Cultural Differences Between North America and Japan that Influence the 
Success of Teams

Yonatan Reshef
Faculty of Business
University of Alberta

(Nahavandi & Aranda, Academy of Management Executive, 1994, Vol. 8)

North America Japan
  • Core of performance is the individual
  • Core of performance is the group
  • Preservation of individual rights is key
  • Preservation of harmony is key
  • Conflict & competition are allowed
  • Conflict is dangerous to group harmony
  • Striving for egalitarian membership
  • Status within group is important
  • Focus on present & quick results
  • Focus on past & the future
  • Need for dynamic actions
  • Need for slow progress
  • Heterogeneous cultural values
  • Homogeneous cultural values