Deck 3: Understanding the Role of Culture

Question 1

International managers can benefit greatly from cultural sensitivity because it ________.

A) enables them to develop appropriate policies
B) enables them to understand cultures better, by using stereotypes
C) helps them protect the organization from outside influences
D) helps them increase the long-term orientation of the organization

Answer 1

A

Question 2

________ comprises the shared values,understandings,assumptions,and goals that over time are passed on and imposed by members of a group or society.

A) Environment
B) Workforce
C) Economy
D) Culture

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The first step for an international manager toward cultural sensitivity should be to ________.

A) work and travel in a foreign culture
B) interact with people from other cultures
C) understand his or her own culture
D) learn to speak another language

Answer 3

C

Question 4

________ is the phenomenon of the shifting of individual management styles to become more similar to one another.

A) Parochialism
B) Convergence
C) Stereotyping
D) Particularism

Question 5

Cultural intelligence is also known as ________.

A) cultural accommodation
B) cultural quotient
C) cultural empathy
D) cultural sensitivity

Question 6

The unconscious reference point of one's own cultural values is called a(n)________.

A) self-reference criterion
B) cultural distance criterion
C) cultural diffusion standard
D) unconscious power-distance point

Question 7

________ refers to the belief that the practices of one's own country are best no matter where or under what conditions they are applied.

A) Geocentrism
B) Nationalism
C) Parochialism
D) Ethnocentrism

Question 8

Which of the following is a drawback of organizational culture?

A) dishonesty toward organization
B) reduced cooperation
C) lack of commitment
D) resistance to change

Question 9

When immigrants adopt some aspects of the local culture while keeping aspects of their culture of origin,this process is called ________.

A) stereotyping
B) particularism
C) creolization
D) ethnocentrism

Question 10

Global managers who exhibit cultural intelligence and cultural sensitivity will most likely be able to ________.

A) negotiate effectively in expatriate assignments
B) request bonuses for overseas job assignments
C) implement technological changes quickly
D) conduct efficient performance appraisals

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT categorized as a sociocultural variable of culture?

A) religion
B) economy
C) education
D) language

Question 12

An organization where employees typically wear casual clothes and interact casually is most likely to have a(n)________ organizational culture.

A) hierarchical
B) formal
C) rules-bound
D) informal

Question 13

Which of the following represents the expectations,norms,and goals held in common by members of a specific company or group?

A) cultural variable
B) societal culture
C) organizational culture
D) organizational system

Question 14

Which of the following terms refers to the expectation that foreigners should automatically fall into host-country patterns of behavior?

A) geocentrism
B) nationalism
C) parochialism
D) ethnocentrism

Question 15

Globalization,in all its forms of personal and business contacts and information crossing borders,brings about changes that result in ________.

A) cultural diffusion
B) multicultural sensitivity
C) cultural accommodation
D) multicultural incrementalism

Question 16

Which of the following is a primary reason for failed expatriate assignments?

A) creeping incrementalism
B) cross-cultural differences
C) moral universalism
D) economic barriers

Question 17

Which of the following is an advantage of organizational culture?

A) long-term commitment
B) tendency to adopt changes quickly
C) excessive domestic focus
D) individuality

Question 18

________ is the awareness of and an honest caring about another individual's culture.

A) Cultural accommodation
B) Cultural empathy
C) Cultural sympathy
D) Cultural quotient

Question 19

________ is an outsider's seemingly natural ability to interpret someone's unfamiliar and ambiguous gestures in just the way that person's compatriots and colleagues would.

A) Multicultural sensitivity
B) Cultural accommodation
C) Multicultural transfer
D) Cultural intelligence

Question 20

Cultural sensitivity is also known as ________.

A) cultural empathy
B) cultural intelligence
C) cultural quotient
D) cultural diffusion

Question 21

All of the following are value dimensions proposed by Hofstede EXCEPT ________.

A) uncertainty avoidance
B) assertiveness
C) power distance
D) individualism

Question 22

Managers from Singapore,New Zealand,and Hong Kong tend to take initiative and have a sense of urgency,and the confidence to get things done.According to the GLOBE project,such managers score high on the cultural dimension of ________.

A) humane orientation
B) future orientation
C) performance orientation
D) assertiveness

Question 23

People in Singapore and Denmark are inclined toward long-term planning.According to the GLOBE project,such societies score high on ________.

A) performance orientation
B) assertiveness
C) humane orientation
D) future orientation

Question 24

According to contingency management,international managers need to ________.

A) transfer home-country business practices to the local environment
B) adapt their management styles to the local setting and people
C) determine the extent to which locals will accept unequal power
D) provide training to locals before transferring new technology

Question 25

According to Harris and Moran's eight categories,a kinship system refers to the influence of ________.

A) workplace relations
B) religious activities
C) family relationships
D) formal groups

Question 26

Which of the following is true of a future-oriented country?

A) It focuses on short-term planning.
B) It emphasizes solidarity.
C) It focuses on longer time horizon for decisions.
D) It emphasizes instant gratification.

