Comparing the Decision Styles of American, Japanese and Chinese Business Leaders

The globalization of industry and commerce creates an imperative to understand how business leaders from different parts of the world make decisions. A recent study used the Decision Styles Inventory to compare the decision making of American business leaders with those of counterparts from Asia’s two largest economies – Japan and the People’s Republic of China. American, Chinese and Japanese business leaders were each found to have a distinctive decision making style that reflects differing needs for achievement, affiliation, and power. The results have implications for further research and international business practice.