Groupism in Japan - Essay Example

Groupism in Japan

Introduction

Groupism is a pillar to both educational and cultural background of Japan. Japanese view problems, strengths and solutions as a collective idea merging from different persons rather than individualism expense. Over the years, their community performed grouped tasks to reduce the time span of completing various responsibilities. The existence of several ethnic groups rarely hindered them from spearheading their activities. Even according to their constitution, individuals have to work in close association to assure themselves of a successful outcome. The policy originated from the first Japanese rulers who believed in disciplines that consistently affect the community. An individual was a core component of the society insinuating that they could only account for group interest.

The influence of groupism culture manifests in the national, educational, communal moral values and business philosophies (Sugimoto, 2014). Evidently, the issue is of national concern and an establishment that will rarely fall due to ordinary circumstances like war and modernization. The Japanese government still advocates for the utilization of the available human power to problem solving and decision making to avoid cases of separation. Everyone must play his or her role in the right manner regardless of age, gender or background.

Groups and decision-making in Japan

Most Japanese find themselves in difficult circumstances when interacting with individuals from different cultures. They happen to be so obedient and productive when making decisions in public rather as individuals. Taking a personal account, such individuals cannot make the same sound choice when working at a personal level (Mouer & Sugimoto, 2013). Additionally, everyone identifies himself or herself to a particular group so that in case they have any difficulty; they can visit their respective team to inquire about solutions. According to the traditional laws, individuals have the mandate to maintain loyalty and dedication to their groups. They include family, class and corporate entities. Such groups are a part of a person’s life. They cannot operate without its supervision, failure to which the social and moral behaviors might change.

Regarding businesses, foreigners face a hard time trying to convince Japanese customers to buy their goods. Most will assume the traders because of the unity feeling. For such individuals to even merge and form necessary corporations with the locals, they have to get into a family circle, simulating marrying a Japanese. Moreover, they must establish a strict hierarchy and maintain peace with other business associates. After completing that, the residents can believe in the individual so that he or she will be a part of the community. However, it is clear that the primary motive of such practices is incorporating the point of exclusivity to non-members who were treated in a hostile manner. Even when forming business organizations, individuals must consider schools, age, and groups that each member belongs in to ascertain if they can make a union or not.

Furthermore, during the decision-making process, the structure of company rarely matters. The most crucial aspect is the informal communication systems that bond the managerial team and their subordinates. It simulates that managers have to think like generalists because the specific decisions will only come from group idea. Therefore, the employees maintain a close working link with the board to assist in running the venture.

National Culture

As gesticulated, groupism takes control over almost every activity in the nation. National affairs are factors that affect individuals in a direct manner because it carries the prejudice and stereotype. Such characteristic is often common in the in-groups in that, what affects one of them influence the choice of the other groups. The politician had to create a rapport with as many societal groups as possible so that he or she will counter maximum votes. Typically, the democratic values weigh within group involvement in national affairs. Inadequate participation insinuates that the government might even lack the right amount of money to run its operations. The ideology, in this case, is communism rather than capitalism. It is because each has equal access to government funds for development (Sugimoto, 2014).

Besides, the citizens can take tender regarding national projects without discrimination. The sense of belonging makes the individualism aspect forgotten. Working as a group eases the work illustrating the reason for the short span decision-making process in Japan. However, groupism affects the choice of leaders and their power in the national government. The community might suggest an individual without political interest to represent their grievances. It insinuates that they cannot perform their duties in the right manner when confronted with difficult questions from other officials (Mouer & Sugimoto, 2013). Such cases illustrate why Japan often fails to deal with national crises. Their leaders have little idea of making personal choices for the nation instead of waiting to brainstorm under critical situations.

Education System

Japanese education system is the basis for all their cultural practices. Although their curriculum is strict and engaging, the nation accounts for a staggering 99% literacy level. The society ensures that every individual attends school at the right age following the established academic system to understand the social norms. During the earlier stages, the teachers teach matters about mutual engagement in activities (Tsuneyoshi, 2013). Children learn to form teams from school and compete, which prepares them for the adulthood life. As the students advance, the schedules become tighter although they start learning the process of problem solving and decision-making. The rules are strict so that by the time students join the university; they already have the right idea of what awaits them in the community.

Nevertheless, academics never ruled out some cultural factors like the role of males and females because it was part of the groupism aspect. The teachers familiarize them with such aspects while encouraging everyone to work hard. Students preferred to compete because of the ranking to determine their group success regarding the different classes. After finishing the curriculum, they will have to accommodate the normal societal needs that necessitate working as groups (Tsuneyoshi, 2013). After completing the system, they can open partnerships or corporations investing their cash instead of private firms. The sole aim of the education system is facilitating the various aspects of teamwork to the graduates.

