Gung Ho” and the Integrated Cultural Framework

Gung Ho” and the Integrated Cultural Framework

The purpose of this exercise is to apply the dimensions of the Integrated Cultural Framework to the movie “Gung Ho”. Each company is discussed separately using examples from the movie and then summary values provided.

United States

ICF Dimension Low Moderate High

Ability to Influence High

Comfort with Ambiguity High

Assertiveness Doing/Masculine

Individual/Collectivism Individual

Time Orientation Present

Space Orientation Public

Ability to Influence Outcomes There were many instances in the movie where the Americans illustrated a low power distance and a strong belief in their ability to influence outcomes. First the town sent one person to a foreign country believing that he could ‘sell’ the Japanese on opening the plant. The workforce believed they could change the terms of employment and the main character believed that he could change the workers attitude to over achieve and meet the 15,000 car target.

Comfort with Ambiguity The main character showed up alone, in a new country, without a map and unable to speak the language and was not phased. He displayed a trust of human nature and that people were inherently good and would help him out. Taking this as an example the US displayed low uncertainty avoidance and a high comfort with ambiguity.

Assertiveness The Americans show a high level of assertiveness through the aggressiveness at the ball game, even at the cost of wiping out one of the opposite team and the fight scene in the grocery store. There is also a high level of focus on achieving whether it is winning a game or meeting the 15,000 car production target. They show clear masculinity and ‘doing’ orientations.

Individualism/Collectivism This was one of the most interesting and obvious differences between the cultures. The Americans behaved very individualistically by continually doing their own thing rather than working for the whole. The worker wanted to leave to be with his child to get their tonsils out rather than stay on the production line and the wife did not leave the dinner table with the other women when the men were going to discuss business. The Japanese at one point stated “The Americans like to feel special”.

Time Orientation In the movie, everything about the US perspective is about the present. They need jobs now, money now to take care of their families now.

Space Orientation The US characters display numerous examples of a public space orientation. They kiss and cuddle on the street and when the main character meets the Japanese for the first time he touches the man, surprising him, and discusses how his underwear feels! He also goes into the manager’s office even after being told that it is not a good time. The last amusing episode was sharing food at the dinner table with his wife to the amazement of the Japanese guests.

Japan

ICF Dimension Low Moderate High

Ability to Influence Low

Comfort with Ambiguity Low