Deck 18: Intercultural and International Business Communication

Question 1

The lack of an established governing system creates the need for informal power structures that regulate behavior and conduct,set and promote ideals,and engage in commerce and trade.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Cultural viewpoint is not an either/or dichotomy,but rather a continuum or range.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Space is a cultural characteristic;it may be a verbal symbol that represents status and power.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Hofstede describes masculine-feminine orientation in terms of whether men or women hold the power in a given culture.

Question 5

Culture involves the psychological aspects of our expectations of the communication context.

Question 6

Time,space,gestures,and gender roles cannot be studied,if we lack a larger understanding of the entire culture.

Question 7

When we do not have enough contact with people or their cultures to understand them well,we tend to resort to stereotypes.

Question 8

Every business has several cultures.

Question 9

When experiencing high levels of uncertainty,we tend to ask fewer questions.

Question 10

Ethnocentrism makes us far more likely to be able to bridge the gap with others.

Question 11

Hall shows us that emphasis on a culture as a whole,and how it operates,may lead us to realize the importance of individual differences.

Question 12

Greece,Italy,Chile,and Saudi Arabia are countries where one can observe monochromatic time.

Question 13

All communication is intercultural.

Question 14

In an explicit-rule culture,there may be no agenda for a meeting as everyone knows why they are gathered and what role each member plays.

Question 15

If you work within a culture that has a short-term orientation,you may need to place greater emphasis on reciprocation of greetings,gifts,and rewards.

Question 16

In the United States,business correspondence is expected to be short and to the point.

Question 17

Cultures are static systems that reflect the communication process itself.

Question 18

Within the same family,there can be intercultural communication.

Question 19

People from high-power distance cultures may have learned that less powerful people must accept decisions without comment.

Question 20

The knowledge of what a cultural symbol stands for helps to reinforce who is a group member and who is not.

Question 21

Communication with yourself is called:

A)internal communication.
B)individual communication.
C)interpersonal communication.
D)intrapersonal communication.
E)inner communication.

Question 22

An economy with relatively little government oversight may be said to reflect more of the markets)but is more restricted.

Question 23

Belonging is emphasized in Theory X.

Question 24

Theory Z was proposed by Douglas McGregor.

Question 25

When you are traveling in foreign countries,the laws apply to you.

Question 26

People,even from the same community,have to arrive at a common understanding of value.

Question 27

According to Theory Y,employees want to reach their fullest potential.

Question 28

The acculturation process begins with initial elation.

Question 29

Everett Rogers and Thomas Steinfatt define intercultural communication as the exchange of information between individuals:

A)who are simultaneously a part of a community and its cultures).
B)who are separated by a matter of degrees from each other.
C)who believe in the "culture of one."
D)who are "unalike culturally."
E)who have many things in common.

Question 30

_____ is often cited as a pioneer in the field of intercultural communication.

A)Dalmas Taylor
B)Edward T.Hall
C)Gordon Allport
D)Irwin Altman
E)Bruce Tuckman

Question 31

Theory X and Theory Y are both based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Question 32

Common law is more predictable and is practiced in the majority of countries.

Question 33

Ethnocentrism:

A)often decreases intolerance of difference.
B)reduces one's sense of pride in one's culture.
C)promotes intercultural communication.
D)aversely affects intrapersonal communication.
E)makes us far less likely to be able to bridge the gap with other cultures.

Question 34

Individuals returning to their home country after a foreign assignment may experience reentry shock.

Question 35

_____ is the tendency to view other cultures as inferior to one's own.

A)Unilateralism
B)Egocentrism
C)Ethnocentrism
D)Monism
E)Singlism

Question 36

_____ are nonverbal representations of communication.

A)Beliefs
B)Artifacts
C)Traditions
D)Attitudes
E)Values

Question 37

Which of the following statements is true in the context of Hall's contribution to the study of intercultural communication?

A)You have to know everything to know something.
B)Culture and communication are distinct academic disciplines.
C)Shift to a global perspective
D)Personal experience adds little value to comprehensive studies of interaction and culture.
E)Focus on the interactions versus general observations of culture.

Question 38

When living abroad it is important to stay close to your living quarters and surround yourself with similar expats.

Question 39

Mike and Sara are both from the same country and share the same culture.The communication that takes place between them would be classified as:

A)intracultural communication.
B)intrapersonal communication.
C)ethnocentric communication.
D)international communication.
E)individual communication.

Question 40

When living abroad people may adjust superficially at first.

Question 41

"Why are we here and whom do we serve?" In business,the answers to these questions can be found in:

A)a SWOT analysis.
B)organizational charts.
C)employee satisfaction surveys.
D)mission and vision statements.
E)a business plan.

Question 42

Long-term orientation:

A)is often marked by persistence,thrift,and frugality.
B)values immediate results.
C)places greater emphasis on reciprocation of greetings and rewards.
D)gives importance to personal representation and honor.
E)separates the individual from the family.

