Question 1

Managers with a(n)________ attitude view every foreign operation as different and hard to understand.

Accepted Answer

Polycentric attitude is when managers see each foreign operation as unique and challenging to understand, emphasizing the importance of local customs and practices.

Question 2

A(n)________ attitude is the view that employees in the host country know the best practices for running their operations.

Accepted Answer

A polycentric attitude recognizes that local employees know the best practices for running operations in their own country, and therefore the company should adapt to local practices and norms. This approach can help companies avoid cultural misunderstandings and improve local acceptance and integration.

Question 3

Which of the following is a key drawback of the polycentric attitude?

Accepted Answer

The polycentric attitude, which involves a multinational corporation giving each of its international branches the autonomy to operate and adapt to local conditions, often leads to duplication of work. This happens because each branch develops its own processes and solutions independently, without leveraging efficiencies or shared practices that could be applied across the organization.

Question 4

A potential advantage of the polycentric attitude is ________.

Accepted Answer

The polycentric attitude involves adopting local attitudes and practices, which can result in greater support from host governments. This can be a significant advantage for international businesses operating in foreign markets. Tighter control and increased efficiency are more commonly associated with ethnocentric and geocentric attitudes. Duplication of work is a disadvantage of the polycentric attitude, as it can lead to inefficiencies and waste.

Question 5

Managers with an ethnocentric attitude concentrate on their ________.

Accepted Answer

Managers with an ethnocentric attitude believe that their home country is superior to other countries and tend to focus on the business practices and values of their home country.

Question 6

A(n)________ attitude toward managing focuses on using the best approaches and people from around the globe.

Accepted Answer

A geocentric attitude toward managing focuses on using the best approaches and people from around the globe, without prioritizing any one country or region. This approach considers the organization's goals on a global scale and focuses on utilizing the best talent and resources available, regardless of their location or cultural background.

Question 7

An ethnocentric attitude ________.

Accepted Answer

Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own culture or country is superior to others. An ethnocentric attitude in a managerial context means that the manager believes that the best work approaches and practices come from their home country, and they may view foreign approaches as inferior or unnecessary. This can lead to problems when managing a global workforce or operating in a foreign market, as the manager may not be open to new ideas and may not understand local customs and business practices.

Question 8

Which of the following is a key drawback of the geocentric attitude?

Accepted Answer

The geocentric attitude requires a blend of local and global knowledge to effectively manage operations across different countries, which can be challenging to achieve.

Question 9

Jeff Elliott is on a flight across the Pacific and is excited about his first business trip to Asia. Born and raised in Alberta, Jeff is a manager for a rapidly growing Calgary-based company. His current mission is to scout out potential locations in Asia and develop an international expansion strategy for his company. There are many options, including maintaining the business's head office in Canada and sending over company representatives when necessary or developing a separate company in Asia and hiring locals to manage the business. Jeff's trip will take him to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China. He is looking forward to learning more about the business practices and customs of each country and is not too worried about the fact that he only speaks English. Jeff has heard that English is considered the main international business language, and he anticipates that most Asians will be able to speak it.
-The fact that Jeff expects most Asians to be able to speak English suggests a narrow view of the world known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Jeff's expectation that most Asians will be able to speak English suggests a parochial view because it assumes that English is universally spoken and overlooks the diversity of languages and cultural practices within Asia.

Question 10

A(n)________ attitude is characterized by parochialism.

Accepted Answer

Parochialism refers to a narrow and limited perspective, often focused on one's own culture or group. Ethnocentric attitudes involve a belief in the superiority of one's own culture or group, which often leads to parochialism. Geocentric and globalistic attitudes involve a more open and inclusive perspective, while nonlinguistic is not related to attitudes of parochialism or cultural superiority.

Question 11

Parochialism is best defined as ________.

Accepted Answer

Parochialism refers to a narrow or limited view of the world, often based on one's own experiences and beliefs. It can lead to a lack of understanding or empathy for other cultures or perspectives. Option A is the opposite of parochialism, while options C and D are unrelated to the definition of parochialism.

Question 12

A potential advantage of the geocentric attitude is ________.

