Read the following CI sample #5 in Japan and give your best possible solution to it.
Jim White is a young man who has risen to the ranks of the board of directors. He was sent to Japan to introduce a new product. Immediately after his arrival in Japan, he decided to hold a meeting with executives from the three companies to which the product would be sold.
When he went to the meeting place, he was first guided to the conference room. There, he was introduced to Executive Director Yasushi Ito. The executive director was from the company that Jim would be taking care of. The other employees in the room bowed and shook hands as they were introduced.
They all explained their company titles and names and handed him their business cards. In response, Jim sat down in his chair, pulled his own business card (English on the front, Japanese on the back) out of his wallet, and asked the executive director sitting next to him to hand out his card. After receiving the business cards, he put them directly into his wallet and immediately put them back into his pocket.
As soon as he opened the briefcase to begin the demonstration introducing the product, he waited for the tea to be brought over. Everyone started to drink their tea and asked Jim how the plane trip had been, but he jokingly dodged the question and decided to explain the new product.
It is no small thing to talk about a new product with great enthusiasm. The demonstration went well, but the Japanese customer was polite, smiling, and vague about what he was saying for all the questions he asked about the product. Jim could not hide his disappointment and left the conference room.
What are the issue and the best possible solution to this incident?
