Question 1

One reason for using home country citizens overseas is to prepare them for high-level positions at headquarters.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Using home country citizens overseas is often part of a talent management strategy to prepare them for future leadership roles at headquarters. It provides them with cross-cultural experience and knowledge while working in a different environment and allows them to gain a broader perspective on the company's global operations.

Question 2

The effectiveness of every organization is totally controlled by the effectiveness of its workforce.

Accepted Answer

While the effectiveness of an organization's workforce is a significant factor, other elements such as leadership, strategy, technology, processes, and market conditions also play crucial roles in determining overall organizational effectiveness.

Question 3

Sources of successful managers for IC activities include the home country,the host country,or a third country.

Accepted Answer

Successful managers for IC activities can come from various sources such as the home country, host country, or a third country depending on the needs and requirements of the organization. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 4

Because of the importance of the workforce to the effectiveness of organizational operations,a company's approach to international human resource management should drive its competitive strategy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Because of the importance of the workforce...

Question 5

Managerial positions in overseas operations require more and different skills than do purely domestic executive jobs.

Accepted Answer

Overseas operations involve navigating cultural differences, dealing with language barriers, understanding international laws and regulations, and adapting to different business practices. Thus, managers in these positions need to possess a diverse range of skills and knowledge compared to those in purely domestic executive positions.

Question 6

The combination of an openness to and awareness of diversity across cultures and markets with a propensity and ability to synthesize across this diversity has been termed a "transnational mindset."

Accepted Answer

The answer of The combination of an openness to and...

Question 7

When a company's primary strategic orientation is multidomestic,an ethnocentric orientation is particularly appropriate.

Accepted Answer

When a company's primary strategic orientation is multidomestic, a geocentric orientation, which emphasizes the importance of the similarities and differences between countries and seeks to balance those with the overall needs of the organization, is particularly appropriate. An ethnocentric orientation would focus solely on the company's home country and culture, which may not be effective in a multidomestic strategy where localized adaptation is necessary.

Question 8

An expatriate is a person living outside his or her country of birth.

Accepted Answer

The answer of An expatriate is a person living outside...

Question 9

Companies with a regional strategic approach can use a polycentric staffing policy,employing a variety of HCNs and TCNs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Companies with a regional strategic approach can...

Question 10

According to Heenan and Perlmutter,the nationality of a company determines whether the organization's approach to international human resource management should be ethnocentric,polycentric,regiocentric,or geocentric.

Accepted Answer

Heenan and Perlmutter suggest that the approach to international human resource management (ethnocentric, polycentric, regiocentric, or geocentric) is a strategic choice made by the organization, rather than being determined solely by the nationality of the company.

Question 11

Parent company nationals commonly encounter difficulty overcoming the biases of their own cultural experience and being able to understand and perform effectively within a new operating context.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Cultural biases and differences can impact the ability for parent company nationals to effectively operate in a new context.

Question 12

Parent-country nationals usually are not knowledgeable about the host country culture and language,but many such expatriates have adapted,learned the language,and become thoroughly accepted in the host country,which allows them to avoid any biases of their own cultural experience and in being able to understand and perform effectively within the new operating context.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Parent-country nationals usually are not knowledgeable about...

Question 13

The effectiveness of every organization depends,to a great extent,on how well its human resources are used.

Accepted Answer

Human resources are the backbone of an organization and their effective use can help improve the overall productivity and success of the organization.

Question 14

To achieve global objectives the selection and training of IC managers is the same whether the candidate is from the home country,the host country,or a third country.

Accepted Answer

The selection and training of IC managers often differ based on the candidate's origin due to cultural, legal, and operational differences between countries.

Question 15

Under a polycentric staffing orientation,ICs primarily hire HCNs for subsidiaries and PCNs for headquarters' positions and movement from the local subsidiaries to headquarters' positions is common.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Under a polycentric staffing orientation,ICs primarily hire...

Question 16

Companies with a transnational strategic orientation follow a global staffing policy,selecting the best person for each job without considering national origin and generally having consistent HRM strategy across all subsidiaries.

Accepted Answer

Companies with a transnational strategic orientation follow a geocentric staffing policy, selecting the best person for each job without considering national origin and generally having consistent HRM strategy across all subsidiaries.

Question 17

The use of third country nationals has become particularly prevalent in the LDCs because they provide substantial cost savings over the use of home country nationals.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The use of third country nationals has...

Question 18

Companies with a primarily international strategic orientation may adopt an ethnocentric staffing policy.

Accepted Answer

An ethnocentric staffing policy involves hiring employees from the same country as the company's headquarters and placing them in important positions in foreign subsidiaries. This aligns with an international strategic orientation, where companies focus on a centralized approach and maintain control over their foreign operations from their home country.

Question 19

The disadvantages of using employees from the home or host countries can sometimes be avoided by sending third country nationals to fill management posts.

Accepted Answer

Sending third country nationals can provide a fresh perspective and international experience, while also avoiding potential cultural biases and language barriers that may exist with employees from the home or host countries.

Question 20

A disadvantage of hiring local managers is that they are often unfamiliar with the home country of the IC and with its policies and practices.

Accepted Answer

Local managers may lack familiarity with the international company's (IC's) home country culture, policies, and practices, which can lead to challenges in aligning the subsidiary's operations with the overall corporate strategy and standards.

Quiz 16: Managing Human Resources in an International Context