Deck 4: Cultural Dynamics in Assessing Global Markets

Question 1

The four social institutions that most strongly influence values and culture are schools, churches, families, and the media.

Answer 1

True
Explanation: The four social institutions that most strongly influence values and culture are schools, churches, families, and the media.

Question 2

For a marketer, one's own religion is most often the best guide to another's beliefs.

Answer 2

False
Explanation: One's own religion is often not a reliable guide to another's beliefs. Most people do not understand religions other than their own, and/or what is "known" about other religions is often incorrect.

Question 3

The Power Distance dimension of culture, identified by Geert Hofstede, has proven to be the most useful of the four dimensions.

Answer 3

False
Explanation: The Individualism/Collectivism dimension of culture identified by Geert Hofstede has proven the most useful of the four dimensions, justifying entire books on the subject.

Question 4

Acculturation refers to the process of becoming an agent of change by innovating.

Question 5

The manner in and amount which people consume, the priority of needs and wants they attempt to satisfy, and the manner in which they satisfy them are functions of their culture.

Question 6

Dutch management professor Geert Hofstede argues that culture provides a guide for humans on how to think and behave.

Question 7

According to James Day Hodgson, former U.S. ambassador to Japan, culture is like a "thicket" that is tough to get through, but effort and patience often lead to success.

Question 8

As countries move from agricultural to industrial to services economies, birthrates increase.

Question 9

According to the World Bank, no country with less than fifty percent literacy has succeeded economically.

Question 10

According to Philip Parker, a marketing professor, there are strong correlations between latitude and the per capita GDP of countries.

Question 11

For most of the 20^th century, the predominant approach to governance in the world was colonialism.

Question 12

Markets constantly change; they are not static but evolve, expand, and contract in response to marketing effort, economic conditions, and other cultural influences.

Question 13

In the context of social institutions such as families, the ratio of male to female children is scarcely affected by culture.

Question 14

Much of American trade policy has depended on the happenstance of cotton being the original source of the Virginia colony's economic survival in the 1600s.

Question 15

When marketers introduce an innovative product or idea, they act as agents of change.

Question 16

According to Jared Diamond, a professor of physiology, innovations spread faster north to south than east to west.

Question 17

According to traditional definitions, culture is transmitted from generation to generation.

Question 18

Religion has a significant impact on the value systems of a society and the effect of value systems on marketing.

Question 19

The Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI), one of the four dimensions of culture, identified by Geert Hofstede, focuses on assertiveness and achievement.

Question 20

Marketers with little or no understanding of a religion may readily offend deeply because the influence of religion is often quite strong.

Question 21

Cultures low in Uncertainty Avoidance Index take a more empirical approach to understanding and knowledge.

Question 22

The strategy of cultural congruence involves marketing products similar to ones already on the market in a manner as similar as possible with existing cultural norms, thereby minimizing resistance.

Question 23

The Masculinity/Feminity Index (MAS), identified by Geert Hofstede, focuses on risk orientation.

Question 24

The sum total of knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, laws, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by humans as members of society is called _____.

A) sensitivity
B) congruence
C) culture
D) reference groups
E) aesthetics

Question 25

James Day Hodgson, former U.S. ambassador to Japan, describes culture as a(n) _____, which according to him is tough to get through, but with effort and patience could often lead to success.

A) culturally neutral market
B) maze
C) intelligence test
D) thicket
E) perseverance test

Question 26

According to Dutch management professor Geert Hofstede, culture is referred to as the:

A) "software of the mind."
B) "defining factor of life."
C) "conflict of civilization versus the masses."
D) "tool of the elite."
E) "art's triumph over banality."

Question 27

The Individualism/Collective Index, identified by Geert Hofstede, refers to the preference for behavior that promotes one's self-interest.

Question 28

In various cultures of the world, acceptance for hybrid grains was obtained through unplanned change.

Question 29

The process of adjusting to a new culture is known as:

A) diffusion.
B) culture transfer.
C) acculturation.
D) assimilation.
E) transference.

Question 30

According to Edward Hall's comments on culture, which of the following could hurt companies and careers in foreign markets?

A) Adherence to the social norms of the foreign market.
B) Being agents of change in the new market.
C) Ignorance of cultural differences in the foreign market.
D) Strict following of the political rules of the foreign society.
E) Consideration of the economic system of the new market.