Question 27

Med-Tex,a large pharmaceutical firm based in Texas,wants to establish its presence by expanding overseas.The company's executives evaluate locations across the world for the most suitable place to build the latest Med-Tex manufacturing facility.Which of the following,if true,best supports the argument that Med-Tex should build its new facility in Ireland?

A) Expanding into a similar culture reduces risks associated with different attitudes, values, and communication styles.
B) Med-Tex's main competitor received government incentives for building a new manufacturing facility in the U.K.
C) Collectivist societies like Ireland encourage the individual achievement necessary for scientific advancements in pharmaceuticals.
D) Particularistic cultures apply rules and systems objectively, which is important within the Med-Tex organizational culture.

Question 28

________ refers to the assumption that every member of a society or subculture has the same characteristics or traits without regard to individual differences.

A) Diversification
B) Posturing
C) Stereotyping
D) Parochialism

Question 29

Which of the following terms refers to a society's ideas and convictions about what is good or bad and right or wrong?

A) regulations
B) values
C) rules
D) procedures

Question 30

Stereotyping should most likely be avoided by international managers because ________.

A) current variables of culture are grossly inaccurate
B) many cultures have diverse subcultures
C) many countries outlaw the practice
D) national culture is nonexistent

Question 31

Austria and Germany value competition and have a "can-do" attitude.Therefore,according to the GLOBE project,Austria and Germany are most likely to be ________ societies.

A) accommodative
B) cooperative
C) humane-oriented
D) assertive

Question 32

In which of the following countries would an autocratic style of leadership be most effective?

A) low power distance countries
B) high power distance countries
C) humane-oriented countries
D) high performance-oriented countries

Question 33

According to Harris and Moran,which of the following is NOT a category that forms the subsystems in any society?

A) societal system
B) health system
C) education system
D) political system

Question 34

Which of the following subsystems is most likely to underlie both moral and economic norms?

A) kinship system
B) political system
C) religious system
D) education system

Question 35

The main purpose of Harris and Moran's eight categories is ________.

A) to show how subsystems in a society affect an individual's behavior
B) to emphasize how stereotyping can be used for learning about different cultures
C) to show how subcultures are beginning to converge with broader cultures
D) to indicate that global managers should adapt to subordinates from other cultures

Question 36

An international manager can best develop an understanding of a particular culture by ________.

A) creating a cultural profile for that country or region in which the firm does business
B) assuming that his or her own cultural styles and practices can be successfully followed in the host country
C) using stereotypes to develop cross-cultural understanding in a business setting
D) hiring locals rather than expatriates for management positions in overseas subsidiaries

Question 37

Workplaces in high power distance cultures will most likely be characterized by ________.

A) flexible schedules
B) autocratic leadership
C) loosely defined chains of command
D) open communication of ideas

Question 38

Canada consists of distinct groups such as Anglophones,Francophones,and indigenous Canadians.This is an example of ________.

A) subculture
B) stereotyping
C) cultural diffusion
D) convergence

Question 39

Which of the following is a cultural dimension identified by the GLOBE Project team?

A) power distance
B) universalism
C) individualism
D) fatalism

Question 40

According to the GLOBE project,which of the following cultural dimensions refers to how much people in a society are expected to be tough,confrontational,and competitive versus modest and tender?

A) humane orientation
B) assertiveness
C) future orientation
D) performance orientation

Question 41

Based on Trompenaars's value dimensions,in which of the following cultures do managers separate their work and private lives,and tend to be open and direct when communicating with coworkers?

A) diffuse-oriented
B) specific-oriented
C) universalistic
D) particularistic

Question 42

According to Hofstede,societies that accept strong hierarchical boss-subordinate relationships are high on ________.

A) uncertainty avoidance
B) collectivism
C) individualism
D) power distance

Question 43

According to Trompenaars's value dimensions,if you are born and raised in an achievement society,your source of status will most likely be based upon your ________.

A) father's occupation
B) age
C) level of education
D) gender

Question 44

Based on Trompenaars's value dimensions,which of the following is a characteristic of the particularistic approach?

A) application of rules and systems
B) open expression of emotions
C) obligation toward relationships
D) opportunity to achieve status

Question 45

Managers from Italy and Mexico would most likely express their emotions openly during a business situation,while managers from England and Japan would most likely consider such behavior unprofessional.Which of the following Trompenaars's value dimensions explains this difference in behavior and attitude?

A) universalism versus particularism
B) neutral versus affective
C) specific versus diffuse
D) achievement versus ascription

Question 46

Based on Hofstede's value dimensions,countries that have strict laws and procedures to which their people adhere closely most likely have ________.

A) high power distance
B) high masculinity
C) high uncertainty avoidance
D) high individualism

Question 47

Which of the following Hofstede variables is associated with a strong sense of nationalism?

A) individualism
B) uncertainty avoidance
C) masculinity
D) femininity

Question 48

In which of the following societies are people more likely to pass on inside information to a friend?

A) particularistic
B) universalistic
C) neutral
D) affective

Question 49

Which of the following is a primary characteristic of masculine societies?

