Japanese Contractors in Overseas Markets: Bridging Cultural and Communication Gaps

Kazuhito Suzuki · Low Sui Pheng

May 2019 · Springer

About this ebook

This book explores the differences in cultural attributes and management factors to enable managers working for Japanese contractors to reduce misunderstandings and misinterpretations when communicating with project team members from different cultural backgrounds. It focuses on Japanese contractors operating in Singapore, since the Singapore construction industry has, for many years, been one of the largest overseas construction markets for the top-5 Japanese contractors. Using Hofstede’s national cultural framework for the cultural studies in construction project management, it reveals various real-world management practices and discusses national cultural differences relating to managers working for Japanese contractors in Singapore as well as the communication weaknesses of current management practices and styles. The results presented provide useful lessons for Japanese contractors operating in Singapore, as well as other parts of the world, to bridge cultural and communication gaps.

About the author

Kazuhito Suzuki holds B.E.(Civil Engineering) and M.E.(Civil & Environmental Engineering) degrees from Waseda University, Japan. He began his professional career at the Kajima Corporation, which is the leading general contractor in Japan, with a turnover of some S$12.5 billion per year. He won the Kajima President’s Award for Project Management and Safety Management (2013) as well as a Special Award for Project Management from the Kajima Architectural Division (2013) before going on to complete a Ph.D. degree program at the National University of Singapore. With international experience spanning across several countries (Japan, Vietnam, Algeria, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia), Dr Suzuki is currently a Senior Construction Manager at the Kajima Corporation. Low Sui Pheng is currently a Professor of Building at the School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore, where he previously served as Head and Vice‐Dean. He teaches construction project management and has published, researched and consulted extensively both in Singapore and overseas. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building, he holds a Higher Doctorate D.Sc. (Civil Engineering) degree from the University of Birmingham and a Ph.D. degree from University College London.