Accepted Answer

The geocentric attitude allows for the best people and work approaches to be used regardless of their origin, which can lead to a more diverse and efficient workforce. While there may be some complexities in implementing this attitude, it ultimately allows for a more effective and well-rounded business approach.

Question 13

A potential advantage of the ethnocentric attitude is ________.

Accepted Answer

The ethnocentric attitude prioritizes the home country's norms, values, and practices over local culture. This results in tighter control of operations, as decision-making power remains centralized at the headquarters, increasing the parent company's control over subsidiaries. However, it may also lead to cultural insensitivity, which can be a disadvantage.

Question 14

McCain Foods of New Brunswick,Canada,is the world's largest producer of frozen french fries.They sell frozen food products in the U.S.,Britain,France,Germany,and more than 100 other countries around the world.For McCain Foods,________ is the home country,and ________ is a host country.

Accepted Answer

Canada is the home country for McCain Foods as it is the country where the company is headquartered and where it originated from. Britain is a host country as it is one of the countries where McCain Foods sells its products.

Question 15

A manager who wishes to be successful in international business should avoid a(n)________ attitude.

Accepted Answer

An ethnocentric attitude is the belief that one's own culture is superior to others and tends to judge other cultures based on their own cultural standards. This can be detrimental to successful international business as it impedes effective communication, understanding, and cooperation with individuals from diverse backgrounds. A multicultural attitude, on the other hand, acknowledges and embraces cultural differences and seeks to understand and adapt to them. A geocentric attitude takes a global perspective and aims to find the best solutions regardless of cultural origin. A parochialistic attitude is a narrow-minded, inward-looking view that is also not conducive to success in international business.

Question 16

Which of the following is a key drawback of the ethnocentric attitude?

Accepted Answer

The key drawback of the ethnocentric attitude is inflexibility. This attitude involves considering one's own culture as superior and looking down upon other cultures. This can result in a lack of adaptability to different cultural contexts and an unwillingness to consider alternative perspectives or approaches. This can ultimately hinder an organization's success in international markets.

Question 17

Bill Sanderson,a manager in a manufacturing firm in Toronto,has a tendency to view the world solely through his Canadian perspective.What can be deduced about his attitude?

Accepted Answer

Bill Sanderson's tendency to view the world solely through his Canadian perspective suggests that he has a parochialistic attitude, meaning he has a narrow or closed-minded view of the world outside of his own culture or country.

Question 18

Jennifer and James have formed an entrepreneurial venture to develop software for banks and other financial institutions. Their company is growing, but in looking for opportunities in the future, they decide to explore international operations.
-Jennifer and James feel that people in foreign countries will not have the skills,expertise,knowledge,or experience to write,sell,or install the software.They have a(n)________ attitude.

Accepted Answer

Jennifer and James believe that the people in foreign countries do not have the necessary skills and expertise to write, sell, or install the software, which indicates a belief in the superiority of their own culture and a reluctance to adapt to local cultures. This is consistent with an ethnocentric attitude.

Question 19

Cadbury Schweppes PLC is a large beverage and candy producer based in London,England.They distribute many well-known brands in Canada,and trust their Canadian managers to make key decisions about what's best for the Canadian market.Cadbury Schweppes's global perspective is best described as ________.

Accepted Answer

Cadbury Schweppes trusts their Canadian managers to make decisions about the Canadian market, indicating that they have adapted to the local market and are showing a willingness to accept local differences. This is characteristic of a polycentric approach, where decision-making is decentralized and adapted to local markets. The other options, parochialistic, ethnocentric, and geocentric, do not fit this description as they are more centralized and may not adapt well to local markets.

Question 20

McCain Foods of New Brunswick,Canada,is the world's largest producer of frozen french fries.They have manufacturing operations on six continents and employ more than 20,000 people worldwide.They hire the best people from around the globe and have a world-oriented business philosophy.McCain's global perspective is best described as ________.

Accepted Answer

McCain's global perspective is best described as geocentric, as they have a worldwide business philosophy and hire the best people from around the globe. Geocentric companies place importance on integrating the best practices and ideas from different locations, rather than favoring one specific country or region.

Quiz 4: Managing in a Global Environment

Managers with a(n) ________ attitude view every foreign operation as different and hard to understand.

A(n) ________ attitude is the view that employees in the host country know the best practices for running their operations.