Sister Chapters:

1
Welcome to MG-4T
Sister Chapters Building a Bridge between Ohio
and Japan
2
Presenters

• Michael Kauppi
• Seishosha Co., Ltd. STC Tokyo Chapter
• Brenda McGuire
• Battelle
• Laura Modisette
• Battelle
• Sue Wolford
• Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corporation

3
Overview

• Brenda McGuire
• Battelle
• Michael Kauppi
• Seishosha Co., Ltd. STC Tokyo Chapter
• Sue Wolford
• Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corporation
• Laura Modisette
• Battelle

4
Introduction

• In 1999, the Central Ohio and Tokyo Chapters STC
  formed an alliance.
• This unique relationship was based on the desire
  to share information about our profession, our
  industries, and our cultures.

5
Background

• Tokyo Chapter sent representatives to the annual
  conference for over 10 years.
• Tokyo Chapter members visit surrounding area
  businesses each year.
• After one such visit, the Central Ohio Chapter
  proposed the idea of becoming sister chapters.

6
Activities to Date

• Tokyo Chapter toured the following Central Ohio
  companies
• Battelle Memorial Institute
• Columbus State Community College
• Bank One
• MCI WorldCom
• Qwest Communications
• OCLC

7
Activities to Date

• Tokyo members observe demonstration at Bank One
  in Columbus, Ohio

8
Activities to Date

• Tokyo and Central Ohio members socialize at a
  Bank One-hosted reception after a day of company
  tours in Columbus.

9
Activities to Date

• Tokyo members enjoy an American-style picnic in
  Columbus, Ohio.

10
Activities to Date

• Tokyo Central Ohio members have dinner in
  Orlando.

11
Activities to Date

• Exchanged newsletters
• Wrote articles for the others newsletter
• Linked to each others Web sites

12
Activities to Date

• Held an online chat
• Exchanged photos of chapter activities

13
Challenges

• Brenda McGuire
• Battelle
• Michael Kauppi
• Seishosha Co., Ltd. STC Tokyo Chapter
• Sue Wolford
• Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corporation
• Laura Modisette
• Battelle

14
Challenges

• Time
• Technology
• Language
• Culture

15
Challenges

• Time

• 14 to 15 hours difference
• Busy schedules
• Real-time coordination difficult

16
Challenges

• Technology

• Needs
• Cross platform
• Easy to use
• Affordable
• Solutions
• AOL Instant Messenger
• Email

17
Challenges

• Language

• Which?
• Lingua franca
• Learning Japanese impractical
• Working Group English capable
• Communicating
• Asynchronous
• Real-time
• Face to face
• Remote

18
Challenges

• Language Communicating

• Asynchronous
• Email
• Equal participation
• Strengths
• Written
• Slow paced

19
Challenges

• Language Communicating

• Real-time
• Face to face
• Not a problem
• Cues compensate
• Remote
• No cues
• Weaknesses
• conversational
• fast paced

20
Challenges

• Culture

• Liaisons
• Communication
• Decision making process

21
Challenges

• Culture

• Liaisons
• Familiar with both cultures
• Guide to avoid pitfalls
• Mediators

22
Challenges

• Culture

• Communication
• US Direct, get down to business
• Japan Personal, greeting then business
• Sarcasm
• Cues verbal, physical and situational
• Cues absent Complaining

23
Challenges

• Culture

• Decision making process
• US GO, GO, GO!
• Japan Slower, consensus building
• Fizzled?
• No
• Patience

24
Challenges

• Summary

• Different
• Open mind
• Flexibility
• Expect to fail/misunderstand/be misunderstood
• Laugh at yourself

25
Opportunities

• Brenda McGuire
• Battelle
• Michael Kauppi
• Seishosha Co., Ltd. STC Tokyo Chapter
• Sue Wolford
• Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corporation
• Laura Modisette
• Battelle

26
Opportunities

• Meet at the annual conferences
• Maintain e-mail conversations throughout the year
• Link our chapter websites
• Establish a listserv between our chapters
• Exchange newsletters

27
Opportunities

• Conduct a video conference
• Video tape meetings of interest to share
• Exchange cultural information
• Create a technical communicator
  internship/exchange program

28
Lessons Learned Benefits

• Brenda McGuire
• Battelle
• Michael Kauppi
• Seishosha Co., Ltd. STC Tokyo Chapter
• Sue Wolford
• Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corporation
• Laura Modisette
• Battelle

29
Lessons Learned

• Be patient
• Get a technical translator
• Speak slowly
• Dont worry about differences
• Expect to sleep less

30
Benefits

• Rewarding friendships
• Opportunities to learn
• Great dinners

31
Speaker Information

• Michael Kauppi
• michael_at_seishosha.co.jp
• Brenda McGuire
• mcguireb_at_battelle.org
• Laura Modisette
• modisetl_at_battelle.org
• Sue Wolford
• sue.wolford_at_chase.com

32
Questions?