Deck 5: Managing Across Cultures

Question 1

Simplification is the process of exhibiting the same orientation toward different cultural groups.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

In Japan, people often are hired based on what they can do for the firm in the short run, because many of them eventually will quit or be downsized.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The difficulty of managing global organizations, as in the case of some local subsidiaries that want more decentralization and others that want less is one of the factors helping to facilitate the need for MNCs to develop unique strategies for different cultures.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

In Japan, unions are regarded as adversaries of management; in the United States, unions and managers are seen as partners.

Question 5

Americans may admire or be fascinated with people who disagree with them; in contrast, the French are more attracted to those who agree with them.

Question 6

A firm with an ethnocentric predisposition may find it difficult to implement a geocentric strategy, because it is unaccustomed to using global integration.

Question 7

In America, authority is diffused throughout the bureaucratic system and personal responsibility is hard to pin down.

Question 8

If a U.S.manager interacts with a Chinese manager in the same way that he or she interacts with a Canadian manager, the U.S.manager is demonstrating a behavioral attribute referred to as singular-orientation.

Question 9

An ethnocentric predisposition leads a firm to try to blend its own interests with those of its subsidiaries on a regional basis.

Question 10

When internationalization began to gain momentum, there was a hope that many of the procedures and strategies that worked so well at home could be adopted overseas without modification.

Question 11

A company with a geocentric predisposition allows the values and interests of the parent company to guide the strategic decisions.

Question 12

Firms with a polycentric predisposition make strategic decisions tailored to suit the cultures of the countries where the MNC operates.

Question 13

A globalization imperative is a belief that one worldwide approach to doing business is the key to both efficiency and effectiveness.

Question 14

A company with a geocentric predisposition tries to integrate a global systems approach to decision making.

Question 15

Parochialism is the tendency to view the world through one's own eyes and perspectives.

Question 16

A major cultural difference between the PRC and many Western countries is the issue of time.

Question 17

Russians view contracts as binding only if they continue to be mutually beneficial.

Question 18

Advertising in the United States should be indirect and subtle, emphasizing group references, shared responsibility and interpersonal trust.

Question 19

Many U.S.and European multinationals find that doing business in the PRC can be a long, grueling process that often results in failure.

Question 20

In Japan, compensation levels are determined by using skill, ability and performance.

Question 21

_____ is the tendency to view the world through one's own eyes and perspectives.

A)Parochialism
B)Symbolism
C)Nationalism
D)Simplification

Question 22

Which of the following correctly matches a firm's predisposition with its strategy?

A)Ethnocentric-global integration and national responsiveness
B)Polycentric-national responsiveness
C)Regiocentric-global integration
D)Geocentric-regional integration and national responsiveness

Question 23

Four distinct predispositions, which help determine the specific steps an MNC will follow, are:

A)Ethnocentric, polycentric, regiocentric and geocentric
B)Intercentric, polycentric, regiocentric and network centric
C)Globalcentric, networkcentric, geocentric and polycentric
D)Geocentric, intercentric, extracentric, ethnocentric

Question 24

_____ can be a difficult problem for many international managers, who often come from advanced economies and believe that their state-of-the-art knowledge is more than adequate to handle the challenges of doing business in less developed countries.

A)Nationalism
B)Ethnocentrism
C)Parochialism
D)Symbolism

Question 25

The typical broad, self-deprecating _____ commercial amuses by mocking both the advertiser and consumer.

A)British
B)Chinese
C)Japanese
D)French

Question 26

A company with a(n) _____ predisposition allows the values and interests of the parent company to guide the strategic decisions.

A)Polycentric
B)Geocentric
C)Ethnocentric
D)Regiocentric

Question 27

Which of the following correctly matches a firm's predisposition with its culture?

A)Polycentric-home-country
B)Geocentric-global
C)Regiocentric-host-country
D)Ethnocentric-regional

Question 28

Research reveals that far from addressing regional differentiation issues, many MNCs are committed to a(n) _____, which is a belief that one worldwide approach to doing business is the key to both efficiency and effectiveness.

A)International complacency
B)Globalization imperative
C)Worldwide indifference
D)Cross-cultural contentment

Question 29

Initially, after the breakup of the Soviet Union, the republics called themselves the:

A)Newly Independent States
B)Commonwealth of Independent States
C)Federation of Independent Republics
D)United Republics of the former Soviet Union

Question 30

Advertising in _____ is predominantly emotional, dramatic and symbolic.

A)Japan
B)China
C)Germany
D)France

Question 31

All the following factors facilitate the need for international firms to develop unique strategies for different cultures except:

A)The importance of being an insider, as in the case of customers who prefer to "buy local"
B)The need to allow subsidiaries to use their own abilities and talents and not be restrained by headquarters
C)The diversity of worldwide industry standards such as those in broadcasting, where television sets must be manufactured on a country-by-country basis
D)A continual demand by local customers for global products and in the case of globally recognized products such as McDonald's hamburgers and Sony televisions

Question 32

Which of the following is likely to be the strategic predisposition of a company that has a 'top-down' system of governance?

