Deck 3: Communication Challenges in a Diverse, global Marketplace

Question 1

The key to cross-cultural and global business is

A)recognizing cultural biases.
B)increased exports.
C)cross cultural training.
D)a diverse workforce.
E)effective communication.

Answer 1

E

Question 2

Intercultural communication is the process of sending and receiving messages between people whose cultural backgrounds

A)don't include verbal and/or nonverbal signs.
B)don't include a common language but do include common nonverbal customs.
C)could lead them to interpret verbal and nonverbal signs differently.
D)allow them to interpret verbal and nonverbal signals in identical ways.
E)tie them to a particular ethnic group in their local community.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

In today's global business world,communication and culture

A)are not closely related and are rarely important to business communication.
B)are so closely related that separating the two is virtually impossible.
C)have become irrelevant since the advent of the Internet and the rise of social media.
D)present challenges that can be overcome simply by learning your audience's language.
E)have minimal effect on how business is conducted in the U.S.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The competitive advantage of a diverse workforce includes

A)lower costs.
B)limited viewpoints.
C)duplication of employee talents.
D)better identify with diverse markets.
E)fulfilling legal requirements.

Question 5

Local markets and national borders are no longer impassable barriers to business,thanks in part to

A)currency exchange rates.
B)culture.
C)transportation technologies.
D)exports.
E)better international communication skills.

Question 6

When you react ethnocentrically,you

A)assume that your culture is superior to others.
B)accept the differences that exist between your culture and other cultures.
C)focus on the possibility that your words and actions will be misunderstood.
D)show respect for other cultures.
E)understand the long standing traditions of the other culture.

Question 7

Every attempt to send or receive a message is influenced by

A)word choice.
B)diversity.
C)written communication skills.
D)verbal communication skills.
E)culture.

Question 8

The term ________ includes an appreciation for cultural differences that affect communication and the ability to adjust one's style when communicating across cultures.

A)cultural intuition
B)cultural insight
C)cultural competency
D)cultural dexterity
E)cultural coherence

Question 9

How does increased diversity present challenges for the workplace?

Question 10

Intercultural communication can challenge supervisors in all of the following ways except

A)connecting on an interpersonal level with diverse employees.
B)providing motivation to diverse employees.
C)getting a limited range of views and ideas from diverse employees.
D)fostering cooperation among diverse employees.
E)promoting harmony within the group of diverse employees

Question 11

As it applies to the contemporary workplace,the idea of diversity is limited to issues of race and ethnicity.

Question 12

Many difficulties in intercultural communication occur because people in different cultures have different

A)genetics.
B)assumptions about how people should think,behave,and communicate.
C)environments.
D)media.
E)views,but similar core values.

Question 13

How does intercultural communication affect cross-cultural and global business?

Question 14

"All the characteristics and experiences that define each of us as individuals" is the definition of

A)ethnicity.
B)diversity.
C)culture.
D)pluralism.
E)life experience.

Question 15

Nearly 90 percent of executives claim profit and revenue would increase with improvements in

A)market share.
B)international communication skills.
C)Internet technology.
D)understand of local idioms.
E)the local talent pool

Question 16

How can one learn to show respect for others and to communicate effectively in business?

A)Make basic assumptions about a culture based on past experience.
B)Judge people based on dress and actions.
C)Ignore the differences between another person's culture and your own.
D)Hold firm to beliefs and biases that have been developed.
E)Adapt your communication style to that of the new cultures you encounter.

Question 17

Of the top 10 export markets for U.S.products,________ percent have English as an official language.

A)2
B)7
C)15
D)22
E)30

Question 18

Within three decades,the majority of the U.S.population will be made up of

A)workers under the age of 40.
B)non English speakers.
C)Caucasians.
D)immigrants.
E)minorities.

Question 19

Culture influences how messages are sent and received in the workplace.

Question 20

As businesses become more global,the workforce increasingly consists of employees with ________ national,religious,and ethnic backgrounds.

A)similar
B)identical
C)diverse
D)triangulated
E)mixed

Question 21

Studies have shown that people often have cultural biases of which they're not even consciously aware.

