Deck 8: Developing Global Leaders

Question 1

What is one benefit to reducing the use of expatriates?

A) It is more cost effective to use host country nationals that to relocate expatriates and their families.
B) It is difficult to find employees willing to relocate to another country.
C) One can usually find more technically skilled workers in the host country than in the home country.
D) Immigration and customs laws are making it more difficult to use overseas employees unless absolutely necessary.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The bar is high for firms, individuals, and teams to achieve a __________ orientation.

A) global
B) local
C) national
D) regional

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What test includes the dimensions of cultural empathy, emotional stability, and flexibility to assess potential expatriates?

A) Cross-Cultural Adaptability Inventory
B) Expatriate Psychological Health Scale
C) International Employee Survey
D) Multicultural Personality Questionnaire

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Studies show a correlation between language skills and __________ adjustment, but not between language skills and __________ adjustment.

A) interaction, work
B) work, interaction
C) work, general
D) general, interaction

Question 5

Why do women tend to be better suited for international assignments than men?

A) Women are more readily welcomed into business situations.
B) They tend to have stronger intercultural communication skills.
C) Women employees are less likely to have dependent children.
D) They are more likely to have gained international experience in college.

Question 6

Samsung's program of sending employees to immerse themselves in a Western culture is based on the anthropological principle of __________.

A) activity-based understanding
B) interaction research
C) native-led learning
D) participant observation

Question 7

__________ oriented corporations operate within an area involving more than one nation, focus on regional objectives, and exhibit limited multicultural heterogeneity.

A) Globally
B) Locally
C) Nationally
D) Regionally

Question 8

A timber extraction company in Brazil is recruiting locals for a leadership role. Of the following individuals, which offers the most promising set of skills?

A) an ethnic Brazilian man who has lived his whole life in the United States
B) a man who speaks both fluent Portuguese and business-level English
C) a woman who is relatively inexperienced but who would increase the firm's gender diversity
D) a woman who has leadership experience in Brazil but does not speak any English

Question 9

Which of the following best illustrates the "traditional assignment" abroad?

A) 5-10 years, with the relocation of the employee only
B) 5-10 years, with virtual work from home instead of relocation
C) 3-5 years, with frequent trips between home and the host country
D) 3-5 years, with the relocation of the employee and his or her family

Question 10

What benefits do students gain from taking a "gap year" abroad?

A) improved English communication skills
B) the ability to "internationalize" their resumes
C) hands-on work experience
D) rest and relaxation before beginning full-time employment

Question 11

An expatriate charged with the role of socialization and knowledge transfer across organizational units can be described as a __________.

A) bear
B) bumblebee
C) spider
D) wolf

Question 12

Which of the following is a cost to the company of early repatriation?

A) It will take time for the employee to settle back into routines.
B) The new position for the employee may be less desirable.
C) An appropriate replacement must be found for the employee.
D) The employee must find a new place to live.

Question 13

Black and colleagues identified three dimensions of adjustment, which include __________ adjustment.

A) family
B) institutional
C) interaction
D) psychological

Question 14

Which of the following components should be included in any pedagogicallysound cross-cultural training program?

A) U.S. and host country history
B) corporate culture
C) cultural self-awareness
D) food and entertainment

Question 15

Why are expatriate employees typically needed during the infrastructure-building phase?

A) They have technical skills that may not be available locally.
B) Firms are usually prohibited from hiring local employees at this stage.
C) Local employees are wary of working for a relatively unknown company.
D) There are rarely enough local laborers to complete the project.

Question 16

Why does the process of sending managers abroad not automatically lead to a stronger company?

A) Host nations vary in their investment in educating expatriate employees in new skills.
B) Employees vary in their interest in bringing home new skills they learned while working abroad.
C) Companies vary in their ability and willingness to apply the skills the employee developed abroad.
D) Managers vary in their acceptance and understanding of the repatriate employee.

Question 17

Which of these is a major factor in expatriate failure?

A) inability to learn the language
B) insufficient income
C) lack of quality food
D) poor spousal adjustment

Question 18

How are U.S. companies changing in their attitudes toward global experience?

A) Some firms now require international experience for even entry-level positions.
B) Companies now prefer to use virtual global contacts instead of actually sending employees abroad.
C) They are starting to discourage international experience, as it leads to unconventional ideas and imbalances in power.
D) Firms are requiring more international experience as a prerequisite for leadership positions.

Question 19

Short-term assignments are typically defined as less than __________ in length.

A) one month
B) six months
C) one year
D) five years

Question 20

What is the most common selection criteria used by U.S. firms when choosing an employee for an overseas assignment?

A) family situation
B) language ability
C) motivation
D) technical skills

Question 21

Evaluate the recent trend for the increasing use of short-term assignments. Why are these becoming more common? Is this trend beneficial to most firms, or is it likely to cause additional challenges?

Question 22

What is an expatriate candidate likely to do on a "look-see" visit overseas?

A) meet with colleagues or other expat families
B) enroll the kids in local schools
C) work a trial shift at the new site
D) invest in a home and vehicle

Question 23

Which of the following benefits for expatriate employees is often found to be lacking?

A) access to western-style health care
B) support services for cultural adjustment
C) language training
D) home and emergency leave

Question 24

Which of the following competencies is proposed to provide the professional confidence needed for the challenges of global work?

A) balancing contradictions
B) broad perspective
C) cognitive complexity
D) personal autonomy

Question 25

John and Jane Doe have relocated to their new home in Mexico City, and have begun forming a friendship with their neighbor Ana Hernández. To which stakeholder group influencing expatriates does Ana belong?

A) host country nationals
B) foreign subsidiary
C) parent company
D) spouse-family

Question 26

What organizational processes are most likely to maximize a firm's global potential? Briefly outline a strategy that would improve the global potential of a hypothetical company of your choice.

Question 27

Consider this quote from Jack Welsh, former head of General Electric: "The Jack Welsh of the future cannot be like me. I've spent my entire career in the United States. The next head of GE will be somebody who has spent time in Bombay, in Hong Kong, in Buenos Aires." Do you believe that this statement is representative of the more general changes in the business world, or is it specific to GE? Why?

Question 28

Which of these people is likely to be the least integrated into life in the new cultural setting?

A) Adam, a manager who is on his third international post in Europe
B) Brittany, a teen who moved with her family to Denmark and is enrolled at the local high school
C) Chris, a stay-at-home dad who relocated to China to support his wife's career
D) Danica, a new expatriate who moved to Saudi Arabia as part of her job in telecommunications

Question 29

Where does the repatriation process often fall short? Describe specific challenges associate with repatriation after a foreign assignment, and ways in which the corporation could better assist their employee with this process.