Work in Japan and my country (Sweden)

Looking at the Culture Factor tool, Sweden’s ambition is very low and Japan’s score is very high.

Unionen (n.d.) says that in Sweden overtime is regulated by having a cap of 48 hours per month, you need to have 11 hours between your shifts, and you may not work more than 5 hours without a break

In Japan however, you are expected to put in overtime and Karoshi is sadly not unheard of still.

According to a study by Pfeier (2010) You only have a three month window to actually get recognized for your efforts, meaning supervisors only in general look back at your effort three months ago compared to now to decide whether you should get a promotion. This makes it unclear on how long you need to be extra diligent and how much overtime you need to put in to get a promotion.

Personally I believe many people in my generation think about this, how showing your diligence leads to more work with no clear indicator of a promotion. My acquaintances and friends in Sweden are really only interested in doing the work you’re told to do because extra work isn’t really rewarded.

When we took the surveys in class about “how clear-cut your jobs should be” we all answered that we like them quite clear cut”, which matches this thought.

I wonder if Japanese people’s ambitions correspond with the rewards they get for their extra work…

However, I think this quality is also what sets Japan and Sweden apart in Long-term orientation. Japan has no problem setting up long term projects and working towards them, especially in the government, since they always work hard.

Despite Sweden being similar to Japan in that one party usually wins the elections every time, Sweden is adverse to this. We would really need more focus on infrastructure and city planning but the rewards don’t come quickly enough for anyone to want to start with long-term projects it seems. Again, the culture factor tool is correct here.

When it comes to Uncertainty Avoidance I must have to disagree though.

Japan is highly organized with ceremonies and schedules, where-as Sweden is much more relaxed when it comes to what to wear or what to do at work, sure, but I wouldn’t say innovation is really welcomed in Sweden.

Ideas that may change an organization for the better or that may streamline workflows get shot down easily, no matter the workplace. Bosses don’t like to take gambles, and people are generally stubborn in how they do their work (especially in industrial or construction jobs according to my acquaintances that work in those fields).

All in all, the culture factor tool is mostly correct when it comes to how work is in the different countries but I think both countries are undergoing pretty big changes when it comes to what you’re expected to do and how employees are.

References

Pfeifer, C. (2010). Determinants of Promotions in an Internal Labour Market. Schmalenbach Business Review, 62(4), 342–358. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03396810

Unionen. (n.d.) Your working hours. https://www.unionen.se/in-english/your-working-hours