Question 1

What is the difference between a polycentric,ethnocentric,and geocentric approach to international management? What key factors should a firm consider before adopting one of these approaches?

Accepted Answer

In polycentric organizations,control is decentralized.In other words,business units in different countries have a significant degree of autonomy from the home office and act like local companies.Polycentrism may be,however,an overly cautious response to cultural variety.Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own culture is superior to others.In international business,it describes a company or individual so taken with the belief that what worked at home should work abroad that environmental differences are ignored.Geocentrism refers to a situation in which a company bases its operations on an informed knowledge of home and host country needs,capabilities,and constraints.This is the preferred approach to business dealing with another culture because it increases introduction of innovations and decreases the likelihood of their failures.In deciding whether to make changes in either home- or host-country operations,a company should consider several factors: the importance of the proposed changes to every party involved,the cost and benefit to the company of each proposed change,the value of opinion leaders in implementing the changes,and timing.

Question 2

Geocentrism is the preferred approach to international business practices for most global firms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

English-speaking peoples account for a larger portion of global output than people who speak any other language.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

Cultures do not transcend national boundaries.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

What are the characteristics of individualist and collectivist cultures?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the characteristics of individualist and...

Question 6

Although countries are similar in terms of having a mandatory retirement age,they differ in what that age is.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

When a company does business in another country whose official language is the same as its home country's,the company should most likely ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   assume that communications will go smoothly
B)   use back-translation on all written documents
C)   realize that words may have different meanings
D)   assume that word meanings are the same despite spelling differences

Question 8

One of the potential problems for an MNE that practices too much polycentrism is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   demanding that local communication methods be replaced with modern technology
B)   underestimating the complexity of introducing new management practices
C)   losing innovative capabilities to less-risky host-country practices
D)   relying too much on home-country directions and policies

Question 9

Most people's basic values are acquired during childhood and are not readily changed later in life.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

According to experts,stakeholder participation in decision making is effective only in countries with an educated population.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

In a short essay,describe the various affiliations upon which a person's status can be based and discuss how social stratification affects such business functions as marketing and employment practices.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a short essay,describe the various affiliations...

Question 12

What is culture shock? How can an international employer help prevent culture shock and improve the success of expatriates?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is culture shock? How can an...

Question 13

The approach a company takes when it bases foreign operations on an informed knowledge of its organizational culture along with home- and host-country needs,capabilities,and constraints is called ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   polycentrism
B)   ethnocentrism
C)   neocentrism
D)   geocentrism

Question 14

Raj,an engineer,works long hours and takes full responsibility for both his good and bad work performance. Raj most likely believes in ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   self-determination
B)   low power distance
C)   collectivism
D)   fatalism

Question 15

Similarity among people is both a cause and effect of national boundaries.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

________ peoples account for the largest percentage of global production.

Accepted Answer

A)   English-speaking
B)   Mandarin-speaking
C)   French-speaking
D)   Spanish-speaking

Question 17

A culture in which people prefer to finish one task before starting another is most accurately characterized as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   low-context
B)   monochronic
C)   pragmatic
D)   high power-distance

Question 18

Where future orientation is high,people are more willing to delay gratification by investing.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

All of the following are international business translation problems EXCEPT which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   All written work requires back translation in order to be understood in a second language.
B)   Because languages and the common meaning of words are constantly evolving, the intended meaning of a word may be different from what the listener or reader understands.
C)   Some words in one language simply don't have a direct translation into another language.
D)   Words mean different things in different contexts, thus the wrong context may be translated.

Question 20

Certain attitudes can link groups,such as managers,from different nations more closely than managers with labor within a given nation. As a result,international businesspeople should most likely ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   assume that there are few significant cultural differences among nations
B)   examine relevant groups when comparing nations
C)   adopt universal operating methods
D)   avoid cultural imperialism

Exam 2: The Cultural Environments Facing Business

What is the difference between a polycentric,ethnocentric,and geocentric approach to international management? What key factors should a firm consider before adopting one of these approaches?

Geocentrism is the preferred approach to international business practices for most global firms.

English-speaking peoples account for a larger portion of global output than people who speak any other language.

Cultures do not transcend national boundaries.

What are the characteristics of individualist and collectivist cultures?

Although countries are similar in terms of having a mandatory retirement age,they differ in what that age is.

When a company does business in another country whose official language is the same as its home country's,the company should most likely ________.

One of the potential problems for an MNE that practices too much polycentrism is ________.

Most people's basic values are acquired during childhood and are not readily changed later in life.

According to experts,stakeholder participation in decision making is effective only in countries with an educated population.

In a short essay,describe the various affiliations upon which a person's status can be based and discuss how social stratification affects such business functions as marketing and employment practices.

What is culture shock? How can an international employer help prevent culture shock and improve the success of expatriates?

The approach a company takes when it bases foreign operations on an informed knowledge of its organizational culture along with home- and host-country needs,capabilities,and constraints is called ________.

Raj,an engineer,works long hours and takes full responsibility for both his good and bad work performance. Raj most likely believes in ________.

Similarity among people is both a cause and effect of national boundaries.

________ peoples account for the largest percentage of global production.

A culture in which people prefer to finish one task before starting another is most accurately characterized as which of the following?

Where future orientation is high,people are more willing to delay gratification by investing.

All of the following are international business translation problems EXCEPT which of the following?

Certain attitudes can link groups,such as managers,from different nations more closely than managers with labor within a given nation. As a result,international businesspeople should most likely ________.