Japanese Cultural Values and Attitude

The society bases on the age factor where the oldest members have much influence that the youth. They determine the values for the rest to follow by designing public laws in a critical manner. The elders are in central position and highest hierarchy in leadership positions from the residential to state affairs. However, the same attitude applies to them (Brubaker, 2015). Several leaders in a given community unite to form an alliance so that they can make decisions basing on collectivity rather than individual ideas. They brainstorm to establish possible solutions to problems manifesting in the community. Additionally, the elders ensure that the younger members observe the cultural values designed to maintain morality. They include integrity, trustworthiness, and observance of social norms. In case individuals fail to abide by that, they collectively decide, the punishment imposes regardless of the person’s position in the society. Moreover, every member of the community also advocates the sense of security.

In Japan there is always a phrase, “we Japanese”, that aims at the outsiders. It insinuates that the community is proud of their culture and discards the foreigners in the land. The plural part of it shows that they organize themselves in groups rather than individuals to counteract foreign influence. The interpersonal connection is vital for the societal relationship between the different people in such a community. Therefore, depending on the cultural norms, the Japanese people believe in loyalty and obligation to the respective group. They have to maintain that aspect even interacting with other races and nationalists.

Organizational Culture

All Japanese firm commonly establish underlying assumptions to facilitate the internal integration of members and external adaptation to stakeholders. The policy works perfectly well so that the older members will elaborate such stratagems to the newer ones. It improves their perception on solving matters that affect the business (Alston, 2013). The groupism cultural aspect enables individuals to work within a firm made of different groups because the same organizational values motivate them. The standards cut across the board meaning they must affect the operations of the individuals at various points. Moreover, the culture governs the relationship between workmates. They must have a close interaction because all the choices made by the board are ideas generated from each one of them. The leaders will always advocate for cultural focus instead organizational structures and systems that may divide them according to their power.

When considering the system used for the employees, it is notable that they have equal power with the management, because they are part of the decision made by the company. As a result, during the integration of workers, they have to learn all the aspects of the company to avoid confusions during brainstorming. The ventures employ such concepts to determine whether involving the workforce in decision-making and provide better solutions for the business. Considerably, the groupism facet helps most of their companies to work better due to dedication and commitment of individual employees. Hence, the firm will function better than even the previous means due to close understanding from the employees to the board (Alston, 2013).

Lifetime Employment

The groupism culture establishes the motive of lifetime employment to numerous organizations. The primary agenda is the dedication of workers to their work because the company helps them to fight external forces (Alston, 2013). It applies mostly to full-time works who dedicate much of their time performing the firm’s activities. The constitution provides support to such employees by setting strict laws, which prohibit the employers from firing the workers even during the recession period. Additionally, most companies cooperate with each other so that they ensure even distribution of employees.

For instance, the provision of lifetime employment insinuates that at some point, there will be a high number of old individuals in a company. The grouping of the corporations will ensure that the individuals transfer to different firms to balance the necessary workforce. The factor assures employees the sense of belonging such that they maintain loyalty in serving others. As gesticulated, the element encourages employees to help the corporation set the right goals for the company and work to achieve them within a short span. Typically, the Japanese workers fully devote to their work because of the kind of motivation facilitated by the government and organizations. The contemporary point is that all the departments promote their work including the government. The experience gathered in such occupations will assist them to train new workers for the development of the company. Therefore, the groupism policy is more imperative to the nation compared to its adversities.

However, activists argue that the strategy leads to stagnant economic growth because most graduated youth will hardly find work now that workers are employed for their whole life (Brubaker, 2015). Moreover, constant work at the same station creates monotony, which has adverse effects on the firm. The employee should move to different stations for the sake of experience and create vacancies for other applicants. Nevertheless, the country will still face negative implications in the various cases if they maintain groupism because it will not expose the nation to foreign expansion regarding investment.

Conclusion

Conclusively, groupism affects Japanese culture largely. All individuals have the same personality relating to prevailing in-group work rather than individualism. The community is an entity of individuals whose mindset aims at developing the as a group and not individuals. For instance, the case is the same in all the fields; starting from education to business. Their society understands the meaning of group work and its long-term impacts on their lives. The nation sets the pace for dictator countries that prevent citizens from airing their views during decision-making. For this case, they advocate for public involvement in leadership and government choices. Even the assigned leaders understand that they can never make any decision without involving the public.

Moreover, even the private sector understands the importance of coordinating with the public section to facilitate the nation’s growth. However, they should consider the impacts of their culture to other countries. Like the inconsiderate attitude to the existence of foreigners in their country exposes more weaknesses; hence, can result in underdevelopment with time.