Deck 16: Managing Human Resources Globally

Question 1

The trends and arrangements that encourage international trade decrease the demands on human resource management.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

A culture with a long-term orientation will have trainees who are likely to accept development plans and assignments.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

In countries with large power distances,people address one another with first names.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Educational opportunities remain constant from one country to another.

Question 5

Ample opportunities for educational development are provided in capitalist economic systems because education is free for students.

Question 6

While international companies go overseas on a broader scale,multinational companies build one or a few facilities in another country.

Question 7

Compared with other countries,the United States allows employers much latitude in reducing their workforce.

Question 8

A host country is a country,other than the parent country,in which an organization operates a facility.

Question 9

Expatriates are employees from a country other than the parent country or the host country.

Question 10

The most important influence on international HRM is the culture of the country in which a facility is located.

Question 11

Cultural differences are a disadvantage to global organizations.

Question 12

Hiring employees from outside the host country is an option many companies take when the local labor market does not offer enough qualified people.

Question 13

High uncertainty avoidance refers to a strong cultural preference for structured situations.

Question 14

While training expatriates,trainers are expected to be authoritarian and controlling of session in cultures low in power distance.

Question 15

Companies usually prefer hiring third-country nationals for filling positions in host-countries.

Question 16

A country's political system does not usually affect human resource management.

Question 17

According to research,employees who are extroverted,agreeable,and conscientious are most successful at completing overseas assignments.

Question 18

Power distance concerns the way the culture deals with unequal distribution of power.

Question 19

The usual way that a company begins to enter foreign markets is by exporting,or shipping,domestically produced items to other countries to be sold there.

Question 20

Even if employees persist and continue learning about their host country's culture,they rarely recover from culture shock.

Question 21

Sergio,a Spanish national,is an employee at a U.S.company.He works at the company's branch in Spain.This would imply that Sergio is a

A) host-country national.
B) parent-country national.
C) first-country national.
D) third-country national.
E) guest-country national.

Question 22

Which of the following best defines an international organization?

A) an organization that builds facilities in a number of different countries in an effort to minimize distribution costs
B) an organization that builds facilities in a number of different countries in an effort to minimize production costs
C) an organization that sets up one or a few facilities in one or a few foreign countries
D) an organization that exports goods to more than a few countries
E) an organization that exports goods to a number of different countries

Question 23

A company with _____ level participation is likely to have a single office,the headquarters,in the parent country.

A) international
B) multinational
C) global
D) domestic
E) transnational

Question 24

A company,which has its headquarters in Japan,has branches in the United States.A Pakistani manager works in a facility in the United States.In this scenario,Japan is the _____ country,and Pakistan is the _____ country.

A) parent;third
B) expatriate;host
C) host;guest
D) third;first
E) parent;host

Question 25

Thomas,a South African,is employed by a pharmaceutical company whose headquarters are in Philadelphia.Thomas operates out of the firm's production facility in Cape Town,South Africa.Thomas is considered to be a(n)

A) parent-country national.
B) third-country national.
C) host-country national.
D) repatriate.
E) expatriate.

Question 26

The specific methods of performance management that work in one country may fail in another,while general principles of performance management may apply in most countries.

Question 27

James,an American who works for a U.S.-based company,has been sent to England for a work assignment.James would be known as a(n)

A) expatriate.
B) repatriate.
C) host-country national.
D) third-country national.
E) guest-country national.

Question 28

European companies usually link stock options to specific performance goals,such as the increase in a company's share price compared with that of its competitors.

Question 29

FileTech,a company headquartered in the United States,opens an overseas facility in Ireland.In this scenario,the Irish facility is located in a

A) host country.
B) parent country.
C) first country.
D) third country.
E) guest country.

Question 30

A beverage company headquartered in Miami selects a Brazilian manager to run its Mexican operations.In this example,the Brazilian manager is a

A) parent-country national.
B) host-country national.
C) third-country national.
D) home-country national.
E) first-country national.

Question 31

The balance sheet approach for determining expatriate compensation adjusts the manager's compensation so that it gives the manager the same standard of living as in the home country plus extra pay for the inconvenience of locating overseas.

Question 32

Which of the following agreements have been adopted by Canada,Mexico,and the United States to encourage trade between the three countries?

A) CSN
B) NAFTA
C) PICTA
D) APEC
E) TAFTA

Question 33

Which of the following refers to a country that is neither the parent country nor the host country of a company?

