Thoughts on Korean Business by Don Southerton

  Hot topic…This week, I share two of my Korea-facing business perspectives— decision-making and approvals . Are you developing a high-priority project or business proposal? I can provide perspective to ensure success. Let’s talk.      Decision-making and Approvals: Korean Business Culture Insights   This week, I am sharing two of my Korea-facing business perspectives—decision-making and approvals.    In most Korean companies leadership decides on direction and major issues. In turn, the working and local team’s role is to gather and prepare needed information.    Then, if approved they will report back to HQ on implementation and progress.   In cases where overseas leadership and teams hope to offer an idea, new service, or program, local Korean management's role is often to gather information and then share it with the appropriate senior team members, who are often in Korea. The local opinion is valued, but review and final approval m...

It is no small effort to stay current on key issues with the many moving parts within a Korean Group and with Korea in general.   Knowing there are gaps in communications, I do my best to keep teams and leadership updated. I’d like to share some thoughts …. From time to time, there are concerns in the overseas workplace over communications. This can range from a perception of disconnect and being the last to know as global announcements are made or finding out important news second-hand. This information gap can include working teams but is also felt by local leadership. Team members may even feel that information was being deliberately withheld. While there may be some truth in the disconnection, the feeling that Koreans are withholding information deliberately is most often not reality.  What may be a surprise for Western overseas teams is that Korean staff in their home offices must make quite an effort to stay informed. As one entry-level employee of a major Korean group ...