Japanese companies are increasingly expanding overseas. At the same time, only a few Japanese managers receive a proper training on how to make business decisions in the overseas markets. Many Japanese companies are successful in the domestic market, but do not have much success outside of Japan. Many expensive overseas acquisitions companies make do not prove successful and many firms feel they are losing the competition to their overseas rivals.

The key to making decisions in the overseas markets is to acquire a global mindset, or an understanding of how business decisions are made across different markets and cultures. The managers need to understand how the customers' needs, employees' motivation and business relationships are different in overseas markets, compared to the Japanese market. They need to apply critical thinking skills to a variety of market challenges. Thus, the global mindset is an essential quality for any successful businessperson dealing with the overseas customers and business partners.

The workshop will explore how to acquire a global mindset and how to make more efficient business decisions in the international markets. Various examples and short case studies will be employed to explain how Japanese managers can improve business decisions overseas. The practical techniques of getting information about the overseas markets and understanding cultural differences will be discussed.

The seminar is suitable for those businesspeople and company employees who have some experience of dealing with overseas markets, but find it difficult to make efficient business decisions.

Online support (additional discussion topics, articles and exercises) will be available in addition to the class session. Each class will follow an interactive learning format and will include role-playing and class discussion.

Originally from Russia, Mr. Kotykhov received his business training in New Zealand and earned a Master's Degree in Business from Auckland University of Technology. He has taught business-oriented courses in Japan and New Zealand for the last seven years.