Deck 2: Challenges for Managers

Question 1

Globalization implies all of the following except:

A) that the world is free from national boundaries.
B) a borderless world.
C) competition between workers from other countries.
D) an organization's nationality is held strongly in consciousness.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT one of the major challenges that managers must deal with in order to remain competitive?

A) Globalizing the firm's operations to compete in the global village
B) Managing ethical behavior, good character, and personal integrity
C) Managing a diverse workforce
D) Anticipating changes in foreign currency valuations

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following challenges must managers overcome to remain competitive?

A) Challenge of managing ethical behavior
B) Challenge of work force diversity
C) Challenge of globalization
D) All of the above

Answer 3

D

Question 4

According to the research of Hofstede, U.S. managers tend to exhibit which of the following cultural characteristics?

A) Collectivism, long-term orientation, and high power distance
B) Low uncertainty avoidance, masculinity, and collectivism
C) Weak power distance, short-term orientation, and individualism
D) High tolerance for uncertainty, collectivism, and strong power positions

Question 5

Many U.S. and Canadian firms have located manufacturing plants in Mexico to take advantage of lower labor costs. Additionally, many tariffs on U.S. exports have been reduced. These global changes occurred because of:

A) the European union.
B) GATT agreements.
C) NAFTA.
D) Perestroika.

Question 6

Which of the following was NOT recommended as a technique for increasing the sensitivity of differences between people from various cultures?

A) Describing one another's culture
B) Cultural sensitivity training
C) Role analysis technique (RAT)
D) Cross-cultural task forces or teams

Question 7

Hofstede's work casts doubt on the:

A) ability of cross-cultural attitudes to predict job-related attitudes.
B) use of masculinity versus femininity as an orientation that has cultural variation.
C) use of time as an orientation that differs across cultures.
D) the universal applicability of U.S. management theories.

Question 8

A country that is long-term oriented:

A) is typically careful about spending money.
B) is most likely to respect tradition.
C) is more likely to meet social obligations.
D) is generally focussed on the past and present.

Question 9

Given the increasing attractiveness of U.S. business ventures in China, a major challenge for Western managers will be to understand the Chinese practice of guanxi, which is the:

A) strong use of rewards and punishment in the workplace.
B) use of personal connections to conduct business.
C) practice of group members evaluating the performance of individual group members.
D) tendency to negotiate small but specific agreements in order to interact effectively.

Question 10

An expatriate manager is one who:

A) has left a transnational organization to work for a competitor.
B) works within a foreign-owned company within their own country.
C) works in a country other than his or her home country.
D) has given his or her allegiance to a transnational type of organization over a more national/domestic perspective.

Question 11

Hofstede's cross-cultural research found that Japanese managers valued:

A) high risk taking.
B) group decisions.
C) short-time perspective.
D) individualism.

Question 12

The globalization of business and changing demographic trends will present organizations with a tremendously culturally diverse workforce which represents the risk that:

A) prejudices and stereotypes will prevent managers and employees from developing a synergy.
B) employee families will not be left intact and this could cause a drop in productivity.
C) values will begin to erode.
D) opportunities will not be available to employees within the organization and outside the organization.

Question 13

Which of the following is a difference between masculinity and femininity?

A) Men are meant to be tough, whereas women are meant to tender.
B) Only men are meant to be assertive, whereas as women are meant to be nurturing.
C) Men are meant to be modest, whereas women are meant to be decisive.
D) Only men are meant to be nurturing, whereas women are meant to be tough.

Question 14

While the globalization of business affects all parts of the organization, which area of the organization is particularly affected?

A) Marketing
B) Operations
C) MIS
D) Human resources

Question 15

In which of the following cultures should you avoid directly saying no?

A) Japan
B) Saudi Arabia
C) Mexico
D) Canada

Question 16

A transnational organization is one where:

A) it's nationality is held strongly in the consciousness of managers even though the organization competes on a global scale.
B) the global viewpoint supersedes national issues.
C) employing a multicultural mix of workers is avoided to prevent diversity among employees.
D) a prevalent ethnic viewpoint begins to be held strongly in the consciousness of managers.