Question 22

Every attempt at communication between two people occurs within a

A)cultural context.
B)communication portal.
C)nexus of convenience.
D)cone of reciprocity.
E)mutual environment.

Question 23

How can you adapt your communication style to that of a new culture you are encountering?

Question 24

Cultural differences appear in a number of important areas,including

A)nonverbal differences.
B)legal and ethical differences.
C)religious differences.
D)attitudes toward work and success.
E)all of the above.

Question 25

When culture is fairly logical and consistent when viewed from the inside is said to be

A)incomplete.
B)stereotypical.
C)xenophobic.
D)pluralistic.
E)coherent.

Question 26

What is ethnocentrism,and how can it be overcome?

Question 27

Most people belong to

A)only one culture.
B)only one culture at a time,but it can change over their lifetime.
C)several different cultures.
D)all cultures-although most do not realize it.
E)no culture at all,due to increased globalization.

Question 28

How does the idea of coherency affect culture internally and externally to the organization?

Question 29

Ethnocentrism can be overcome in part by

A)avoiding assumptions.
B)judging other groups according to your own standards.
C)ignoring the distinctions among cultures.
D)remembering people from other cultures communicate in ways that are inferior to your own.
E)asserting the superiority of your own culture.

Question 30

What is culture? How does culture affect communication?

Question 31

________ is a shared system of symbols,beliefs,attitudes,values,expectations,and norms for behavior.

A)Attitude
B)Culture
C)Disposition
D)Preference
E)Xenophobia

Question 32

Xenophobia is the fear of

A)bridges.
B)unfamiliar environments.
C)foreigners.
D)change.
E)crisis.

Question 33

________ is the practice of assigning a wide range of generalized attributes to an individual based on his or her membership in a particular culture or social group.

A)Xenophobia
B)Ethnocentrism
C)Stereotyping
D)Cultural pluralism
E)Coherency

Question 34

Disabled employees can use ________ to pursue a greater range of career paths,thereby giving employers access to a broader base of talent.

A)flexible initiatives
B)coordinated systems
C)assistive technologies
D)revolving methodologies
E)"saving face" technologies

Question 35

Members of a well-established culture tend to view their culture as complete,which can dull or even suppress curiosity about other cultures.

Question 36

Nonverbal communication can be a reliable guide to determining the meaning of a message

A)in all communication situations.
B)across a wide range of electronic communication media.
C)in the majority of intercultural communication situations.
D)only if the sender and receiver assign the same meaning to nonverbal signals.
E)if the sender has a basic grasp of cultural differences.

Question 37

Cultural competency refers to

A)the ability to adjust one's communication style to accommodate cultural differences.
B)a state of being economically independent according to the standards of a particular culture.
C)the ability to speak more than one language.
D)a broad knowledge of culture,including music,art,and theatre.
E)none of the above.

Question 38

The practice of accepting multiple cultures on their own terms is known as

A)ethnocentrism.
B)cultural pluralism.
C)ethnography.
D)stereotyping.
E)cultural coherency.

Question 39

________ involves the practice of accepting multiple cultures on their own terms.

A)Ethnocentrism
B)Cultural flexibility
C)Competency
D)Cultural pluralism
E)Cultural coherency

Question 40

By emphasizing principles of ________,a designer can make a website more accessible to people whose vision is limited.

A)web accessibility
B)organic design
C)associative technology
D)emblematic availability
E)mobility

Question 41

Meeting a deadline is generally less important than building a relationship for businesspeople in

A)technical career fields.
B)low-context cultures.
C)high-context cultures.
D)high-paying positions.
E)environments that emphasize teamwork and collaboration.

Question 42

People in the United States generally

A)view hard-earned material comfort as a worthy goal.
B)believe that people who work hard are no better than those who don't work hard.
C)condemn materialism and prize a carefree lifestyle.
D)spend far less time on the job than German workers do.
E)view luxury and comfort as harmful.

Question 43

To convey meaning in a low-context culture such as the one existing in Germany,people rely more on

A)gestures and vocal inflection.
B)indirectness and metaphors.
C)situational cues.
D)explicit verbal communication.
E)facial expressions.

