Rick, a customer relations manager with a leading multinational firm, manages various operations and deals with numerous domestic and international clients every day. Despite his hectic schedule, Rick never cuts a meeting short with anyone and frequently postpones subsequent meetings in order to devote ample time to each of his clients. Which of the following countries is Rick most likely to be from?
A) Japan
B) Switzerland
C) The United States
D) Germany
E) France

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rick is most likely to be from Japan because he, unlike his American counterparts, is not time-bound and driven by schedules that thwart the development of friendships. P-time, or polychronic time, is more dominant in high-context cultures, where the completion of a human transaction is emphasized more than holding to schedules. In Japan, where appointments are adhered to with the greatest M-time precision but P-time is followed once a meeting begins.

Rick, a Customer Relations Manager with a Leading Multinational Firm