Question 31

Cultures with high Uncertainty Avoidance Index scores tend to have a low level of anxiety and stress.

Question 32

In the context of culture's pervasive impact, which of the following is true about birthrates?

A) A service economy usually has a higher birthrate than an industrial economy.
B) Government policies and birth control technologies have caused a decline in birthrates.
C) The economic status of a country has minimal impact on the birthrates in that country.
D) Countries that move from agricultural economies to service economies experience increased birthrates.
E) Agricultural economies find it hard to support high birthrates than industrial economies.

Question 33

In some countries, language is itself thought of as a social institution, with no relation to political importance.

Question 34

When a culture scores high on Individualism/Collectivism Index, individuals fail to identify with groups.

Question 35

People from cultures with high Power Distance Index scores are more likely to have a general distrust of others.

Question 36

Which of the following reflects Dutch management professor Geert Hofstede's perception of culture?

A) It is a weapon that is often used on the poor.
B) It is a problem-solving tool.
C) It is a bias that is used to justify racial inequality.
D) It is a relationship enhancer.
E) It is a reflection of a nation's evolution.

Question 37

Which of the following actions is important for foreign marketers in order to be effective in a foreign market?

A) Learning to appreciate the intricacies of cultures different from their own.
B) Ensuring that the promotions for the product are indifferent to social beliefs.
C) Adhering to the prominent prejudices in the foreign society.
D) Creating product differentiation by being indifferent to the culture of the foreign market.
E) Making the product relate to the most prominent religion in the foreign culture.

Question 38

In the context of the elements of culture, marriage ceremonies and funerals are good examples of rituals.

Question 39

When designing a product, the style, uses, and other related marketing activities must be made _____ if they are to be operative and meaningful.

A) culturally acceptable
B) politically acceptable
C) technically efficient
D) compatible to the present economy
E) indifferent to societal conditions

Question 40

When marketers first introduced the personal digital assistant (PDA) to the American consumer, they performed the role of being _____ because the cultural impact of the product became widespread.

A) gatekeepers
B) role players
C) creators of supply
D) agents of change
E) promoters

Question 41

Mike grew up learning a great deal about his culture from his school, the church, the mass media, and his family. This kind of learning of culture is called:

A) acculturation.
B) socialization.
C) naturalization.
D) emancipation.
E) adaptation.

Question 42

Which of the following thinkers is famous for his statement on the deep influence of geography on history, economics, and consumer behavior?

A) Jared Diamond
B) Philip Parker
C) Desmond Morris
D) Noam Chomsky
E) Jacques Derrida

Question 43

Which of the following technological innovations has had a great impact on the gender-based determining of responsibilities and roles?

A) Mobile phones
B) Computers
C) Aircraft
D) The Internet
E) Birth control pills

Question 44

Which of the following is true with respect to Professor Jared Diamond's ideas regarding the influence of geography on history and cultural values?

A) People in the plains are more likely to invade than those settled in higher altitudes.
B) Historically, societies in the north are more developed than those in the south.
C) Civilizations near major rivers are more developed than those settled near major oceans.
D) Historically, innovations spread faster east to west than north to south.
E) Historically, invasions from warrior tribes have always happened from the west to the east.

Question 45

New cola alternatives (Mecca Cola, Muslim Up, Arab Cola, and ColaTurka) sprang up after the military conflicts in the Middle East in 2003. This is an example that shows how:

A) Coca-Cola played an important role in easing the cultural divide among the warring nations.
B) American beverage companies diversify to cater to various markets.
C) specific events in history can influence consumer behavior.
D) businesses exploit cheap human labor during war-times.
E) cultural aspects influence the development and acceptance of products.

Question 46

Which of the following social institutions introduce innovations to society?

A) Corporations
B) School
C) Government
D) Family
E) Religion

Question 47

Which of the following is the main reason for corporations being the forerunners of innovations in society?

A) The use of propaganda to form "favorable" public opinions.
B) The access they have to ideas from around the world.
C) The understanding that they have of foreign markets.
D) The religious tolerance that they possess as a requisite for foreign trade.
E) The fact that all merchants and traders are required to be literate.

Question 48

Which of the following social institutions is considered to have had a detrimental effect on American culture?

