A couple of Japanese businessmen told me that every so often, it’s considered acceptable over there to have a few after-work drinks and tell your boss exactly what you think of him; get all those little gripes off your chest and into the open. The next day, all is forgotten and it’s business as usual: no awkward exchanges or frosty glances. Somehow, I can’t see it catching on over here; such a move would pretty much be professional suicide. So instead we have 360, which gives people a safe and anonymous platform to air views without fear of reprisal or irate finger-pointing. Peace of mind in private, not piece of mind in public.

Do you know of any other foreign cultures where 360 would go down well? Or badly? What’s your experience?