A) first country
B) facilitating country
C) governing country
D) third country
E) guest country

Question 34

Gerard is an Australian citizen and works at the headquarters of an Australian company.This would make him a(n)_____.

A) host-country national
B) expatriate
C) governing-country national
D) third-country national
E) parent-country national

Question 35

U.S.organizations exert more centralized control over labor relations in the various countries where they operate when compared with European organizations.

Question 36

Cross-cultural training requires developing a greater awareness of one's own culture,too.

Question 37

John and Henry are U.S.citizens and work for the same law firm that is headquartered in New York.John,however,works from the firm's London office,while Henry works from the office in New York.Which of the following is a difference between the two employees?

A) John is an expatriate,whereas Henry is a parent-country national.
B) John is a host-country national,whereas Henry is an expatriate.
C) John is a third-country national,whereas Henry is a host-country national.
D) John is a parent-country national,whereas Henry is a host-country national.
E) John is repatriate,whereas Henry is a third-country national.

Question 38

Which of the following is the usual way in which companies first enter foreign markets?

A) importing
B) offshoring
C) exporting
D) outsourcing
E) relocating

Question 39

Which of the following terms would accurately describe an individual who was born in the United States and is currently working in Germany for a company headquartered in China?

A) parent-country national
B) host-country national
C) third-country national
D) home-country national
E) guest-country national

Question 40

Peter,a British citizen,and Keith,a U.S.citizen,are employees of an electronics manufacturing company headquartered in London.While Peter works out of the London office,Keith operates out of the marketing unit in New York.Which of the following statements is true in this scenario?

A) Peter is a host-country national.
B) Peter is a parent-country national.
C) Peter and Keith are expatriates.
D) Keith is a third-country national.
E) Keith is a home-country national.

Question 41

_____ promote respect for past tradition and for fulfilling social obligations in the present.

A) Short-term orientations
B) Masculine cultures
C) Feminine cultures
D) Individual orientations
E) Capitalist orientations

Question 42

ExAlt Technologies forecasts a sales increase in several product lines,so management is planning how to expand production capacity at its three factories in Mississippi,Poland,and Thailand.The HR department prepares estimates of local labor costs and availability of workers in each location.What else should the decision makers take into account when planning labor needs?

A) calculating of the total number of floating holidays each employee will receive
B) the probability that newly hired employees at each location will suffer culture shock
C) whether the country in which the factory operates has an individualistic culture
D) if the company can put a greater emphasis on protecting workers' jobs
E) how these considerations weigh against financial and operational requirements

Question 43

Jenny,a sales executive,believes that her hard work and persistence will reap rewards in the future.She is not very assertive,prefers to be instructed,and awaits her team's approval before taking decisions.Jenny's attitudes and behavior are consistent with a culture that

A) is highly individualistic.
B) has high power distance.
C) is low on uncertainty avoidance.
D) is feminine.
E) is long-term oriented.

Question 44

Which of the following is the best way for an internationally-expanding organization to gain expertise in a host country's legal requirements?

A) gather advice from a third-country national,since they are a neutral party
B) hire one more host-country nationals
C) increase the number of parent-country lawyers
D) open a facility based on the parent-country's legal system and adjust operations as the need arises
E) interview host-country nationals to learn how they would like facilities in their countries to be run

Question 45

Which of the following is a feature of a company with an individualistic culture?

A) It has flatter pay structures.
B) It exhibits greater differences between the highest and lowest pay in the organization.
C) It emphasizes on organizational rather than individual performance.
D) It involves employees in collective decision making.
E) It has compensation systems based on fixed pay according to seniority.

Question 46

Dev and Emily are employees of a publishing house and work together on the same team.Dev believes that Emily hails from an individualistic culture,while Emily disagrees.Which of the following,if true,would strengthen Dev's argument?

A) Emily prioritizes helping her team members attain their career advancement goals.
B) Emily focuses on self-development and puts her needs before those of the group.
C) Emily places emphasis on achieving upward social mobility by fulfilling common goals.
D) Emily prefers decision making through her team members' participation in management.
E) Emily's traits are typical of those from cultures that expect protection from the community.

Question 47

The _____ of a country's labor force affect how and the extent to which foreign companies want to operate there.

A) population
B) HR practices
C) education and skill levels
D) cultural differences
E) collectivism and potential for unionization

Question 48

Adrian and Ben are employees of a software development firm in San Francisco.Ben believes that Adrian exhibits behaviors that resemble those of individuals from masculine cultures.Which of the following,if true,would support Ben's beliefs?

