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03. Avoid well-known mistakes... (Business in Japan, Japanese Business Culture, Japanese Business Etiquette)
There is a large range of well-known mistakes foreign companies have been making over and over again in Japan for many years. Surprisingly foreign companies continue to make these well-known mistakes! Don't make such well-known mistakes! (We can help you avoid them....)
Much of it is common sense. However, you also need to study a lot of facts about Japan, and customs. You will find that some assumptions you made are wrong! You'll also find (surprise, surprise...) that not everybody (Japanese and foreigners) tells you everything they know.
Most "well-known mistakes" lie within the organization of your own company!
Sometimes problems in a Japanese subsidiary are best solved by changing responsibilities in the main office at home! We would be delighted to discuss such issues with you and work on a solution using our large range of experience.
A big "No-No": lack of market research and lack of preparations
The biggest "no-no" is not to do proper preparation, or to start without a strategy. You can assume that normally your Japanese partners will do their preparations and they will have a big advantage, if you are unprepared. If you do not prepare well you certainly weaken your position. Lack of preparation cannot be compensated by macho behaviour or self-confidence or even arrogance.
You will be surprised how many time consuming and expensive failures of Western companies are largely due to lack of preparation, lack of market information, and lack of planning. A very well-known Western company lost US$ 10 Billion or more in Japan and severaly damaged the brand because of lack of market knowledge. Market research in Japan often looks expensive, however expensive, good market research is almost certainly far cheaper than failure and withdrawal from Japan.
Market research and strategy:
You need more information?
- JapanStrategy.com - a website about how to succeed in Japan
- JapanStrategy-blog - a blog about how to succeed, and expand business in Japan
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