Communication skills between Japanese and American managers and subordinates in a Japan-U.S. cross-cultural corporation

Effective communication among organizational personnel is indispensable for successful performance of a corporation. Indeed, communication failures have caused serious problems in cross-cultural organizations in the United States and Japan. This study is designed to identify how international managers are able to communicate effectively with the personnel from the host country in a Japan-U.S. cross-cultural corporation. Research and non-research literatures were reviewed to identify key potential causes of miscommunication between Americans and Japanese. On the basis of the analysis, this study discusses how to deal with communication difficulties and presents three skills: a language skill, a "context" equalizing skill, and a skill of communicating with a common perceptual system. Suggestions for training in these skills are also presented as a conclusion.