A) Adrian places more emphasis on a harmonious working relationship between members in his team.
B) Adrian places more emphasis on creating an atmosphere of competition among his team members.
C) Adrian places more emphasis on undertaking initiatives aimed at mobilizing funds for the underprivileged.
D) Adrian places more emphasis on undertaking initiatives aimed at preventing environmental degradation.
E) Adrian places more emphasis on achieving social mobility through collectivist means.

Question 49

Eric's company lays down stringent rules for employees to follow at work.Employees are expected to set goals for each day and week,and to share those goals on the company intranet.This way,Eric and his coworkers can be aware of the progress of departmental projects and prepare far in advance to meet deadlines.These qualities best describe a company that rates high on

A) individualism.
B) long-term orientation.
C) femininity.
D) uncertainty avoidance.
E) power distance.

Question 50

Which of the following best describes a multinational company?

A) an organization that builds facilities within the same country to facilitate large-scale exports to various countries
B) an organization that builds facilities in a number of different countries in an effort to minimize production and distribution costs
C) an organization that sets up one or a few facilities in one or a few foreign countries
D) an organization that operates from one country and has customers from all over the globe
E) a domestic organization that chooses to locate a facility using cultural differences as an advantage

Question 51

Several years ago,Seventh National Bank set up a large customer service facility in India and hired English-speaking operators to handle questions from customers.Now,although the bank forecasts continued growth,the human resource department is planning for fewer workers in India.What changes in its customer facility is most likely in this situation?

A) The bank will switch to exporting these services to customers from its home office.
B) The facility is moving to a higher-wage country.
C) The bank does not intend to continue this service to customers.
D) The bank is expecting the workers to handle each call faster.
E) The facility is automating the process of answering routine questions.

Question 52

Which of the following organizations are most likely to locate a facility based on the ability to effectively,efficiently,and flexibly produce a product or service,using cultural differences as an advantage?

A) foreign subsidiaries
B) international organizations
C) multinational organizations
D) global organizations
E) domestic organizations

Question 53

Edward,a U.S.businessman,visits India for a corporate meeting.While interacting with the board members,he addresses them by their first names,as he does with board members in the United States.However,the board members in India were offended by this gesture.Which of the following differences in culture does this scenario reveal?

A) individualism/collectivism
B) uncertainty avoidance
C) power distance
D) long-term/short-term orientation
E) masculinity/femininity

Question 54

Tanya works at a retail store in Los Angeles.She addresses her Indian manager,Priya,by her first name.Tanya's colleague advises against addressing Priya by her name,as she might find it disrespectful.The colleague is most likely right if Priya's cultural beliefs align with a

A) long-term orientation.
B) collectivist nature.
C) high power distance.
D) low uncertainty avoidance.
E) short-term orientation.

Question 55

Jerome believes that the key to effective management is to involve his team members in the firm's decision-making processes.He surmises that this will allow him and his team to work as one unit,making choices that will benefit them all in addition to the firm.In this case,Jerome's thoughts reflect that of a person with

A) an individualistic nature.
B) a collectivist nature.
C) high power distance.
D) low uncertainty avoidance.
E) a short-term orientation.

Question 56

Which of the following statements is true about cultures with a long-term orientation?

A) They have a tendency to look down upon those who invest in savings.
B) They prefer jobs that are relaxed,easy,and do not involve hard work.
C) They focus primarily on cultural values that fulfill obligations in the present.
D) They promote respect for those who are good at achieving immediate results.
E) They focus primarily on cultural values that tend to pay off in the future.

Question 57

Tiffany,the marketing manager of a mobile phone company,is achievement-oriented and exhibits high levels of assertiveness.She creates marking plans that will maximize financial returns and enjoys competing against other managers in the company.Tiffany is most likely to be an individual whose culture reflects

A) masculine traits.
B) a short-term orientation.
C) high power distance.
D) low uncertainty avoidance.
E) collectivist views.

Question 58

Sheena hails from a country whose legal system is based on religious scriptures.Social and business behaviors are judged based on religious laws and legal codes to a great extent.Which aspect of culture do these conditions represent?

A) masculinity
B) time orientation
C) high uncertainty avoidance
D) individualism
E) power distance

Question 59

Joanne and Patrick are expatriates working for different companies in two different countries.Joanne's company is very structured,follows rigid rules for security,and expects employees to behave in a certain manner.Patrick's company is a little more relaxed,and they tend to take each day as it comes.Which of the following cultural differences contributes to this difference in the way these corporations operate?