A)Regiocentric
B)Globalcentric
C)Ethnocentric
D)Geocentric

Question 33

In which of the following countries are spots viewed as cultural events and reviewed as if they were literature or films?

A)India
B)China
C)Germany
D)France

Question 34

The process of exhibiting the same orientation toward different culture groups is referred to as:

A)Parochialism
B)Symbolism
C)Nationalism
D)Simplification

Question 35

Which of the following countries prefer advertising that is factual and rational?

A)India
B)China
C)Germany
D)France

Question 36

According to the text, value can be added to the marketing approach by carefully tailoring the advertising message to the particular culture.Therefore, advertising in the United States should:

A)Target individual achievement
B)Be much more indirect and subtle
C)Emphasize group references and interpersonal trust
D)Emphasize shared responsibility

Question 37

Firms with a _____ predisposition make strategic decisions tailored to suit the cultures of the countries where the MNC operates.

A)Polycentric
B)Globalcentric
C)Regiocentric
D)Geocentric

Question 38

An MNC with an ethnocentric predisposition:

A)Redistributes profits globally
B)Redistributes profits within the region
C)Takes back its profits to its home country
D)Retains profits in the host country

Question 39

A company with a(n) _____ predisposition tries to integrate a global systems approach to decision making.

A)Regiocentric
B)Globalcentric
C)Ethnocentric
D)Geocentric

Question 40

A(n) _____ predisposition leads a firm to try to blend its own interests with those of its subsidiaries on a regional basis.

A)Geocentric
B)Globalcentric
C)Ethnocentric
D)Regiocentric

Question 41

Experienced travelers report that the primary criterion for doing business in China is:

A)Persuasive top management
B)Savvy marketing
C)Technical competence
D)Hard currency

Question 42

Which of the following selections accurately reflects recruitment and selection processes in Japan?

A)Recent public policy shifts encourage use of sophisticated selection procedures
B)Use of expatriates sparingly; recruit home country nationals at U.S.colleges
C)Obtain skilled labor from government subsidized apprenticeship program
D)Prepare for a long process; ensure that your firm is "here to stay"; and develop trusting relationship with recruits

Question 43

In practice, guanxi resembles:

A)Nepotism
B)Individualism
C)Commercialism
D)Parochialism

Question 44

All of the following are characteristics of low-context cultures except:

A)Authority is diffused throughout the bureaucratic system and personal responsibility is hard to pin down
B)Insiders and outsiders are easily distinguishable and outsiders typically do not gain entrance to the inner group
C)Agreements tend to be in writing rather than spoken
D)Deep personal involvement with others is not valued greatly

Question 45

Identify the country in which Shell's operating company prioritized the HAIRL appraisal system as Leadership, Analysis, Reality, Imagination and Helicopter.

A)Netherlands
B)Germany
C)France
D)Britain

Question 46

Which of the following selections accurately reflects compensation practices in China?

A)Use technical training as reward; recognize egalitarian values; and use "more work more pay" with caution
B)Consider all aspects of labor costs
C)Note high labor costs for manufacturing
D)Use recognition and praise as motivator; avoid pay for performance

Question 47

The United States has what is called a _____.

A)Moderate-context culture
B)Low-context culture
C)Variable-context culture
D)High-context culture

Question 48

In China, the term guanxi means:

A)Technical competence
B)Good connections
C)Punctuality
D)Business partnership

Question 49

The People's Republic of China had a long tradition of isolation until Deng Xiaoping opened his country to the world in:

A)1947
B)1989
C)1932
D)1979

Question 50

In regard to the cultural dimension, "What is the conception of space?" the dominant characteristic for American managers is:

A)Private
B)Mixed
C)Shared
D)Public

Question 51

In regard to the cultural dimension, "What is the person's relationship to other people?" the dominant characteristic for American managers is:

A)Hierarchic
B)Collectivist
C)Communal
D)Individualist

Question 52

Which of the following does not pertain to similarities in managerial activities in the United States and Korea?

A)As organizational size increased, commitment proportionally increased
B)As structure became more employee-focused, commitment increased
C)The more positive the perceptions of organizational climate, the greater the employee commitment
D)As in the U.S.studies, Korean employees' position in the hierarchy, tenure in their current position and age all related to organizational commitment

Question 53

In Great Britain, Ireland and the United States, managers value their individualism and are motivated by all the following opportunities except:

A)Earnings
B)Profit-sharing plans
C)Advancement
D)Recognition

Question 54

All of the following are characteristics of the Malaysian culture except:

A)Relationships between people are relatively short-lived and individuals tend to not feel a deep personal involvement with each other
B)Communication often is implicit and individuals are taught from an early age to interpret these messages accurately
C)People in authority are personally responsible for the actions of their subordinates and this places a premium on loyalty to both superiors and subordinates
D)Agreements tend to be spoken rather than written

Question 55

Malaysia has what is called a _____.

