Question 1

According to Hofstede's research on cultural values, masculinity dimension describes a society in which social roles of men and women overlap.

Accepted Answer

According to Hofstede's research, masculinity dimension describes a society in which social roles of men and women are clearly distinct and traditional gender roles are reinforced. This is in contrast to a femininity dimension, which describes societies in which gender roles are more fluid and overlapping.

Question 2

The lesson that SRC (Self-Reference Criterion) teaches can be summarized as:

Accepted Answer

SRC emphasizes the importance of having an unbiased perception and avoiding our own cultural biases while doing global marketing. This lesson is critical in today's diverse and interconnected world, where companies need to understand and cater to diverse cultures and market needs. A lack of an unbiased perception can lead to perceptual blockages and distortion and hinder companies' ability to succeed in the global marketplace. Therefore, having an unbiased perception is a vital and critical skill in global marketing.

Question 3

According to Hofstede, a cultural dimension which describes a society in which the social roles of men and women overlap, with neither gender exhibiting overly ambitious or competitive behavior is known as:

Accepted Answer

This cultural dimension is known as "nurturing" and is characterized by a society in which men and women have overlapping social roles and exhibit neither overly ambitious nor competitive behavior. This type of society values traits such as caring for others, quality of life, and cooperation.

Question 4

Two countries that score low in uncertainty avoidance are:

Accepted Answer

According to Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory, the United States and Canada are two countries that score low in uncertainty avoidance. They tend to be more adaptable to new situations, have a higher tolerance for ambiguity, and have a more relaxed attitude towards rules and regulations.

Question 5

European consumers have faced a number of food-related issues, including an outbreak of hoof-and-mouth disease and continuing concerns over mad cow disease. As a result, many are skeptical about GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and the benefits of eating food products that incorporate genetically engineered ingredients. As one French citizen noted recently, "We have a very risk-averse society that has been completely traumatized by food scares." Thinking about this situation in terms of Hofstede's cultural values framework, one might reasonably interpret this remark to indicate that France ranks relatively high in:

Accepted Answer

The statement highlights the societal trauma caused by food scares, indicating a strong inclination towards avoiding uncertainty. This aligns with the cultural value of Uncertainty Avoidance, which refers to the degree to which a society tolerates ambiguity and uncertainty. France is known for having a high Uncertainty Avoidance score in Hofstede's framework.

Question 6

According to Geert Hofstede, which of the following is a key cultural dimension that helps account for rapid economic growth in Asia?

Accepted Answer

Hofstede's cultural dimension of long-term orientation emphasizes the importance of persistence, perseverance, and thrift, which are all key values in many Asian cultures. This dimension has been identified as a factor in the rapid economic growth experienced by many Asian countries in recent decades.

Question 7

Which of the following best sums up the experience of Walt Disney Company executives when creating Disney's theme park in Paris?

Accepted Answer

The experience of Walt Disney Company executives when creating Disney's theme park in Paris showcased that they fell victim to the self-reference criterion, where they applied their own cultural preferences and approaches without fully understanding the local market and cultural differences. This resulted in initial operational and financial struggles for the park.

Question 8

The Walt Disney Company's decision to build a theme park in France provides an excellent vehicle to understanding SRC (Self-Reference Criterion). All of the statements listed below portray this meaning except:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Walt Disney Company's decision to build...

Question 9

Which is not considered as a long-term value?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which is not considered as a long-term...

Question 10

High-context messages are explicit and specific; words carry most of the communication power.

Accepted Answer

High-context messages depend more on nonverbal cues, context and implicit meanings. Words may not carry as much communication power compared to low-context messages.

Question 11

Hofstede considers culture as "the collective programming of the mind," which makes it necessary to look at the attitudes, beliefs, and values. Giving an example of a country, explain how these attributes are so important.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Hofstede considers culture as "the collective programming...

Question 12

Applying Hofstede's typology, show how Power Distance and Gender Differentiation can influence the marketing of products and services in different countries.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Applying Hofstede's typology, show how Power Distance...

Question 13

If a potential Latin American customer insists on giving you a tour of the architectural highlights of his city prior to discussing business, it's a clue that you are doing business in a high-context culture.

Accepted Answer

In high-context cultures, building relationships and establishing trust are often seen as more important than getting straight to business. Therefore, activities like giving a tour of the city may be seen as a way to build rapport before discussing business.

Question 14

The power distance dimension reflects the degree of trust among members of society. Thus, the higher the power distance (PDI), the:

Accepted Answer

The power distance dimension measures how much inequality is accepted in a society, meaning a high PDI indicates a greater acceptance of unequal power distribution. This can lead to lower levels of trust among members of society who may feel they are unfairly treated or disadvantaged. Therefore, the correct choice is B, which states that the higher the power distance, the lower is the level of trust.

Question 15

Lawyers are more important in:

Accepted Answer

Low-context cultures rely more on explicit communication and written agreements, which increases the need for legal professionals. In high-context cultures, relationships and trust play a bigger role in communication, making legal representation less necessary. Indian, Korean, and Japanese cultures can be considered high-context cultures, so the choice of lawyers may not be as high as in low-context cultures.

Question 16

What are some of the characteristics and differences between high- and low-context cultures?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are some of the characteristics and...

Question 17

Insisting on competitive bidding can cause complications in:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Insisting on competitive bidding can cause complications...

Question 18

The president of an American company was interested in dealing with a company in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi CEO made it clear at the outset that the credentials in the documents have less credibility than personal trust and confidence. This shows that the Saudi Arabian culture is a high-context culture.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The president of an American company was...

Question 19

Procter & Gamble's introduction of All-Temperature Cheer laundry detergent in Japan was a flop at first. The problem was that Japanese women wash clothes in cold water-either tap water or leftover bath water-so they don't care about all-temperature washing (which is a big selling point in the United States). Also, Cheer was first introduced in Japan at a time when the market for fabric softeners in Japan was rapidly expanding. However, when Japanese housewives added lots of fabric softener to the water, Cheer didn't produce many suds (Americans don't use as much fabric softener). P&G reformulated the product so it wouldn't be affected by fabric softeners, and ads for Cheer in Japan pledged superior cleaning in cold water, not all temperatures. Which of the following might have helped P&G avoid the initial problems with Cheer?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Procter & Gamble's introduction of All-Temperature Cheer...

Question 20

Danes generally are not afraid of taking chances; they are comfortable doing things that are not carefully thought out or planned. Denmark's "flexicurity" policy combines free labor markets with adjustable welfare benefits. This is an example of the application of Hofstede's typology under the values which highlight:

Accepted Answer

Hofstede's Uncertainty Avoidance dimension relates to a society's tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty. It indicates to what extent a culture programs its members to feel either uncomfortable or comfortable in unstructured situations. The description of Danes being comfortable with taking chances and doing things that are not carefully thought out or planned suggests a low level of uncertainty avoidance, meaning they are more accepting of uncertainty and risk. This is contrasted with the "flexicurity" policy, which provides a safety net (welfare benefits), showing a balanced approach to managing uncertainty in the labor market.

Quiz 4: Social and Cultural Environments