A) Joanne's company is in a country high in feminine culture,whereas Patrick's company is in a country high in masculine culture.
B) The culture of Joanne's company functions with a low power distance,whereas the culture of Patrick's functions with high power distance.
C) Joanne's host country functions at an individualistic level,whereas Patrick's host country functions at a collectivist level.
D) Joanne is in a company with a short-term orientation culture,whereas Patrick is in a company with a long-term orientation culture.
E) Joanne's company's culture functions with a high uncertainty avoidance,whereas Patrick's company's culture functions with a low uncertainty avoidance.

Question 60

Stephen works as an accountant in the headquarters of a fast-food chain.He encourages his colleagues to participate in an initiative he started that involved planting trees and flowers on the office's grounds.Stephen's initiative most likely reflects one of individuals in a _____ culture.

A) collectivist
B) short-term
C) feminine
D) high power distance
E) low uncertainty avoidance

Question 61

Which of the following statements describes an approach that is most appropriate for training employees from cultures high in uncertainty avoidance?

A) trainers adopt an impromptu style of instruction
B) trainers provide a formal instructional environment
C) trainers are flexible and open to schedule and activity changes
D) trainers allow trainees to determine the pace of the programs
E) trainers emphasize trainees' relationships with one another

Question 62

Sean,a consultant,was assigned an overseas project in China for a period of two years.After a period of seven months,Sean's manager decides to bring Sean back to his home country and replace him with someone else in China.Which of the following,if true,is most likely to have resulted in this decision?

A) Sean exhibited the ability to effectively communicate in Mandarin.
B) Sean exhibited a sense of intolerance toward collectivist ideals.
C) Sean exhibited high levels of extraversion that was required for the job.
D) Sean exhibited high levels of cohesiveness.
E) Sean exhibited lower levels of disillusionment than other employees.

Question 63

Christophe works for a German automobile company.He was sent to the United States for an assignment.Initially,he enjoyed the culture and practices of the country.As time progressed,however,Christophe found it difficult to adjust to the new culture and to abide by its norms and values.Christophe's experience can be defined as _____.

A) power distance
B) time orientation
C) repatriation
D) validation
E) culture shock

Question 64

_____ refers to training employees on overseas work assignments to work through national and cultural boundaries.

A) Adventure learning
B) Experiential learning
C) Validation
D) Cross-cultural preparation
E) Repatriation

Question 65

Roger,an automobile engineer,was sent on a foreign assignment to Spain.Initially,Roger was fascinated by the culture and history of the town he lived in.Within a month,he began to feel disillusioned and discomforted by the differences in norms and values.Which of the following terms best describe this phase of Roger's experience?

A) recovery
B) culture shock
C) honeymoon
D) validation
E) adjustment

Question 66

Betty,an American,works for an automobile manufacturer in New Jersey.Her manager,Ruth,sends her on an overseas assignment to handle operations at the company's newly acquired plant in Japan.Which of the following,if true,could have most likely led to Betty being chosen for the assignment?

A) Betty lacks tolerance to ambiguity and resists change
B) Betty prefers to work in a less challenging work environment
C) Betty works best with those from feminine cultures with low power distance
D) Betty is insensitive to differences in cultures and norms
E) Betty possesses the motivation to succeed and is achievement-oriented

Question 67

Which of the following statements best describes a difference of giving performance feedback outside the United States?

A) In contrast to U.S.practices,performance feedback outside the United States includes repayment of obligations.
B) Performance feedback is expected in the United States,but is forbidden by many other countries' laws.
C) U.S.workers are more interested than other workers in hearing about whether they are loyal.
D) Employees in other countries seek out direct negative feedback more readily than U.S.employees do.
E) Employees in other countries are less likely to be comfortable with direct statements about their performance.

Question 68

Kendra,a human resource professional,works for a U.S.company that will be opening an office in Mexico City.She is preparing an outline for training the managers there in how to carryout performance management.Which of the following statements expresses a valid point to cover in the training?

A) If growth slows,the company may have to update its performance plans more often.
B) If managers are concerned about bad karma,they do not have to give employees feedback.
C) In delivering feedback,managers should meet cultural standards for bowing and eye contact.
D) Managers should review employees' shortcomings before giving praise.
E) Managers can expect that employees want to know what they are doing right.

Question 69

When Builder Bob Enterprises,a maker of construction equipment,needs supervisors for its factories in China,it recruits Chinese workers before it looks in other countries.Which statement best explains Builder Bob's recruiting practices in China?