Question 43

Time is considered in a more fluid sense in:

A)short-term orientation cultures.
B)uncertainty-accepting cultures.
C)monochromatic time.
D)polychromatic time.
E)masculine cultures.

Question 44

_____ is a negative preconceived judgment or opinion that guides conduct or social behavior.

A)Prejudice
B)Ethnocentrism
C)Activism
D)Tolerance
E)Phobia

Question 45

_____ form as the organization grows and expands,and stories are told and retold to educate new members on how business should be conducted.

A)Legal systems
B)Artifacts
C)Traditions
D)Anomalies
E)Syntactic rules

Question 46

Which of the following statements is true regarding uncertainty?

A)As uncertainty decreases,nonverbal displays of affiliation also begin to decrease.
B)Higher levels of uncertainty are associated with an increase in the indication of liking the other person.
C)When experiencing high levels of uncertainty,we tend to ask fewer questions.
D)When experiencing high levels of uncertainty,the communication interaction is not as personal or intimate.
E)When experiencing high levels of uncertainty,communication will feature lower levels of reciprocity.

Question 47

Learning the rules of a business or organization by observing the conduct of others is indicative of an):

A)implicit-rule culture.
B)explicit-rule culture.
C)uncertainty-accepting culture.
D)uncertainty-rejecting culture.
E)short-term orientation.

Question 48

Hall shows us that emphasis on a culture as a whole,and how it operates,may lead us to:

A)neglect individual differences.
B)hold beliefs or practice customs that do not follow our own cultural norm.
C)identify the unique differences that exist between people.
D)learn more about other cultures.
E)be more open to new ideas and experiences.

Question 49

In most of the world's cultures,a person occupying superior status is entitled to a physically elevated position-a throne,a dais,a podium from which to address subordinates.This relates to the cultural characteristic of:

A)language.
B)values.
C)time.
D)artifacts.
E)space.

Question 50

Short-term orientation:

A)is found among Native American cultures.
B)is marked by a sense of shame for the family and community.
C)values personal stability and consistency.
D)focuses on relationships based on age and status.
E)downplays familiarity and predictability.

Question 51

Which of the following statements is true regarding monochromatic time?

A)Interruptions are not looked down upon.
B)Everything has its own specific time.
C)It can be observed in Greece,Italy,Chile,and Saudi Arabia.
D)People tend to mix business and family activities.
E)Many things are scheduled at the same time.

Question 52

This denies cultural,racial,ethnic,socioeconomic,and many other valuable,insightful differences.

A)Reciprocity
B)Group communication
C)Assume similarity
D)Social penetration theory
E)Artifacts

Question 53

Which of the following statements is true regarding collectivist cultures?

A)People perceive their world primarily from their own viewpoint.
B)People value individual freedom and personal independence.
C)They focus on the needs of the nation,community,family,or group of workers.
D)Individuals believe they are capable of making an impact on their own lives.
E)The United States is a highly collectivist culture.

Question 54

Cultures all hold values and principles that are commonly shared and communicated:

A)specifically through the education system.
B)from older members to younger ones.
C)via intrapersonal communication.
D)before a person is initiated into a group or community.
E)only among valued members.

Question 55

Which of the following statements is true regarding implicit-rule cultures?

A)Expectations are clearly stated.
B)A person from outside the culture can easily understand the rules of the context.
C)Such cultures are often more intolerant of deviation from the rules.
D)The guidelines and agenda for a meeting are announced prior to the gathering as people are generally unaware of the role each member plays.
E)Rules are often understood and communicated nonverbally.

Question 56

_____ can be defined as a generalization about a group of people that oversimplifies their culture.

A)Prejudice
B)Bias
C)Ethnocentrism
D)Stereotypes
E)Phobia

Question 57

Which of the following statements is not true regarding the symbols,boundaries,status,language,and rituals that exist across cultures?

A)Communities have their own vocabulary and way in which they communicate.
B)Rituals may be limited to small groups or celebrated across the entire company.
C)Rituals can serve to bind a group together,or to constrain it.
D)Institutions tend to formalize processes but often easily adapt to new circumstances.
E)Symbols can be used to communicate rank and status within the group.

Question 58

This marks the passage of the individual within the community;some of these may be so informal as to be hardly noticed,while others may be highly formalized.

A)Rites of initiation
B)Artifacts
C)Interpersonal communication
D)Principles
E)Reciprocity

Question 59

Which of the following statements is true regarding individualistic cultures?

A)They focus on the needs of the family or group of workers.
B)In such cultures,the individual exploitation of public lands is restricted.
C)Resources are utilized to benefit the community as a whole.
D)Individuals perceive themselves as empowered.
E)South America is a prime example of an individualistic culture.

Question 60

In an)_____ culture,rules are clearly communicated so that everyone is aware of them.

A)uncertainty-accepting
B)explicit-rule
C)collectivist
D)short-term orientation
E)feminine

Question 61

Theory X and Theory Y was formulated by:

A)Douglas McGregor.
B)Abraham Maslow.
C)Gordon Allport.
D)William Ouchi.
E)Bruce Tuckman.