A) School
B) Government
C) Religion
D) Family
E) Media

Question 49

Numerous studies indicate a direct link between the literacy rate of a country and its:

A) ability to conduct foreign trade.
B) capability for rapid economic growth.
C) ability to eradicate social prejudices.
D) capability to promote secular political values.
E) potential to support gender equality.

Question 50

Which of the following is an unfavorable outcome of the usage of birth control pills?

A) Educational institutions are finding it tougher to fill in seats.
B) Midwifery, as a profession, is soon becoming extinct.
C) More men and women are opting for a "one-child family."
D) Women are increasingly taking up job roles traditionally reserved for men.
E) Schools are forced to address issues like abstinence and condom distribution.

Question 51

One of the advantages of the emergence of gender equality is the _____ gap between the sexes being narrowed in many places around the world.

A) intelligence
B) biological
C) identity
D) education
E) language

Question 52

In most cultures, the first social institution infants are exposed to outside the home takes the form of a:

A) day care center.
B) school.
C) religious institution.
D) shopping mall.
E) government agency.

Question 53

Governments influence thinking and behavior through the:

A) enforcement of a variety of laws affecting consumption and marketing behaviors.
B) increasing of the literacy rate of the country.
C) adopting of a secular government with separation of the church and state.
D) supporting of a selected number of religious sects within the society.
E) promotion of egalitarian principles.

Question 54

The _____ in India is a social institution that influences the roles and status positions found within Indian society.

A) country club
B) church
C) Taj Mahal
D) hijab
E) caste system

Question 55

Which of the following social institutions that influence culture has comparatively the least impact on culture?

A) Media
B) School
C) Government
D) Family
E) Religion

Question 56

Mervin is excited about his new home in the Philippines. Though native of Los Angeles, he has been given the opportunity to learn about a new culture, form new friendships, and capitalize on opportunities that were not available in his previous home or workplace. He will go through what is known as _____ as he adjusts to living in the Philippines.

A) acculturation
B) socialization
C) naturalization
D) emancipation
E) standardization

Question 57

What has been the impact on American culture, of women joining the workforce in growing numbers for the past thirty years?

A) An increase in the desire for large families in the American population.
B) An increase in the underestimation of women in the American culture.
C) A decrease in economic development.
D) A reduction in the influence of family in the American culture.
E) An increase in divorce rates in the country.

Question 58

Which of the following is a way individuals learn culture from social institutions?

A) Anarchy
B) Socialization
C) Cultural apathy
D) Etiquette awareness
E) Social rebellion

Question 59

Family, religion, schools, the media, government, and corporations are all examples of a(n):

A) social institution.
B) cultural icon.
C) internal variable.
D) external variable.
E) demographic variable.

Question 60

Most traditional definitions of _____ center around the notion that it is the sum of the values, rituals, symbols, beliefs, and thought processes that are learned, shared by a group of people, and transmitted from generation to generation.

A) congruence
B) sensitivity
C) rituals
D) demography
E) culture

Question 61

The aesthetics of a culture must be taken into account by marketers when:

A) styling the product and its packaging.
B) determining the linguistic distance of a culture.
C) assessing if a culture is individualistic or collectivistic.
D) trying to quantify the influence media has on the culture.
E) trying to comply with the rituals of a culture.

Question 62

In the context cultural values, the _____ Index refers to the preference for behavior that promotes one's self-interest.

A) Individualism/Collectivism
B) Power Distance
C) Uncertainty Avoidance
D) Masculinity/Feminity
E) Linguistic

Question 63

In some parts of the world, language is itself thought of as a social institution, often with political importance. Which of the following countries best exemplifies the above statement?

A) Australia
B) United States
C) France
D) Mexico
E) Switzerland

Question 64

Hofstede's data on cultural values suggest that:

A) countries that are high on individualism and low on uncertainty avoidance tend to be more innovative.
B) diffusion of innovations will be slower in countries that are low on individualism and high on uncertainty avoidance.
C) individuals from individualistic cultures tend to respond more favorably to other-focused appeals.
D) self-focused appeals tend to attract people from collectivistic cultures.
E) collectivistic cultures tend to be more emotionally bent than individualistic cultures.

Question 65

Based on the Individualism/Collectivism Index, in which of the following cultures will the "virtual social" activity of online chatting be most acceptable?