Question 44

Openness and inclusiveness

A)are not characteristics of many cultures,whose members display a general unwillingness to accommodate outsiders.
B)characterize all cultures,wherever they are found.
C)are not truly characteristic of any culture,although some try to claim them.
D)are typical only of small,dying cultures.
E)will eventually weaken and destroy any culture.

Question 45

In high-context cultures,

A)people rely more on nonverbal circumstances and cues to convey meaning.
B)people rely less on the environmental setting to convey meaning.
C)the rules of everyday life are highly explicit.
D)aggressive negotiation is expected.
E)there is less emphasis on context.

Question 46

Women executives who travel abroad

A)can count on being treated with respect,regardless of the countries they visit.
B)should always assume they will not be taken seriously as businesspeople.
C)may not be taken seriously as businesspeople,depending on the culture.
D)should insist on meeting only with other female executives.
E)are almost always treated with more respect outside the U.S.than inside the U.S.

Question 47

Compared to younger employees,older workers

A)are less respected in all cultures.
B)are more respected in all cultures.
C)can offer broader experience and high degrees of "practical intelligence."
D)are generally not highly respected in Asian societies.
E)almost never find themselves in generational conflict with coworkers.

Question 48

Cultural context refers to the pattern of physical cues,environmental stimuli,and implicit understanding that conveys meaning between members of the same culture.

Question 49

All of the following except ________ can promote ethical choices across cultures.

A)sending honest messages
B)respecting cultural differences
C)capturing the moral high ground
D)sending and receiving messages without judgment
E)seeking mutual ground

Question 50

Compared to low-context cultures,high-context cultures tend to take a ________ approach regarding the meaning of business contracts.

A)less flexible
B)more literal
C)more flexible
D)more aggressive
E)less literal

Question 51

As a rule,your colleagues and customers around the world will use the same communication tools that you use.

Question 52

In a given culture,prevailing customs and attitudes that pertain to roles and status will influence the

A)attitudes about instant gratification and long-term investing.
B)expectations for who communicates with whom,what they communicate,and in what way.
C)level of tolerance for people from other cultures or with divergent points of view.
D)flexibility with which employers and workers plan each business day.
E)change in the communication style of female executives.

Question 53

Differences in ________,including hand gestures or eye contact,are a major source of misunderstanding during intercultural communications.

A)contextual cues
B)nonverbal signals
C)situational enhancements
D)proverbial exchanges
E)generational norms

Question 54

A company that emphasizes ________ will encourage short-term sacrifices for the promise of better outcomes in the long term.

A)a deterministic outlook
B)a live-for-the-moment mentality
C)an orientation toward the future
D)a laissez-faire approach to planning
E)openness and inclusiveness

Question 55

Because of the low context culture,when it comes to decision-making customs,North American executives

A)tend to focus on the results of the decisions they face.
B)prefer to make their deals slowly,after much discussion.
C)spend a lot of time on each little point to display their good faith.
D)arrive at decisions through consensus,after an elaborate and time-consuming process.
E)will usually give in if it allows them to avoid offending the other party.

Question 56

Today's workplace includes the members of four generations: the Radio Generation,Baby Boomers,Generation X,and Generation Y.What challenges does the composition of the contemporary workforce pose for on-the-job communication?

Question 57

Associating youth with strength,and age with declining powers,is

A)a universal trait that characterizes all cultures.
B)common in European cultures,but not in the United States.
C)common in the United States,but not in many Asian societies.
D)an outdated practice.
E)a politically correct approach.

Question 58

The ratio of men and women in entry-level professional positions is ________; however,moving up the corporate ladder,the percentage of management roles held by men ________.

A)grossly unequal; remains flat
B)roughly equal; increases steadily
C)essentially the same; decreases steadily
D)skewed toward women; increases dramatically
E)grossly unequal; increases steadily

Question 59

The social media and technological skills of ________ are helping to change business communication practices.

A)Generation X
B)Generation Q
C)Generation Y
D)Generation Z
E)Baby Boomers

Question 60

Ability differences among employees and customers

A)have led many companies to make websites more accommodating to persons with disabilities.
B)disappear when those individuals enter the workplace.
C)rarely affect their use of the internet and digital communication technology.
D)are impossible to accommodate when it comes to web accessibility.
E)none of the above.

