Recently, our associate director Shirley Hoy visited Japan.
When I asked her for her impressions of the country, she couldn’t stop raving about how clean, orderly, and efficient everything was.
“On the trains, everyone’s expected to be quiet—no one was streaming videos without headphones or having loud conversations. And there’s a special ramp to help wheelchair users in and out of carriages, which can be requested through an intercom,” she marvelled.
“In restaurants, there were baskets for handbags, hangers for umbrellas—and you could even borrow one if it rained! Everyone took their rubbish away with them, and the lack of litter on the streets was striking.”
“It was all wonderful,” she concluded. But then she paused and added, “I do wonder if any of these great ideas could transfer here because it’s all so different.”
It’s fascinating. Japan is, in many ways, a Western country, yet the cultural differences are vast—perhaps too vast to ever fully bridge.
Shirley’s observation reminded me of a common challenge we see in business.
At Insight Associates, we’ve advised on many mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships.
Time and again, we see business owners focused on the numbers — valuations, forecasts, financial synergies — without fully appreciating the depth of the cultural differences between the organisations involved.
Too often, these differences — far more than financials or technology — are the reason why mergers or partnerships fail.
Take, for example, one company I know that acquired a promising tech firm.
On paper, it was a perfect match: complementary services, shared growth objectives, and financial projections that ticked all the boxes. But culturally, the two firms were poles apart.
The acquiring business was built on formal, structured communication, with clearly defined roles and a preference for meticulous meeting agendas. Meanwhile, the tech company thrived on informal collaboration, quick decision-making, and a fast-and-loose management style.
Initially, the business owner was excited about the entrepreneurial spirit of his new team. He believed his own organisation could learn a great deal from them — just as Shirley admired Japan’s innovations.
But what followed was a clash over everything from email etiquette to meeting styles. Wires were crossed, relationships suffered, staff morale dipped, and the merger ultimately faltered.
This is where Insight Associates brings value far beyond traditional accounting.
Officially, we’re here to manage your finances, helping you grow faster and maximise your profits. But in practice, we’re so much more.
We act as your business advisors, mentors, and partners, helping you think through challenges with financial implications and challenging your thinking where necessary. Our close, trusted relationships with clients allow us to have frank, productive conversations that guide better decisions.
An acquisition or merger is a perfect example.
Having advised on many, we know that the biggest danger is often not financial but cultural. That’s why we work with you to identify potential cultural gaps early and help you navigate them before they derail your plans.
With decades of experience working with businesses like yours, we’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. We’re here to help you make the best decisions for your business’s future—financially and beyond.
If you’re ready for a partnership that offers this level of insight and support, let’s talk.
Let us help you bridge the gaps and build a stronger, more resilient business.
Warmly,
Garry
