"Navigating complex work environment". Nov 2019.

1. “Navigating complex work environment”
Irina Filonova, PhD
Academic Development  Faculty Affairs Office
November 29, 2019

2. Discussion point
• Understand OIST ECR population and what services are available for
them;
• Learn about the most frequent challenges found while working at a
Japanese institution;
• Identify strategies and tools that can help to overcome some of these
challenges;
• Gain access to the most recent trends in the time management filed
(shared resources).

3. Humanities

4. Biomedical Sciences

5. Academic development

6. Faculty
Recruiting
Faculty
Review
Human
Resources
Postdoc
Career
Development
University
Library
Others
• Career advice and exploration
• Job search strategy
• Job application review
• Interview and negotiation
practice
• Difficult conversation
• Resources
How do I help ERC during their stay at OIST?

10. Tell me about yourself
• Field of study
• Years in Japan
• Careers you are pursuing

11. What are the challenges you are currently
facing?
What are the root of these challenges?

13. What can you tell me about visible Spanish
culture?
What about hidden part?
- Acceptable and unacceptable
- Beliefs and values
- Relationships with time
- Conflict resolution

14. We don’t live and work in isolation…

17. http://bit.ly/RGCHI

20. What motivates people: wanting to be the best
(Masculine) or liking what you do (Feminine).
Spain
• Excessive competitiveness is not
appreciated, consensus is
important
• Managers consult with
subordinates and listen to their
opinion before making decision
Japan
• Combination with the mild
collectivism – little assertive and
competitive individual behaviors
but severe competition between
groups
• Drive for excellence and
perfection
• Workaholism

21. Long-term orientation: how every society has to
maintain some links with its own past while dealing with
the challenges of the present and future

22. Long-term orientation: how every society has to
maintain some links with its own past while dealing with
the challenges of the present and future
Spain
• Like to live in a moment, without
great concern for the future
• “Fiesta”
• Look for quick results without
delays
• Relaxed approach to life
Japan
• Do your best in your lifetime and
that is all what you can do
• Lives guided by virtues and
practical good examples
• Long-term investment and
stability

23. How can you use this information at your
workplace?

24. Conflict resolution strategy:
• Minimizing obligations and
• Maximizing flexibility to fulfilling these obligations

25. “Privacy”
Omote UraGroupperception
Uchi
Soto
?

26. “Privacy”
Omote UraGroupperception
Uchi
Soto ?

27. “Privacy”
Omote UraGroupperception
Uchi
Soto ?

28. “Privacy”
Omote UraGroupperception
Uchi
Soto
?

29. Conflict resolution approach
• Don’t ask direct questions
• Manipulate the context
• Making it more private
• Breaking into the in-group
• Bring a third party
• Incrementalism
• Preparing the way (nemawashi)

30. The most common areas of misunderstanding
at OIST
• Authorship
• Conference attendance
• Independent project
• Contract duration
• External funding
• Life and work balance
• Insufficient feedback

31. The most common roots of misunderstanding
• Misaligned expectations
• Unchecked assumptions
• Unclear priorities
• Mismatch in management style

32. General tips for working in a team
• Clarify expectation
• Follow up and revisit
• Communicate clear and often
• Use I-language
• Find the common ground
• Recognize good intentions