Analyzing the cultural differences between Canada and Japan and how those differences are contributing to the communication impasse described in the exercise.
You represent a Canadian toy company that’s negotiating to buy miniature truck wheels from a manufacturer in Osaka, Japan. In your ?rst meeting, you explain that your company expects to control the design of the wheels as well as the materials that are used to make them. The manufacturer’s representative looks down and says so?ly, “Perhaps that will be di?cult.” You press for agreement, and to emphasize your willingness to buy, you show the prepared con- tract you’ve brought with you. However, the manufacturer seems increasingly vague and uninterested. What cultural di?erences may be interfering with e?ective communication in this situation? (Canada is considered a low-context culture; Japan is high-context.) In a brief email message to your instructor or a post on your class blog, share your analysis.