Business OPI 101

Yes, I know, this is turning redundant, but for whom this blog is written after all? Myself, and the accidental reader.

I see incremental progress in understanding what to do for preparation when under constraints.

Type of constraints over OPI?

1. Time
2. Lack of input

1. Time

This refers as much as the time allowed to prepare as to the fact that you don't get paid to prepare and - in my case - you never know if the subject will pop up again anytime soon and whether it is good on the ROI to invest more time = money. This approach is also put under constrained by the fact that you care about your professionalism and how you are perceived. The power to be don't have a clue about what it is involved with business OPI. They use Google Translate and think it has a brain. They think you a human dictionary. They are expecting one day the machine to get more accurate and especially cheaper than you are. If you say no, they will always find another patty flipper to do it for less. But, this is Japan and I don't know how it fares outside this galaxy.

2. Lack of input

It may comes down to confidentiality so you don't get any clue besides the subject title. It may also be that the caller just think that you are a human dictionary and that speaking the language is all what you need to be able to flip flap the communication crepe at a snap of the fingers. Or it's a mix of all this and the result of coffee being served in less than 40 seconds following order.

Add this to your method. For the sake of confidentiality, the subject at stake has been replaced by a different subject that could turn to pop up next time for ral. But the approach is the same.

You won't spend more than an hour on ..... "Credit cards and e-Money industry in Japan".

I know, you didn't have this for breakfast lately. Just like me.

But, but lucky you! You are in Japan. Online content may be so, so, but books can shine, especially when it comes to getting an overview of some industry. There are such good books on many industries you can think about. But rather than invest in a specific book, you noticed and perused at the bookstore the latest version of 2009年版図解革命！業界地図. Yes, a book formated industry map. It's not new. It's refreshed each year and there are other contenders in the same arena. It cost ¥1000, only. It's metaknowledge close to perfection. So you go the two page concept map like paper display and you get all the players name and basic financial figures with a brief who's done what recently. It's brilliant. You have all the nasty names at hand that will probably pop up during the discussion. You read the map, read everything added, get a picture of the big picture. Next you go to Wikipedia, check for the page on that industry, read the English version and the Japanese version. If you cannot find a JP version (chances are you will find an English version at least), you jump to news articles, maybe find something that gives you an overview for nada except your time. Add to this a scan of the recent news to see what is big and making noise. You have 5 minutes left for a prayer that the subject will not be something arcane, or veered toward an unexpected unrelated (through a straight line) niche subject. Remember, they didn't give you a list of questions or anything that spells guideline. You did the best you could in one hour. You should feel proud, whatever happen. Now, the phone is ringing. Go ahead Sam.