Japanese Style in Decision Making 21/1

To talk about decision-making within a given country means examining many complex cultural forces and their impact on ---------- life.

• contemporary

• ancient

It also means the need to understand certain ---------- concepts that resist comparison.

• fundamental

• unimportant

There is a ----------- difference between the concept of vocational or professional identity in the United States and Japan.

• same

• marked

In the West, the -------- is on what somebody does for a living.

• emphasis

• problem

In Japan, the most important thing is what organization you work for, which explains the greater job stability in Japan, in contrast to the great job -------- in America.

• mobility

• guarantee

Three -------- characteristics of the Japanese environment in some way affect decision-making.

• interrelated

• unrelated

First, in any approach to a problem or negotiation in Japan, there is the "you to you" approach, as -------- from the Western "I to you" approach.

• distinguished

• similar

The difference is this: in "I to you," both sides present their arguments -------- from their own point of view - they state what they want and what they expect to get.

• indirectly

• forthrightly

Thus, a --------- situation is set up, and Westerners are very good at dealing with this.

• harmonious

• confrontational

Thus, the meeting is a mutual attempt to minimize confrontation and to ------- harmony.

• avoid

• attain