Overview
250 word response 2 references
James
Class,
Global expansion of any organization, certainly poses its challenges. From logistics to taxes and tariffs, the global market brings complexities that a domestic organization doesn’t necessarily have to consider. An even more important concept and dynamic challenge to global expansion is the culture of the organization. The culture of an organization impacts the ability of the organization to be successful by “shaping the work environment and influencing employees' behavior” (Ghaleb, 2024). We know from Melo (2019), that work environment, employee behavior, and job satisfaction all lead to performance and efficiency. Therefore, when expanding, the culture expanding with the organization is crucial to success. Yet, the same exact culture that is motivating in the United States, may not be received the same way in Japan. Hofstede proposed a cultural dimensions model (Melo, 2019) which can be used to define the general culture, by nation, which spills into the workplace. It’s important to note that not every individual of each nation carries the same culture or beliefs, and assuming so, could put you in a very uncomfortable situation (Linkedin, 2025).
In the case of Artisan Brews, expanding from Portland to Tokyo, there will be a national culture shift, according to Hofstede, Japanese are more concerned with collaborative results than their counterparts in the United States who are more concerned with individualistic results. Therefore, offering incentives for individual performance may not have as large of an impact in the Tokyo franchise, as it would in the Portland location. Instead, management might offer profit sharing, which is based on the results of the organization and team, to be more impactful to employee performance in the Tokyo location. Additionally, the same structure that works for the Portland location may leave confusion about who is in charge in the Tokyo location. Japanese are slightly more respective of positional power than those in The United States. Therefore, to assure the structure is effective, positional power should be more clear in the Tokyo location.
References
Ghaleb, B. D. S. (2024). The importance of organizational culture for business success. Jurnal Riset Multidisiplin Dan Inovasi Teknologi, 2(03), 727–735. https://doi.org/10.59653/jimat.v2i03.1098
(2025). Linkedin.com. https://www.linkedin.com/learning/leading-globally
Mello, J. A. (2019). Strategic human resource management (Fifth edition). Cengage.
Zack
Looking at this as a manager of a multination team, expanding Artisan Brews into international markets definitely have some great opportunities but some tough challenges come with this as well. So understanding the culture differences and navigating through them is key for success. Hofstedes Culture dimension theory which is a framework used to distinguish between different national cultures and cultural dimensions, and their impact on a business setting (Wale, 2024), is a great tool to understand and navigate the world to expand internationally. So first we will look at the challenges that the company might face when trying to expand.
Challenges:
The first challenge might be trying to adapt to Japans culture, which is very different from the U.S. According to Hofstedes cultural dimensions, Japan score is lower on individualism compared to the U.S (Jackson, 2024). This means that Japan as a society thinks group consensus is valued over individual success. Having this trait could affect the decision making process and team strategies needed in the workplace in Japan, so the company would have to change their approach from the U.S workplace environment.
Another challenge is that Japan has a preference for structured environments and also strict rules, this not the same as the U.S culture (Luo, 2024). To meet the standards of Japanese workers for consistency, making changes or launching new products may require for more planning and communication.
Opportunities:
Even though there are a few challenges when it comes to expanding internationally, I feel that having a workforce that is worldwide with many cultures involved, the company can benefit greatly. According to Velocity Global, Diverse teams are more creative and innovative because they bring a variety of perspectives to the table. Workers with diverse cultural backgrounds might offer unique perspectives on regional markets, improving the business's capacity to successfully customize goods and advertising tactics. Also, working in environments with different perspectives may create personal a professional growth for individuals within the company. Overall, expanding markets offer a chance to improve the company's human resources and global reach but it also takes understanding of cultural differences.
In conclusion, Artisan Brews can meet the challenges of global expansion and excel in new markets by adopting cultural diversity and creating a diverse environment.
References
Jackson, K. (2024). Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions. Mind Tools. https://www.mindtools.com/a1ecvyx/hofstedes-cultural-dimensions
Wale, H. (2024). Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory. Corporate Finance Institute. https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/management/hofstedes-cultural-dimensions-theory/