What is this program like?

This program is designed for Thai businesspersons who work in a Japanese company or who work with Japanese. Participants will learn how to communicate more effectively and how to build a good relationship with his/her Japanese bosses, colleagues, and clients etc. Participants will learn how cultural differences affect communication in business and find solutions through a lecture based on “The six dimensions model of national culture (※1)”. This model is one of the best-known cultural frameworks and of the most effective tools to improve cultural awareness and intercultural management skills, defined by Professor Geert Hofstede(※2), as well as various practical exercises and role plays facilitated by a highly experienced professional CICOM BRAINS UBCL certified instructor. In a program, participants take a self-assessment "Culture Survey (※3)" that allow them to quantify and verify cultural values.

The curriculum is well-structured and organized with the theory of 6-D model and differentiating from the one in typical training programs which mainly rely on instructor’s talks based on his/her experiences.

By recognizing and respecting cultural differences from the Japanese and utilizing Hofstede’s model, participants will be able to mitigate the risks of misunderstanding of Japanese values and they can understand and fine-tune to Japanese communication style.

How was the training?

The virtual classroom allowed participants to enter from 8:45AM and officially started at 9:00AM.

In the morning session of day 1, after the ice-breaking session, the instructor, Ms. Kawashima explained difference of cultural values between the Thai and Japanese derived from various factors which influence the national culture, such as geographic, historic, religion, education, and language. All participants were very cooperative and the atmosphere in the room was very lively.

Then, we proceed to the lectured on the “Hofstede 6-D model’s” topic. The participants took "Culture Survey" assessment and objectively grasp their own sense of cultural values by number. There was a Q&A session regarding the 6-D model to deepen their understanding their own cultural values comparing to Japanese and they will be able to apply 6-D model in their own workplace.

In the morning session of day 2, the instructor began the class by wrapping up the content of day 1. The instructor also answered the questions from participants to solve participants doubts of Japanese people’s behavior and/or their company’s cultures, based on Hofstede’s theory and her own experiences.

The content of day 2 focusing on how to create a trusting relationship between Thai and Japanese people in the workplace. The participants exercised the knowledges through discussions and workshops. Through these input and output activities, participants firmly understand the meaning / influence of cultural difference and improve intercultural communication skills and knowledge.

We hope all participants enjoyed the online class and will soon see the better results by utilizing the learned knowledge in their workplace. And the questionnaire results by participants are below. Please utilize the information in this report to help you to understand how this program was conducted and how useful and effective it is to enhance mutual understanding between Thai and Japanese. We will hold this program on September 8-9, 2021.

We are looking forward to seeing you in a class.

Next schedule of Intercultural Communication Program

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