A)Moderate-context culture
B)Low-context culture
C)Variable-context culture
D)High-context culture

Question 56

Which of the following selections accurately reflects labor relations in Germany?

A)Treat unions as partners; allow time for negotiations
B)Tap large pool of labor cities; lax labor laws may become more stringent
C)Be prepared for high wages and short work week; expect high productivity from unionized workers
D)Understand changing Mexican labor law; prepare for increasing unionization of labor

Question 57

Which of the following selections accurately reflects recruitment and selection processes in Mexico?

A)Recent public policy shifts encourage use of sophisticated selection procedures
B)Use of expatriates sparingly; recruit home country nationals at U.S.colleges
C)Obtain skilled labor from government subsidized apprenticeship program
D)Prepare for a long process; ensure that your firm is "here to stay"; and develop trusting relationship with recruits

Question 58

The five criteria in the acronym HAIRL stands for:

A)Helicopter, analysis, imagination, reality and leadership
B)Hierarchy, awareness, ingenuity, reverie and leadership
C)Helicopter, action, interest, reality and leadership
D)Hierarchy, action, ingenuity, reverie and leadership

Question 59

Which of the following selections accurately reflects labor relations in China?

A)Treat unions as partners; allow time for negotiations
B)Tap large pool of labor cities; lax labor laws may become more stringent
C)Understand changing Mexican labor law; prepare for increasing unionization of labor
D)Be prepared for high wages and short work week; expect high productivity from unionized workers

Question 60

If a U.S.manager acted the same way with a British manager as he/she does with a Chinese manager, the U.S.manager will be exhibiting a behavioral process referred to as:

A)Simplification
B)Parochialism
C)Ethnocentrism
D)Symbolism

Question 61

Discuss the cultural highlights to be kept in mind regarding the French while doing business in France.

Question 62

The word namaste means "greetings to you" in:

A)China
B)Japan
C)India
D)Russia

Question 63

Many in the United States believe that it is more difficult to get along with the _____ than with other Europeans.

A)Germans
B)Austrians
C)Spanish
D)French

Question 64

_____ like exclusive arrangements and often negotiate with just one firm at a time.

A)Americans
B)Russians
C)The British
D)Canadians

Question 65

Describe the differences between the four strategic dispositions.What is the principle advantage of each disposition?

Question 66

Most French organizations tend to be:

A)Highly centralized and have rigid structures
B)Highly decentralized and have lose structures
C)Highly centralized and have lose structures
D)Highly decentralized and have rigid structures

Question 67

What guidelines should MNCs must be aware of while doing business in China?

Question 68

Which of the following is not a traditional behavior of Chinese businesspeople?

A)The Chinese never use intermediaries for negotiating business deals
B)If the Chinese give concessions, they do not expect anything in return
C)The Chinese are quick in formulating a plan of action
D)The Chinese place values and principles above money and expediency

Question 69

When doing business in India, all of the following behaviors are appropriate except:

A)Being "fashionably late" for meetings
B)Avoiding personal questions unless the other individual is a friend or close associate
C)Addressing doctors or professors in accordance with their titles
D)Refraining from public displays of affection

Question 70

In _____, one's social class is very important and these classes include the aristocracy, the upper bourgeoisie, the upper-middle bourgeoisie, the middle, the lower middle and the lower.

A)India
B)Great Britain
C)France
D)The United States

Question 71

Identify an incorrect statement about the French.

A)The French are more attracted to those who agree with them
B)The French often determine a person's trustworthiness based on his or her firsthand evaluation of the individual's character
C)In the workplace, many French people are not motivated by competition or the desire to emulate fellow workers
D)The French tend to be friendly, humorous and sardonic, in contrast to Americans

Question 72

What guidelines have to be followed by MNCs in order to tap the potential business opportunities in Russia?

Question 73

Which of the following are behavioral practices that affect doing business in China?

A)The Chinese appreciate loud, boisterous behavior and when speaking to each other, they maintain a greater physical distance than is typical in the West
B)The Chinese are proud of their economic accomplishments and want to share these feelings with outsiders
C)The Chinese society is one in which individualism is highly prized
D)The Chinese are much more animated than Westerners

Question 74

Describe the difference between parochialism and simplification.

Question 75

An important cultural contrast between Arabs and Americans is that of emotion and logic.Arabs often act based on _____; in contrast, those in an Anglo culture are taught to act on _____.

A)Emotion; logic
B)Logic; emotion
C)Reasoning; empathy
D)Aptitude; excitement