The University of Toronto will offer one course in the Greater Tokyo Area, Japan. Each course is worth one full-year credit and is contingent on adequate enrolment.
IRE332Y0 Resolving Workplace Conflict While Employing a Cross-Cultural Perspective
Japanese society and its emphasis on harmony, group identity, and lifelong employment has fueled tremendous economic success and resilience during national crises. This course examines these national traits through the lens of Japanese culture, governance, and workplace ethos by reading and discussing scholarly works, as well as through immersive field trips and excursions. After analyzing these characteristics, the course culminates in developing strategies for resolving workplace conflict.
Prerequisites
None
Distribution Requirements
Social Science
Breadth Requirements
Society and its Institutions (3)
2026 Course Outline (For Reference Only)
Field Trips (Tentative)
Field trips are integral to understanding Japanese workplace culture and governance. Planned visits include:
- Kimono, Tea Ceremony & Asakusa Temple Visit
- Asahi Printec Factory Tour
- Tokyo Day Trip
- Japan Exchange Group
Note: Field trip schedule may change based on availability and cost considerations.
Instructor
Bob Thompson lectures on Employment and Labour Law, Negotiations, Industrial Relations, and Collective Bargaining at the University of Toronto and other institutions. He brings extensive practical experience from roles such as Senior Employment Law Counsel at Canada’s largest financial institution, Manager of Labour Relations at Canada’s largest grocery retailer, and articling lawyer at a leading litigation firm. Bob holds an LLM in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Osgoode Hall Law School, a joint LLB/MBA from the University of Ottawa, an MBA from Kent University (UK), and an Industrial Engineering degree from Kettering University (USA). He is a former board member of Ontario’s HR regulatory body and is passionate about creating inclusive, engaging learning experiences.