Cultural Differences - Lets Break a Deal.wmv

DrWilmU

8 Feb 201007:37

Summary

TLDRIn a business meeting, Maria from Tokyo meets with a company representative to finalize a deal for Mustang jeans in the Japanese market. Initially, there's a language and cultural barrier as they discuss preferences for sushi and sea cucumber. Maria expresses hesitance to sign the contract due to recent meetings with competitors and the sudden switch from Roger to the current representative. Despite a rushed schedule and missed opportunities for deeper discussions, both parties remain optimistic about future collaboration, with plans for promotions and trips to Japan. The meeting ends with a friendly exchange, leaving the contract unsigned but the potential for business intact.

Takeaways

😀 The meeting is to finalize a deal involving a contract, with the expectation that signing will initiate business operations.
🛫 The visitor has traveled a long distance, specifically a 14-hour flight from Tokyo, arriving in the morning of the meeting day.
🍣 There is a discussion about food preferences, particularly sushi and sea cucumber, indicating cultural exchange and personal interests.
🤝 The visitor has been working closely with a colleague named Roger on the deal, but Roger is not present at the meeting.
🔄 There is a change in the business relationship; Roger is now handling domestic accounts, while the visitor is to focus on foreign accounts.
📝 The contract signing is a critical point of the meeting, but the visitor expresses hesitation to sign without further discussion.
🕒 Time constraints are evident, with the visitor having a tight schedule and a flight to catch later in the day.
🤔 There is an underlying issue with readiness to sign the contract, suggesting possible concerns or additional considerations.
💼 The company apologizes for a lack of preparation and a smooth transition in the business relationship, indicating a desire to improve.
👖 The product in discussion is a line of jeans called Mustang, and there is an interest in the visitor representing this product in the Japanese market.
💰 The visitor mentions meeting with other companies, implying that there are alternative options and competition for the business at hand.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the meeting between the two parties?
-The purpose of the meeting is to finalize and sign a contract regarding the business deal they have been working on.
Why did the meeting switch from Roger to Maria?
-The company decided that Maria would be better suited for handling foreign accounts, while Roger would focus on domestic ones.
What is the main product discussed in the meeting?
-The main product discussed is a line of Mustang jeans that the company wants to introduce to the Japanese market.
What is the issue with signing the contract at the meeting?
-Maria feels that they are not quite ready to sign the contract, possibly due to having met with other companies and wanting to consider her options.
What is the significance of the offer expiring after the meeting?
-The offer's expiration creates a sense of urgency, indicating that if Maria does not sign the contract during the meeting, the deal may no longer be available.
Why does Maria apologize for the previous week's meeting?
-Maria apologizes because she was not prepared and acknowledges that the switch from Roger to her without proper notice was not fair to the other party.
What is the cultural aspect brought up in the meeting?
-The cultural aspect discussed is the potential dinner in Japan, where Maria would take the other party to her favorite restaurant.
What is the time constraint faced by Maria?
-Maria's time constraint is her flight leaving in the afternoon, which limits the time available for the meeting and contract signing.
What is the relationship between the two parties before the meeting?
-The two parties have been working together closely on the deal for a while, with the expectation of wrapping things up in this meeting.
What is the tone of the meeting?
-The tone of the meeting is professional but also friendly, with both parties expressing a desire for a long-term relationship and future collaboration.
What is the significance of the mention of 'pop wear' and 'Mustang jeans'?
-The mention of 'pop wear' and 'Mustang jeans' indicates the products the company is interested in promoting and the specific line they want to introduce to the Japanese market.

Outlines

00:00

🤝 Business Meeting and Contract Negotiation

The first paragraph depicts a business meeting where two parties are discussing a deal involving a contract. The meeting begins with pleasantries and a discussion about the long flight from Tokyo. The conversation moves on to the topic of sushi and food preferences, revealing some cultural exchange. The main issue arises when the contract signing is delayed due to the new representative's hesitation, despite the previous negotiations. The meeting concludes with an apology for the lack of preparation and a promise of a smoother future collaboration, along with an indication of the need to sign the contract soon.