Question 17

Executive performance bonuses, high position power, and tactical or short-range planning suggest a corporate culture that emphasizes:

A) low risk taking.
B) consensus decision making.
C) high uncertainty avoidance.
D) individualism.

Question 18

Attention to diversity has particularly increased in recent years because of:

A) the use of telecommunications.
B) the opportunity for use of lower cost labor in other countries.
C) the changing demographics of the working population.
D) legislation.

Question 19

According to your text, African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans are likely to be at a disadvantage within organizations because:

A) they are under-represented in declining occupations.
B) they tend to live in a small number of large cities that are facing severe economic difficulties.
C) available jobs in the future will require less skill than in the past.
D) the proportion of African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans who are qualified for higher level jobs are often higher than the proportion of qualified whites and Asian-Americans.

Question 20

The work of Hofstede is important because his studies revealed that more differences in work-related attitudes can be explained by:

A) gender.
B) profession.
C) national culture.
D) age.

Question 21

A manufacturer of products for outdoor enthusiasts offers flextime and the opportunity to take up to four months of unpaid leaves of absence. This type of organization would most appeal to which generation?

A) Post-Vietnam War babies
B) Baby boomers
C) Depression era generation
D) Baby busters

Question 22

The representation of individuals with disabilities in the workforce is expected to increase dramatically because:

A) of EEO.
B) a larger portion of society has some type of disability.
C) of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
D) of companies like Pizza Hut and McDonald's.

Question 23

An individual born between 1965 to 1976 could be called .

A) part of the silent generation
B) a Gen X'er
C) a baby boomer
D) a Gen Y'er

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT a classification for ethical theories?

A) Humanitarian
B) Rule-based
C) Consequential
D) Cultural

Question 25

Which generation of workers tends to strive for moral rights in the workplace and take a more activist position regarding employee rights?

A) Baby boomers
B) Silent generation
C) Generation Y
D) Generation X

Question 26

Which statement regarding the glass ceiling is correct?

A) The glass ceiling has been recently found to apply equally to males and females.
B) The glass ceiling is a barrier that has been traced to a lack of ability.
C) The glass ceiling, like Cinderella's glass slipper, has resulted in a temporary movement of women into political leadership positions throughout the world.
D) The glass ceiling is a transparent barrier that keeps women from rising above a certain level in organizations.

Question 27

Managing diversity requires:

A) being a good corporate citizen.
B) complying with affirmative action.
C) assimilating women and minorities into a dominant male culture.
D) the examination of the hidden assumptions that employees hold.

Question 28

With respect to the multiple roles assumed by women, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A) Men have been favorably predisposed to adopt the sharing of domestic responsibilities.
B) Working women often find themselves in the position of caring for the elderly parents.
C) Arranging for child care is typically the woman's responsibility.
D) Women have been quick to adopt the provider role.

Question 29

Pillsbury is an organization that supports the performance (improved productivity and competitive advantage) case for managing and valuing differences. Managers at Pillsbury argue that:

A) cross-functional teams that emphasize marketing should encourage diversity.
B) the same business rationale for other cross-functional teams is relevant to all kinds of diversity.
C) increasing diversity reduces the potential for unfair treatment.
D) cross-functional teams should be based on market forces.

Question 30

Which of the following is considered a key benefit of diversity?

A) Cohesiveness
B) Flexibility and adaptation
C) Less time in making decisions
D) Less thinking that is considered critical

Question 31

Emphasizing the use of inclusive language such as "partner" instead of "spouse" would be directed at diversity in:

A) culture.
B) social status.
C) sexual orientation.
D) age.

Question 32

The major difference between prejudice and discrimination is:

A) prejudice has been shown to have more of an impact on productivity than discrimination.
B) discrimination has been shown to have more of an impact on productivity than prejudice.
C) prejudice refers to behavior, while discrimination refers to an attitude.
D) prejudice refers to an attitude, while discrimination refers to behavior.

