MK - Successful Intercultural Communications

My family likes to go out to eat on weekends - which is about the only times we are all in the same place at the same time. One of our favorite places to go is MK (the suki restaurant chain). From an intercultural perspective MK is very interesting. They have blended a range of cultural attributes into a highly effective business model that, in my opinion works for people from anywhere.

There is an obvious Japanese influence to the place - in the way the staff greet you, the type of uniforms they where, to the 'MK Show' that they do at 18:00 hrs (a favorite of my son). MK's advertising also incorporates Japanese elements in terms of the theme music and why the staff present themselves. But this has been localized to replace the bow with the wai.

The super-efficient manner in which the restaurants are run, with the use of handheld devices to send orders back to the kitchen instantly and the use of centralized preparation centers, is almost Germanic. I have never been to a more organized restaurant anywhere.

But, we are in Thailand and in addition to localizing the menu, I find that the MK staff have not lost the friendliness and sincere hospitality that are hallmarks of the Thai service industries.

All in all I believe that MK has taken the best of several cultures and blended them into a single model is clearly communicated to its target audience.