Thoughts on Korean Business by Don Southerton

I’ve just begun compiling feedback from the new case study.   Contributions from readers, like you, show highly engagement in the study as well as many dealing with some common issues.   One that surfaced was although they have achieved much success Korean brands in their overseas operation need to adopt MORE to local norms including accepting failure and missteps. If not, and as a consequence growth will stall and be unsustainable--something of recent concern that we see occurring globally amid strong competition by rivals and changing markets. To paraphrase one well thought out response that nailed it dead center with this profound statement.   With regard to their local Korean business operations   “[a] company needs to foster innovation rather than just be a fast follower. Adding , “The challenge is with ‘Acceptance of mistakes’, which as you noted [ in the case study] is one of the foundations for American’s success. Culturally, failure [for Korea...

Over the past month I have been sharing the role of the creative class in the workplace--Korea and America. To clarify I looked at the “culture” needed to foster the Creative Mind in the workplace, and in particular recognize their values, norms, and attitudes.   The new case study is the result of this study and research. This said, I have attached a link to this new Case Study.   Please take a moment to download and read.   I would appreciate any feedback and comments before we offer it to a wider Korea facing distribution. And by the way… If you and your company would like to discuss challenges, I would be happy to chat. I’ve found each company has its own dynamics and I approach this case-by-case crafting an approach tailored to the client. So until next time… Schedule a chat?   http://www.meetme.so/southerton or if you have a Direct Question?   Go to questions@koreabcw.com Download Link for the C...

In the two previous posts we looked at the dynamics required to nurture a creative and innovative workplace. In particular, Korean work values, norms and attitude surfaced as polar opposites to the characteristics of the western creative class workplace.   In turn some core change would be required if Korea aspired to develop a strong sustainable innovation-driven economy. In fact, the current South Korean president, Madame Park, Geun-hye recognized this and upon election boldly had proclaimed a   “Creative Economy” as her platform for Korea’s economic growth over her 5 year term in office. Frankly most in Korea’s private and public sector have found this high level government mandate hard to embrace—in part because the overall concept was difficult to grasp within their current society.   And, as I have pointed out what drives a creative economy is creatives as well as the unique communities that align with values and sustain their lifestyles.   For example ...

To recap my thoughts in previous posts, a strong Creative Class is seen as key to sustaining a forward-leaning, innovative economy.   Going hand in hand with this is workplaces that embrace diversity and openness, are not opposed to self-expression, promote individual recognition for hard work as well as resulting compensation (more than a base pay) for doing what they are good at… and they work in a community offering an engaging and even edgy lifestyle.   So where do I see disconnects between South Korea and America? For starters in America the old Fordism and Company Man model at least for the creative class has shifted. Workers were once strongly tied to the company, this relationship nicely summed up by Richard Florida, “You were a company man, identifying with the company and often moving largely in the circles created or dictated by it.”   Today, creatives value their unique social identity--one able to move intact from firm to firm and well as assuming ...