| Stanford US-Asia Technology Management Center |

Japanese Business Culture

Winter Quarter, 2007

Location: Building 200, Room 202 (History Corner)
Time: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:15-5:30 PM
Classes start on Tuesday, January 9th 2007.

Course Code: JAPANGEN 051 or JAPANGEN 251 (Register)

Purpose

This is an English-language course about modern Japan, which is open to registered Stanford students in all schools and departments. Previous Japan study/experience is not necessary, but "veterans" of Japan are welcome. Especially recommended for students planning to intern in Japan.

This course examines patterns of institutional organization / dynamics, culture, and communication that characterize the business world of Japan. Content includes:

Key socio-cultural concepts (group, harmony, situational factors, etc.)
Organizational hierarchies (in Japanese business)
Industrial and company-internal organizational structures and dynamics
Interpersonal dynamics
Decision-making processes o Styles and strategies of negotiation
Crisis management practices
Other issues relevant to business and business practices in present-day Japan

Japanese Business Culture also emphasizes the development of intercultural understanding and strategies for interacting productively as a non-Japanese person in Japanese business and research environments.

Registration is variable: 2-5 units (4 units recommended). Details of the requirements for credit will be distributed and discussed in class. Attendance at all classes and all readings are expected of all students. Students who take the course for 5 units must arrange a special study project with Prof. Richard Dasher.

251-level students are responsible for a few extra homework problems and possible extra readings. They are graded on homework and also the final book report more stringently. They must provide more sophisticated analysis, consulting readings and other sources outside of the required reading list (as is commensurate with graduate student work).

Grading

For letter grade, with optional credit/no-credit. Grades are based on:

Final Project: 34%
Other Written Work: 33%
Class Participation: 33% (attendance, contribution to class project, in-class evidence that student is mastering the course content)

Final Project: Written book report uses the content of this class to examine a book about Japanese business. How does the book handle the same issues. what is different, etc. Grading is based on how well the student shows s/he has mastered the content of this course. Students select from a bibliography distributed in class. (Other books are possible with the prior consent of the instructor.) The book report is in two parts:

(a) One page summary of the book. For distribution to the rest of the class.

(b) Five page analytical/critical paper. Synthesizes content of the book in light of the concepts and issues discussed in class.

Contact

Instructor:: Richard Dasher
Director, US-Asia Technology Management Center
Executive Director, Center for Integrated Systems; Consulting Professor, Department of Asian Languages; Consulting Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering; On-Campus Office: CIS Building, Room 106
Tel: 5-3621, Fax: 5-0991; E-mail: rdasher at stanford dot edu; Office Hours: TBA
Teaching Assistant:: Peter Finlayson
Tel: (925) 784-7383: E-mail: petefin at stanford dot edu
For additional or related information, please contact:: US-Asia Technology Management Center
Tel: (650) 724-0096