Personality 6
4. CONCLUSION 6
5. RECOMMENDATIONS 7
REFERENCES 8 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Kelly and two other westerners working in Japan on the JET program had a dispute with their Japanese supervisor over sick leave. This report aims to analyze the decisions and issues in the case study from a personality and values perspective. The key decisions identified are in relation to recruitment, contract and training. The JET program did not require the ALT candidates to have any knowledge of Japanese. The salaries received by the JET participants were considered unfair by their Japanese colleagues. The contract received by the JET participants were ambiguous and imprecise. In addition, the Japanese employees in the host institution expected the foreigners to work like the Japanese rather than following the terms of their contract. The program provided pre-departure training for JET participants, but did not provide the same level of training for Japanese employees on how to work with foreigners. Based on Hofstede’s Framework, it is found that the weaknesses of the decisions were mainly due to the differences in values of Japanese and western cultures. Japan is a society with high power distance, extremely high uncertainty avoidance, strong collectivism, strong masculinity and a long-term vision, whereas western societies have almost the opposite values. The seniority-based salary system, lifetime employment, the expectation to conform to social norms, dedication to work, loyalty to the
Analysis of Decisions and Issues
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ii
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. CRITICAL DECISIONS 1
2.1 Key Decision 1 - Recruitment 1
2.2 Key Decision 2 - Contract 2
2.3 Key Decision 3 - Training 2
3. ISSUES 3
3.1 National Cultures and Values 3
3.1.1 Power Distance 4
3.1.2 Uncertainty Avoidance 4
3.1.3 Collectivism 5
3.1.4 Masculinity 5
3.1.5 Long-term Orientation 5
3.2 Personality 6
4. CONCLUSION 6
5. RECOMMENDATIONS 7
REFERENCES 8 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Kelly and two other westerners working in Japan on the JET program had a dispute with their Japanese supervisor over sick leave. This report aims to analyze the decisions and issues in the case study from a personality and values perspective. The key decisions identified are in relation to recruitment, contract and training. The JET program did not require the ALT candidates to have any knowledge of Japanese. The salaries received by the JET participants were considered unfair by their Japanese colleagues. The contract received by the JET participants were ambiguous and imprecise. In addition, the Japanese employees in the host institution expected the foreigners to work like the Japanese rather than following the terms of their contract. The program provided pre-departure training for JET participants, but did not provide the same level of training for Japanese employees on how to work with foreigners. Based on Hofstede’s Framework, it is found that the weaknesses of the decisions were mainly due to the differences in values of Japanese and western cultures. Japan is a society with high power distance, extremely high uncertainty avoidance, strong collectivism, strong masculinity and a long-term vision, whereas western societies have almost the opposite values. The seniority-based salary system, lifetime employment, the expectation to conform to social norms, dedication to work, loyalty to the
References: Adhikari, D. R. (2005) National Factors and Employment Relations in Japan, Japan Institute of Labour Policy and Training, Tokyo. Available from [accessed: 30/10/2013]. Oishi, S., Hajm, J., Schimmack, U., Radhakrishan, P., Dzokoto, V. and Ahadi, S. (2005), ‘The measurement of values across cultures: a pairwise comparison approach’, Journal of Research and Personality, 39, pp.299-305.