GLOBE Paper

Introduction Although the countries Japan and Honduras lie within two nearly separate continents, surprisingly, both countries share similar viewpoints on their cultural beliefs. Yet, they also have habits that clearly stand out noting their differences. Moreover, nine fundamental attributes will be discussed in order to compare and contrast “cultural dimensions, of both societal and organizational cultures, alongside explore how these attributes impact leadership” (Grove, n.d.). Comparisons and Contrasts The performance orientation didn’t have a GLOBE score noted for Honduras, but there was a GLOBE score of 4.22 for Japan. Granted, the Honduran culture and on a business perspective, conducts informal, social-setting, type of meetings. Where as in Japan, meetings are quite organized and formal with seating arrangements, and involves customary practices which “entails employees to wait to be seated” (Venture Japan LLC, 2009). In addition, the Japanese customer service is “Paramount, which keeps their customers happy and maintains healthy, mutual relations” (Miller, 2013), in order to sustain reputable and competitive business ethics. In contrast, the Honduran culture values a friendly and relationship structure in their business realm, they’re less competitive, and have high expectations of business negotiations to remain affable. In the uncertainty avoidance trait, it encompassed a GLOBE score of 50 for Honduras and 5.11 for Japan. What this means is that both societies believe in a form of planning, even if plans are altered at a short notice. Nevertheless, Hondurans do not take many risks in life or in general, even when new ideas are presented to them. But, they are accepting of learning new ideas, are fairly nonchalant, and overall a practical culture. Still, the Japanese culture views all risks as a means for them to be worked out before being pursued at their corporations. Yet, they’re also one of the most uncertainty avoiding countries, due to having unpredictable natural disasters such as frequent tsunamis. In-group collectivism trait was a GLOBE score of 20 for Honduras, and 5.19 for Japan. This attribute means that both Hondurans and Japanese are collectivistic cultures, with Honduras carrying more weight in this area than Japan. In addition, both countries possess loyalty to a cause: Japan to their companies more so over family, since they do not have extended families, and Honduras to their co-workers and social groups. Power Distance GLOBE scores for Honduras was 80 and 5.11 for Japan, and both countries have a hierarchical society. Honduran’s business structure is founded on inequality treatments, and their idea boss is a “benevolent autocrat” (ITIM Int’l, n.d.). On another note, Japan has a strong focus on education and believes that one can become anything if they strive enough towards their goals. Speaking of inequalities, both countries’ gender egalitarianism trait indeed speaks volumes. Honduras’s GLOBE score was 40 and Japan’s was 3.19, in turn both countries’ gender roles promotes impartiality towards men. For example, there are limited job opportunities in the Honduran culture for women as a whole, as the women living in the rural areas have to mount to prostitution to survive. Additionally, in Japan, women struggle with climbing the corporate chain, due to “Masculine norms of hard and long working hours” (ITIM Int’l, n.d). Even so, Japan’s traditional practices lacking women to have status within their country, has resulted in their country to suffer economically, by not having a diverse workforce. GLOBE scores for the humane orientation attribute were not noted for Honduras, but scored as 4.3 for Japan. Both cultures are unselfish, avoid indulging in themselves, and prefer to put other’s interests above their own in a work environment. Also, in a Honduran business domain, they take their time in accomplishing tasks. However, the Japanese culture

accomplishes tasks and goals in a shared group setting, which accelerates meeting project deadlines. Institutional collectivism GLOBE scores were not noted for Honduras, but was 4.63 for Japan. Likewise, this trait is similar to in-group collectivism, and as mentioned earlier, both cultures are collectivistic societies, loyalty among employees is detrimental in the Honduran culture, and loyalty to the company is prevalent in the Japanese culture.

Finally, future orientation had a GLOBE score of 4.29 for Japan, and a GLOBE score wasn’t noted for Honduras. What’s more, Hondurans work to live and have a “75%” (Garrett,

n.d.) rural population throughout the country. Japan on the other hand, is capable and do practice planning and investing in their futures, although this concept isn’t highly valued due to their uncertainty avoidance beliefs. Assertiveness, which is the last of the nine cultural attributes, measured a GLOBE score of 3.59 for Japan, and one wasn’t noted for Honduras. Furthermore, Hondurans have a sense of celestial destiny, value education…but it is beyond the scope of many citizens due to status and/or living arrangements, and they’re also “heavily dependent on the

United States-based multinational corporations for most of its investment needs” (Wikipedia, 2016). Distinctly, the Japanese view their life as short-lived, live life by guided virtues and educational push, and lastly believe that companies serve their purpose to stake holders for future generations to come.

In closing, a comparison and contrast has been assessed on cultural differences between Honduras and Japan. Hopefully an understanding can be made on why they have cultural differences…considering they’re both located in Asia with Turkey having 5% of Western Turkey located in Europe, alongside, an explanation on the undeniable truth as to why the gender egalitarianism attribute has similar inequality traits for women in all cultures worldwide.

References

Garrett, S. (n.d.). Poverty in Honduras Taking an Extreme Toll. The Blog. Retrieved from http://borgenproject.org/poverty-honduras-taking-extreme-toll/

Grove, C. (n.d.). Worldwide Differences in Business Values and Practices: Overview of GLOBE Research Findings. Retrieved from http://www.grovewell.com/wp­content/uploads/pubGLOBE­dimensions.pdf

ITIM International. (n.d.). Country Comparison. Geert Hofstede. Retrieved from https://geerthofstede.com/countries.html

Miller, A. (2013, April 2). Differences in business culture between Japan and West. Lifestyle. [Blog].

Retrieved on November 7, 2016 from https://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/differences-in-business-culture-between-

japan-and-west

Venture Japan LLC. (2009). Never Forget Your Japanese Business Card. Business Etiquette in Japan.

Retrieved from http://www.venturejapan.com/japanese-business-etiquette.htm

Wikipedia. (2016, October 24). Economy of Honduras. [Blog]. Retrieved on November 7, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Honduras