Question 33

The Americans with Disabilities Act defines disabled as:

A) persons with permanent physical and mental problems.
B) anyone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
C) individuals with physical impairments only.
D) those who cannot work.

Question 34

Individuals born between 1965 and 1976 are known as the .

A) baby boomers
B) swing generation
C) Generation Y
D) baby busters

Question 35

An ethical theory that emphasizes the nature and characteristics of an act is:

A) cultural based.
B) motive-based.
C) consequence-based.
D) rule-based.

Question 36

Which of the following generations of workers tends to be impatient, wants short-term gratification, and puts family before work?

A) Silent generation
B) Generation Y
C) Baby busters
D) Baby boomers

Question 37

Corporations that shatter the glass ceiling have many practices in common; however, these practices do NOT include:

A) upper-management support for the advancement of women.
B) women representation on committees that address strategic business issues.
C) targeting women for participation in executive education.
D) systems that identify women for advancement with certain quotas in place.

Question 38

Assume you are the manager of a department with a diverse work group, but white males comprise the largest subgroup. Many of the white males resent having to work alongside of female and minority employees who have less seniority and work experience but are paid the same. Several conflicts and incidents have taken place between the white males and others that have disrupted the workplace. Which of the following approaches would be more appropriate and effective in dealing with this situation?

A) Fire the white male perpetrators.
B) Extend preferential treatment to female and minority employees.
C) Urge female and minority employees to take legal action against those who have caused problems.
D) Indicate that discriminatory and other inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated and initiate a series of meetings to address the problems and encourage open and frank discussion of the issues.

Question 39

Which of the following sources of diversity has received increasing attention by explaining how homophobia affects productivity?

A) Culture
B) Gender
C) Sexual orientation
D) Social status

Question 40

Which of the following statements/statistics about women in the workforce is incorrect?

A) The labor force participation rate of women is approximately 70%.
B) Women held 14.4% of the corporate officer positions in Fortune 500 companies.
C) Women currently comprise somewhat more than 46% of the U.S. workforce and by the year 2020 may be nearly 50%.
D) On average, women earn 90% of what men earn from work.

Question 41

Sexual harassment costs the typical Fortune 500 company:

A) $2 million per year.
B) $4.7 million per year.
C) $6.7 million per year.
D) $10 million per year.

Question 42

Guanxi is the Chinese practice of building networks for social exchange.

Question 43

Corporations and business enterprises are more prone to subscribe to:

A) cultural relativism.
B) universal moralism.
C) consequential ethics.
D) rule-based ethics.

Question 44

Which of the following would not be considered sexual harassment?

A) A male department head is propositioned by a female employee who has bid for a different job that carries a high rate of pay.
B) When congratulating employees for their good work, a male supervisor pats male workers on the shoulder and female workers on their behinds.
C) A female office employee frequently, in a joking fashion, suggests to certain male co-workers that they go to a motel during the lunch hour.
D) In trying to make an important point when issuing job instructions, a male supervisor puts his hand on the employee's shoulder. He does this with both male and female employees.

Question 45

A cultural orientation where people belong to a loose social framework and their primary concern is for themselves and their families is based on power distance.

Question 46

Two particular kinds of romances that are hazardous to the workplace include:

A) hierarchical and utilitarian.
B) hierarchical and horizontal.
C) horizontal and utilitarian.
D) hierarchical same sex and horizontal same sex.

Question 47

Whistle-blowing is:

A) an example of white-collar crime.
B) legally protected.
C) an illustration of distributive justice.
D) unethical.

Question 48

Hofstede's research on culture showed that national culture explains more differences in work-related attitudes than does age.

Question 49

A female employee is issued a written reprimand when returning late from lunch. A male employee in the same department returns late and is not disciplined. This issue represents a question of:

A) sexual harassment.
B) procedural justice.
C) uniform standards.
D) distributive justice.