Question 61

While working in a country with a high-context culture,you schedule a meeting with a vendor who lives there.When he shows up 20 minutes after the meeting was supposed to begin,should you take it as a sign of incompetence or disrespect? Explain.

Question 62

Learning about an unfamiliar culture

A)can be accomplished only by living among its people.
B)is generally a waste of time since no one in business expects you to do so.
C)is a worthy undertaking,even if you learn only a small amount.
D)requires at least one year of study before it is meaningful.
E)is a bad idea,since it usually leads to overconfidence and embarrassing mistakes.

Question 63

In the United States,businesses value time and schedules that promote

A)flextime.
B)meetings starting and ending at designated times.
C)that ability to walk in and out of meetings at will.
D)the need to multitask during meetings.
E)the need to improve teamwork functions during meetings.

Question 64

When adapting to other cultures,the "Golden Rule" is

A)a helpful principle to follow.
B)less effective than treating others the way they want to be treated.
C)helpful,but only in Asian countries.
D)helpful only when dealing with others in their "golden" years.
E)an exercise in tolerance.

Question 65

Since cultures do not always share the same perspectives on ethical issues,how can you keep messages ethical during intercultural communication?

Question 66

In the United States,the communication style tends to be

A)abbreviated because of instant messaging.
B)indirect.
C)focused on social relationships instead of business.
D)focused on group harmony.
E)focused on content and transaction.

Question 67

In general,business correspondence in other countries is often ________ than that written used by U.S.businesspeople.

A)less formal
B)more formal
C)more humorous
D)less direct
E)better illustrated

Question 68

When communicating with people from other cultures,it is best to apologize when you make a mistake.

Question 69

Written messages from Japanese businesspeople tend to be ________ than those written in the United States.

A)more direct
B)less direct
C)less interesting
D)shorter
E)better illustrated

Question 70

If you will be living in another country where English is not the official language and you will be doing business in English,you

A)will not need to learn that country's language.
B)should learn only those words that are necessary for getting around.
C)can show respect by making an effort to learn the language.
D)should only deal with natives who can speak English.
E)should have a translator be present for all conversations.

Question 71

List at least three types of nonverbal differences might you encounter when working with businesspeople from other cultures.Provide at least one example of how these differences might cause misunderstandings in communication.

Question 72

When writing to businesspeople in other countries,you should

A)use an informal,friendly tone.
B)keep your sentences and paragraphs long.
C)be vague and general in your wording.
D)make generous use of transitional words and phrases.
E)include humor and pop-culture references throughout the document.

Question 73

To help improve cultural competency,organizations should

A)be respectful of core principles of any country,organization or culture.
B)follow the tenets of the Golden Rule.
C)adjust policies and procedure for each country where business is conducted.
D)promote individualism within the organization.
E)conduct all important communication in writing.

Question 74

Business communicators can improve their cultural competency by

A)becoming aware of their own biases.
B)becoming more rigid and less flexible.
C)avoiding humor.
D)apply the Golden Rule wherever possible.
E)avoid working with those from tradition bound cultures.

Question 75

When writing for multicultural audiences,it's important to

A)be brief.
B)be direct and assertive.
C)address international correspondence exactly as you would in the United States.
D)explain that you aren't sure about what they expect.
E)apologize in advance for any mistakes.

Question 76

Successful intercultural communication requires an ability to understand the other party's culture in addition to

A)learning key words and phrases from that culture.
B)working to promote group harmony.
C)following strict rules of verbal communication.
D)using the same approach to communication consistently.
E)understanding how your own culture shapes the way you communicate.

Question 77

When adapting to business cultures,a sense of humor

A)is inappropriate and unprofessional-business is no laughing matter.
B)can help people move past awkward and embarrassing moments.
C)is helpful unless you are in a management or executive position.
D)is accepted and helpful in many cultures,but not in the U.S.
E)will not help,since humor does not transfer from one culture to another.

Question 78

Explain the difference between a high-context culture and a low-context culture,and provide at least one example of each difference.

Question 79

In the United States,companies most often reward and promote an employee based on

A)group success.
B)equality.
C)individualism.
D)consensus.
E)seniority.

Question 80

How can one adapt to a new business culture?