A) assertiveness
B) emphasis on group achievements
C) tight social frameworks
D) lack of gender bias

Question 50

Based on Hofstede's value dimensions,countries in which nationalism is less pronounced,protests are tolerated,and job mobility is common are high on ________.

A) power distance
B) collectivism
C) uncertainty avoidance
D) masculinity

Question 51

According to Trompenaars's value dimensions,which of the following is true of the universalistic approach?

A) It emphasizes applying rules and systems objectively.
B) It focuses on expressing emotions openly.
C) It emphasizes relationships.
D) It focuses on separating work and private life.

Question 52

According to Trompenaars's value dimensions,which of the following focuses on the emotional orientation of relationships?

A) universalism versus particularism
B) neutral versus affective
C) specific versus diffuse
D) achievement versus ascription

Question 53

According to Hofstede,the tendency of people to look after themselves and their immediate family and to place less emphasis on the needs of the society is known as ________.

A) power distance
B) uncertainty avoidance
C) individualism
D) masculinity

Question 54

Which of the following Trompenaars's value dimensions explains the source of power and status in society?

A) universalism versus particularism
B) neutral versus affective
C) specific versus diffuse
D) achievement versus ascription

Question 55

Which of the following is true of countries with low masculinity?

A) more job conflicts
B) increase in work-related stress
C) more women in high-level jobs
D) lack of concern for others

Question 56

According to Hofstede,tight social frameworks,emotional dependence on belonging to the organization,and a strong belief in group decisions are characteristics of ________.

A) individualism
B) collectivism
C) masculinity
D) high power distance

Question 57

Which of the following is true of the attitude toward work in Mexican culture?

A) Work is a sacred duty.
B) Group harmony at work is essential to success.
C) Workers are primarily focused on the future.
D) Leisure time is more important than work.

Question 58

According to Hofstede,the extent to which subordinates accept a hierarchical system in a company is known as ________.

A) uncertainty avoidance
B) power distance
C) individualism
D) masculinity

Question 59

Which of the following is NOT one of Trompenaars' s value dimensions?

A) universalism versus particularism
B) neutral versus affective
C) specific versus diffuse
D) intrinsic versus extrinsic

Question 60

Which of the following is true of the way Arabs view time?

A) Deadlines and firm commitments are crucial to Arabs.
B) Arabs view time as a valuable and limited resource.
C) Arabs believe important decisions cannot be rushed.
D) Arabs honor deadlines by all means.

Question 61

With regard to small family businesses in China,a "guanxi" can be best described as a ________.

A) family hierarchy that determines who receives profits
B) competitive management style based on Confucian values
C) network of relationships centered on mutual obligations and favors
D) combination of modern and traditional methods for managing employees

Question 62

Cultural intelligence is also known as cultural quotient.

Question 63

Humane orientation measures the extent to which a society takes part in self-enhancement.

Question 64

The European view of information privacy most likely stems from its ________.

A) foreign business practices
B) global nature of information technology
C) culture and history
D) competitive origins

Question 65

Organizational culture tends to be stronger than societal culture.

Question 66

Values are a society's ideas about what is good or bad.

Question 67

Which of the following is likely to cause offense in Saudi Arabia?

A) introducing business subjects too soon
B) intolerance toward employees and coworkers
C) failure to make decisions with a long-term perspective
D) discrimination based on gender

Question 68

Cultural sensitivity requires the willingness to put oneself in another's shoes.

Question 69

Performance-oriented societies tend to take initiative and have the confidence to get things done.

Question 70

Which of the following factors can cause changes in traditional,non-Western societies?

A) media exposure
B) religious activities
C) stereotyping
D) self-reference criterion

Question 71

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Arab culture?

A) emphasis on hospitality
B) imposition of deadlines
C) five times a day prayer pattern
D) indirect communication style

Question 72

Future-oriented societies tend to place more emphasis on instant gratification.

Question 73

Which of the following is NOT a critical operational value difference?

A) time
B) etiquette
C) material factors
D) change

Question 74

Which of the following factors primarily determines how the Internet is used in different countries?

A) local connection speeds
B) availability of personal computer parlors
C) local attitude to information privacy
D) extent of intercultural communication systems

Question 75

According to the GLOBE project team,highly assertive societies emphasize loyalty and solidarity.

Question 76

Contingency management requires managers to adapt to the local environment and people,and to manage accordingly.

Question 77

Based on the study conducted by Harris and Moran,which of the following is NOT a workplace behavior of most Americans?

A) following a formal culture
B) being highly organized and institutionally minded
C) having a strong work ethic
D) being competitive and aggressive

Question 78

Which of the following is a predominant characteristic of the Chinese management style?

A) paternalism
B) individualism
C) nepotism
D) religious affinity

Question 79

Which of the following is NOT a typical characteristic of the Arab culture?

A) open admission of mistakes
B) indirect communication style
C) emphasis on hospitality
D) five times a day prayer pattern

Question 80

Creolization is the process where immigrants completely disregard all aspects of the local culture.