Question 50

A Japanese manager employed at the Honda plant in Marysville, Ohio, is an expatriate.

Question 51

A well-known consequential theory which suggests that right and wrong is determined by the consequence of the action and we should maximize the most good for the greatest number of people is:

A) cultural relativism.
B) universal moralism.
C) utilitarianism.
D) rule-based theory.

Question 52

Crude comments or sexual jokes and behaviors that disparage someone's sex or convey hostility is considered:

A) sexual coercion.
B) exploitation.
C) gender harassment.
D) sexual abuse.

Question 53

The implicit or explicit demands for sexual favors by threatening negative job-related consequences or promising job-related rewards is considered:

A) gender harassment.
B) biased sexual force.
C) sexual coercion.
D) sexual exploitation.

Question 54

An organization in which the national viewpoint supersedes the global viewpoint is a transnational organization.

Question 55

When the Japanese questioned the salaries of American CEOs during a time when many companies were in difficulty and laying off workers, they were making their judgments based upon:

A) utilitarian justice.
B) distributive justice.
C) procedural justice.
D) rule-based justice.

Question 56

A collectivistic culture displays an orientation in which relationships and group decision making are valued.

Question 57

High uncertainty avoidance is associated with high risk taking.

Question 58

Globalization implies that the world is free from national boundaries and that it is really a borderless world.

Question 59

In a recent Supreme Court ruling regarding superior-subordinate dating, the court found that:

A) sexual harassment is usually a reciprocal process.
B) sexual harassment is very difficult to prove.
C) women sexually harass employees just as frequently as men do.
D) employers are liable for acts of their agents and can be liable for sexual harassment.

Question 60

The obligation of an organization to behave in ethical ways is known as:

A) social environmentalism.
B) organizational morality.
C) social responsibility.
D) ethical imperative.

Question 61

John Stuart Mill's utilitarianism suggests that right and wrong is determined by the consequences of the action.

Question 62

Males may suffer from discrimination when employed in traditionally female jobs.

Question 63

Women salaries persist at a level of 81% of their male counterparts.

Question 64

What are expert systems and what are its uses?

Question 65

Age diversity among employees has been found to have a positive relationship with profitability in Western U.S. firms.

Question 66

Briefly discuss the issues an organization would want to understand if it were interested in a business venture within
China.

Question 67

What are the 3 classifications of Ethical Theories? Provide a brief explanation for each classification?

Question 68

Consequential theories of ethics emphasize the consequences or results of behavior.

Question 69

Match the following:
a. A cultural orientation in which individuals belong to tightly knit social frameworks
b. The concept of borderless marketplace
c. The locus and distribution of power within the organization
d. A business firm that operates in numerous countries and employs a multicultural workforce
e. An American business official who works for a U.S. subsidiary in Spain
Expatriate manager

Question 70

Distributive justice is the fairness of the process by which outcomes are allocated in an organization.

Question 71

As the workforce becomes increasingly diverse, the potential for unfair treatment also increases.

Question 72

The glass ceiling is not the only gender barrier in organizations.

Question 73

While women's participation in the workforce is increasing, their share of the rewards of participation is not
increasing commensurately.

Question 74

Mention the benefits and problems of diversity.

Question 75

Hofstede's work casts doubt on the universal applicability of U.S. management theories.

Question 76

Describe sexual harassment and the three types of sexual harassment.

Question 77

Distinguish between and explain distributive justice and procedural justice.

Question 78

Describe American business culture using Hofstede's dimensions of cultural differences.

Question 79

What are some (mention at least five) of the significant workforce composition changes that have been taking place in the United States?

Question 80

Match the following:
a. A cultural orientation in which individuals belong to tightly knit social frameworks
b. The concept of borderless marketplace
c. The locus and distribution of power within the organization
d. A business firm that operates in numerous countries and employs a multicultural workforce
e. An American business official who works for a U.S. subsidiary in Spain
Transnational