A) One in which individualism reigns supreme.
B) One in which collectivism is adopted.
C) One that has a high tolerance for ambiguity.
D) One which has a willingness to take risks.
E) One with no separation between the church and the state.

Question 66

For a culture, a low score in the _____ reflects more egalitarian views.

A) Power Distance Index
B) Individualism/Collectivism Index
C) Distance from English Index
D) Uncertainty Avoidance Index
E) Masculinity/Femininity Index

Question 67

On the basis of Hofstede's four dimensions, cultures with high Power Distance Index (PDI) scores tend to be:

A) secular.
B) hierarchical.
C) flat in organization.
D) fragmented.
E) Mexico

Question 68

The Uncertainty Avoidance Index measures the tolerance of uncertainty and _____ among members of a society.

A) inequality
B) subjugation
C) ambiguity
D) oppression
E) hierarchy

Question 69

The anthropologist, Edward T. Hall tells us that culture is:

A) all-encompassing.
B) relatively minor in the scheme of life.
C) communication.
D) strongly linked to physiology.
E) standard throughout the world.

Question 70

In the context of linguistic distance, which of the following languages is the most distant from English?

A) French
B) German
C) Spanish
D) Arabic
E) Thai

Question 71

People from which of the following cultures are more likely to have a general distrust of others (not those in their groups) because power is seen to rest with individuals and is coercive rather than legitimate?

A) Cultures with a high Individualism/Collective Index score.
B) Cultures with a high Power Distance Index score.
C) Cultures with a low Individualism/Collective Index score.
D) Cultures with a low Power Distance Index score.
E) Cultures with a high Uncertainty Avoidance Index score.

Question 72

Which of the following terms pertains to societies in which people from birth onward are integrated into strong, cohesive groups?

A) Power distance
B) Individualism
C) Uncertainty
D) Collectivism
E) Masculinity

Question 73

Linguistic distance is an important factor that helps in determining differences in values across countries and the amount of trade between countries because:

A) the closer the languages the tougher the interactions.
B) crossing "wider" language differences increases transaction costs.
C) the more distant a language from the other, the more valuable the brand becomes in the new territory.
D) major languages have "syntactical superiority" over minor languages that help in brand positioning.
E) a 'neutral' language is required to address the differences arising out of linguistic distances.

Question 74

The most useful information on how cultural values influence various types of business and market behavior comes from work done by:

A) Sigmund Freud.
B) George Gallup.
C) Geert Hofstede.
D) Ayn Rand.
E) Milton Friedman.

Question 75

Cultural values can predict such consumer behaviors as _____ and impulsive buying.

A) ethnocentrism
B) family planning
C) word-of-mouth communications
D) immigration
E) resource-sharing

Question 76

In the context of the elements of culture, rituals are patterns of behavior and interaction that are:

A) learned and repeated.
B) scientifically verified for effectiveness.
C) enforced by governments.
D) unique to each individual.
E) universally accepted as proper behavior.

Question 77

Cultures with high _____ scores tend to have a high level of anxiety and stress and a concern with security and rule following.

A) Power Distance Index
B) Individualism/Collectivism Index
C) Distance from English Index
D) Uncertainty Avoidance Index
E) Masculinity/Femininity Index

Question 78

In the context of the relationship between language and international marketing, recent studies indicate that a new concept, _____, is proving useful to marketing researchers in market segmentation and strategic entry decisions.

A) paralinguistics
B) linguistic distance
C) language parallels
D) language roots
E) linguistic accents

Question 79

Wayne is working at the overseas branch of his organization. He needs some clarification about a project. He approaches a senior manager thinking he would get a good explanation. However, he is instructed to follow protocol and sent away. Also, he is informed that only team leads are allowed to approach senior managers. This implies that the organization has a ______ score.

A) high Individualism/Collective Index
B) high Power Distance Index
C) low Individualism/Collective Index
D) low Power Distance Index
E) high Uncertainty Avoidance Index

Question 80

Cultures which are low in Uncertainty Avoidance index:

A) seek absolute truth.
B) accord a high level of importance to rules as a means of avoiding risk.
C) tend to be distrustful of new ideas or behaviors.
D) dogmatically stick to historically tested patterns of behavior.
E) take a more empirical approach to understanding and knowledge.