05:01

🗓 Time-Constrained Deal Discussion

In the second paragraph, the discussion revolves around the urgency of finalizing a deal. The American representative expresses confusion about the Japanese counterpart's intentions after learning about other meetings held in New York. The American side emphasizes the limited time for signing the contract, with a deadline set for the current day. Despite the cultural pleasantries and future business prospects discussed, including a dinner invitation and golf plans in Tokyo, the contract signing is postponed due to the Japanese representative's tight schedule and imminent departure. The conversation ends on a positive note, with both parties looking forward to future business opportunities.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Meeting

A meeting is a gathering of people for a specific purpose, often to discuss or make decisions. In the video's theme, the meeting is central to the business negotiation process. For example, the script mentions 'nice to finally meet you' and 'next appointment is waiting,' indicating the importance of in-person meetings in the business context.

💡Trip

A trip refers to a journey or an excursion, typically for a purpose such as business or leisure. The script mentions 'how was your trip,' which is a common conversational opener in business meetings, showing concern for the traveler's well-being and the logistics of their arrival.

💡Contract

A contract is a legally binding agreement between two or more parties. In the script, the contract is the central document that needs to be executed to finalize the business deal. The phrase 'execute the contract' is repeatedly mentioned, emphasizing its importance in the negotiation.

💡Sushi

Sushi is a traditional Japanese dish of seasoned rice with various ingredients. The script uses 'sushi' as a cultural reference and a conversational topic, highlighting cultural exchange and personal preferences in a business setting.

💡Sea Cucumber

Sea cucumber is a marine animal that is considered a delicacy in some cuisines, including Japanese. In the script, it is mentioned as an exotic dish, illustrating the cultural differences and the characters' tastes, which adds depth to their interactions.

💡Communication Gap

A communication gap refers to a lack of understanding or misinterpretation between parties due to language or cultural differences. The script touches on this concept when one character says, 'I don't think we have any communication problem,' suggesting potential misunderstandings in the negotiation.

💡Business Deal

A business deal is an agreement or transaction between two or more parties for mutual benefit. The script revolves around finalizing a business deal, as indicated by discussions about signing contracts and the potential for a long-term relationship.

💡Mustang Jeans

Mustang Jeans is presumably a brand of jeans that the company wishes to market. The script mentions 'Mustang jeans' as the product that the company wants to represent in the Japanese market, showing the business objective of the meeting.

💡Japanese Market

The Japanese market refers to the economic environment in Japan where goods and services are bought and sold. The script discusses the potential for representing a product line in the Japanese market, indicating the target audience for the business deal.

💡Transition

A transition is a change from one state or condition to another. In the script, the term is used to describe the shift from one business representative to another, as in 'the company wasn't prepared for the transition from Roger to me,' which is a key point in the narrative.

💡Deadline

A deadline is a time or date by which something must be completed. The script mentions a deadline implicitly through the phrase 'after today this offer no longer applies,' indicating the urgency and the need for a decision in the business negotiation.

Highlights

Nice to finally meet you and please have a seat.

Trip from Tokyo took about 14 hours.

Discussion about working with Roger on the deal.

Preference for tuna and salmon sushi over sea cucumber.

Avoidance of freshwater eel due to taste preference.

Busy schedule and enterprise explanation.

Decision for speaker to handle foreign accounts.

Urgency to execute the contract.

Hesitation to sign the contract due to readiness.

Meeting cut short due to next appointment waiting.

Apology for last week's unprepared meeting.

Interest in representing Mustang jeans in Japan.

Agreement on good pricing for quality product.

Meeting with other companies in the meantime.

Communication gap and clarification needed.

Excitement about promotions and trips to Japan.

Invitation to dinner at a favorite restaurant in Japan.

Request to sign the contract before leaving for the airport.

Acknowledgment of potential future business and golfing in Tokyo.