A) Any Chinese workers Builder Bob hires must be eligible to work in the United States.
B) The United States ranks among the most challenging destinations for expatriate assignments.
C) Sometimes third-party nationals have better technical and human relations skills.
D) Chinese employees work harder and are better motivated than expatriate employees.
E) Hiring locally is much less expensive than training and transporting expatriate employees.

Question 70

Beenes & Bacon Ltd. ,a consulting firm with offices in seven countries,is bringing together employees from all locations for a leadership training event.Which of the following considerations is most affected by the international nature of the workforce?

A) the need to measure training outcomes
B) the need to have training objectives
C) management's interest in the topic
D) the employees' motivation level
E) cultural differences

Question 71

According to your text,appropriate behavior in Ghana includes

A) touching foreheads as a sign of greeting.
B) dramatic displays of loyalty only when it suits the individual.
C) disobedience of government-suggested regulations and procedures.
D) the length of eye contact.
E) repaying obligations.

Question 72

Wowee Appliances is setting up production and distribution facilities in India to meet the growing demand there.The company's executives want the human resource department to identify one of its U.S.managers to lead the operations there,so he or she can ensure that the company culture is maintained.They ask the HR vice president to recommend a person with strong financial skills.The HR vice president agrees,but adds that they also should use psychological testing to identify candidates who are highly flexible and conscientious.Which statement best supports the HR vice president's advice?

A) These traits will replace the need for support from family members.
B) These traits will help the manager be extroverted in the new environment.
C) These traits are associated with a high degree of financial skills.
D) These traits will prevent the manager from noticing cultural differences.
E) These traits will help the manager persevere through culture shock.

Question 73

International assignments are especially beneficial to the organization if they are linked to the company's ____.

A) labor relations
B) outsourcing programs
C) training methods
D) bonus plans
E) development programs

Question 74

U.S.-based GlitterMe introduced a line of accessories that have been very popular in France,leading the company to want to open a distribution facility there.The marketing manager is optimistic and wants to scale up fast,but the HR manager advises proceeding with caution.What difference between the countries best explains the HR manager's advice?

A) If the company replaces French workers in the future,they will have to develop new skills.
B) HR planning addresses hiring but cannot prepare the company for a possible slowdown.
C) French companies are developing computer systems to automate distribution facilities.
D) French laws encourage layoffs when business slows,which is bad for morale.
E) U.S.laws give employers wide latitude for workforce reductions,but French laws do not.

Question 75

Which of the following is the most likely reason for hiring host-country nationals to fill most of a company's foreign positions?

A) they are familiar with the parent-country's customs
B) they can easily understand the values of the local workforce
C) they cost more to train,showing the company invests in its workers
D) the company will not be required to transport the employee's spouse
E) these employees are far more open to taking on new job responsibilities

Question 76

Identify an advantage of having wide latitude in reducing a company workforce.

A) It gives employers the option of hiring for peak needs and laying off employees if needs decline.
B) It helps in protecting workers' jobs.
C) It helps employees adjust to a new culture.
D) It allows workers to keep more of their earnings regardless of the taxes they pay.
E) It gives employees the advantage of accumulating many years of work experience in an organization.

Question 77

Ricardo has been selected to work at his firm's manufacturing plant in China.The training department divides the cross-cultural preparation into three phases.Which of the following is the training team likely to do during the departure phase of cross-cultural preparation?

A) They are likely to conduct training sessions that include language instructions.
B) They are likely to arrange a mentoring program for the assignment overseas.
C) They are likely to provide information about changes in the home-country workplace.
D) They are likely to provide the company's newsletters and local newspapers.
E) They are likely to provide a formal program for the actual assignment.

Question 78

While training and developing a global workforce,which of the following is a challenge that an organization is most likely to face?

A) creating a comprehensive training program for employees from different cultures
B) making employees aware of the training content and the method of evaluation
C) linking training objectives to performance management
D) making employees aware of the development plans
E) deciding the duration of the training program

Question 79

_____ refers to training employees and their family members to get them ready for an assignment in a foreign country.

A) Acculturation
B) Uncertainty avoidance
C) Cross-cultural preparation
D) Community training
E) Biculturalism

Question 80

When an expatriate sent on a foreign assignment begins experiencing feelings of isolation,criticism,stereotyping,and even hostility,they are said to be experiencing _____.

A) validation
B) adjustment
C) recovery
D) culture shock
E) repatriation