Question 62

Dictatorships,communism,or theocracy are forms of:

A)monarchy.
B)anarchy.
C)rule by the people.
D)centralized rule.
E)egalitarian rule.

Question 63

If you are working with people from an)_____ culture,you may need to take extra care to elicit feedback and involve them in the discussion because their cultural framework may preclude their participation.

A)implicit-rule
B)short-term orientation
C)uncertainty-accepting
D)high-power distance
E)long-term orientation

Question 64

Which of the following statements is true regarding masculine and feminine orientation?

A)Hofstede describes the masculine-feminine in terms of whether men or women hold the power in a given culture.
B)The modest pole has been called 'masculine' and the caring pole 'feminine.'
C)In the United States assertiveness and competition are highly valued.
D)In masculine countries,women are as assertive and competitive as the men.
E)In cultures such as Sweden,business values are more attuned to self-promotion and taking care of society's weaker members.

Question 65

In these cultures,business conversations may start with discussions of the weather,or family,or topics other than business as the partners gain a sense of each other,long before the topic of business is raised.

A)High-power distance
B)Explicit-rule cultures
C)Individualistic cultures
D)Uncertainty-accepting cultures
E)Indirect cultures

Question 66

The United States and Japan are often noted as _____cultures,while many Scandinavian nations feature cultures that place more emphasis on _____.

A)indirect;direct
B)collectivist;individualistic
C)materialistic;relationships
D)explicit-rule;modesty
E)long-term orientation;short-term orientation

Question 67

Which of the following is not true regarding Theory Y?

A)Employees define themselves by their profession.
B)Employees are viewed as ambitious and capable of self-motivation.
C)Workers may need little supervision.
D)Collaboration is rare among employees.
E)The employee may be a valuable source of feedback.

Question 68

In low-power distance cultures:

A)people relate to one another more as equals.
B)occupational positions are a reflection of dominant or subordinate roles.
C)people are less likely to challenge the decisions of their superiors.
D)less powerful people must accept decisions without comment.
E)managers have limited control over employees.

Question 69

_____ are often framed in terms of how people are governed,and the extent to which they may participate.

A)Legal systems
B)Economic systems
C)Political systems
D)Ethical systems
E)Technical systems

Question 70

In this type of political system local warlords,elders,and others exercise a certain amount of political,military,and economic power.

A)Monarchy
B)Democracy
C)Communism
D)Anarchy
E)Totalitarianism

Question 71

Which of the following statements is true regarding common law?

A)The rules are spelled out in detail,and judges are responsible for applying the law to the given case.
B)It draws from a Roman history.
C)It requires new rules to be written out to reflect the new context even as the context transforms and changes.
D)It involves more interpretation that can produce conflict with multiple views on the application of the law in question.
E)It is more predictable and is practiced in the majority of countries.

Question 72

A political state in which there is no government is known as an):

A)monarchy.
B)anarchy.
C)democracy.
D)Communist rule.
E)totalitarian system.

Question 73

An)_____ is a government ruled by God and his or her designees.

A)theocracy
B)democracy
C)anarchy
D)monarchy
E)centralized rule

Question 74

Members of _____ cultures place emphasis on external goods and services as a representation of self,power,and social rank.

A)indirect
B)materialistic
C)collectivist
D)explicit-rule
E)long-term orientation

Question 75

An economy with relatively little government oversight may:

A)be said to reflect more of the markets.
B)be more restricted.
C)be more challenging for both internal and external businesses.
D)regulate business transactions based on the government's needs.
E)take a more "hands off" approach in economic areas.

Question 76

Which of the following statements is true regarding civil law?

A)It draws from an English tradition.
B)The judge interprets the law and considers the concept of precedent,or previous decisions.
C)It naturally adapts to changes in technology and modern contexts as precedents accumulate.
D)It involves more interpretation that can produce conflict with multiple views on the application of the law in question.
E)The rules are spelled out in detail,and judges are responsible for applying the law to the given case.

Question 77

Theory X asserts that:

A)workers are motivated by their high-level needs.
B)workers have a general disposition against labor.
C)workers require little direct supervision.
D)workers seek responsibility.
E)workers are hard-working.

Question 78

Which of the following statements is true regarding ethical systems?

A)They formally institutionalized.
B)They are less influential in interactions,trade,and commerce.
C)Ethics refers to a set of norms and principles that relate to individual and group behavior.
D)They are mostly implicit,rather than explicit,in nature.
E)What is legal and what is ethical are one and the same.

Question 79

A Theory X manager:

A)seeks input or feedback from employees.
B)may be described democratic or participative.
C)uses control and incentive programs to provide punishment and rewards.
D)relinquishes responsibility to his/her subordinates.
E)views employees as self-directed.

Question 80

_____ is one form of government that promotes the involvement of the individual.

A)Theocracy
B)Democracy
C)Anarchy
D)Monarchy
E)Centralized rule