Deck 3: Cultural and Social Forces

Question 1

Hinduism prohibits the paying or collecting of interest on money.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

In high-trust societies,trust is extended to nonfamily members to accomplish common goals.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The Hofstede's scores are absolute values and capture the complete culture of all countries.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Religion has a profound impact on societies since it dictates what goods and services are purchased and when they are purchased.

Question 5

Smaller family sizes lead to a decrease in sales of consumer durables.

Question 6

Temporal orientations depend on the education level of the people.

Question 7

Individuals in collectivist societies are more dependent on and loyal to their groups.

Question 8

Assessing the cultural influences that affect their operations is one of the simplest tasks for global marketers.

Question 9

In low-power-distance cultures,subordinates are less dependent on their bosses and more comfortable approaching their bosses and contradicting them.

Question 10

In polychronic cultures,activities are addressed one at a time,and schedules and agendas are respected.

Question 11

The educational system affects employee skills and executive talent available for multinational companies when they enter foreign markets.

Question 12

European companies give their employees few vacation days compared to the United States.

Question 13

In low-trust societies,nonfamily members associate with one another to accomplish common goals.

Question 14

Outsiders can never be trusted in low-trust societies.

Question 15

Germany and United States are low-trust societies.

Question 16

Alcoholic beverages are not sold in Saudi Arabia because they are not locally produced and there are high import tariffs on alcohol.

Question 17

In high-context cultures,communication is explicit,and words tend to keep their meanings in all situations.

Question 18

The holy book of Islam is the Zikat.

Question 19

The United States has a present-oriented culture,whereas European cultures are more past-oriented.

Question 20

Cultural changes occur rapidly;a change in leadership of the country can significantly change the culture of the country.

Question 21

The Japanese foods company,Ajinomoto,got into trouble in Indonesia because it

A)refused to close its factory on a Hindu holiday.
B)used a pork-based enzyme in its halal seasoning products.
C)bribed a government official to receive kosher certification.
D)refused to hire family members of local managers.

Question 22

Multinational companies need not adapt to foreign cultures since their customers will change their buying preferences.

Question 23

Confucianism is

A)a major African religion.
B)the major religion of India.
C)the major religion of South Korea.
D)not a religion.

Question 24

In respect to religious sensitivities,a McDonald's in Delhi,India,does not serve

A)pork.
B)beef.
C)both a and b
D)any imported products.

Question 25

In Korea,making eye contact is considered a sign of trustworthiness.

Question 26

Islam is the major religion of many countries in

A)Asia.
B)North America.
C)South America.
D)None of the above.

Question 27

Which is not a major religious influence in Japan?

A)Buddhism
B)Confusicianism
C)Islam
D)Shinto

Question 28

Nonverbal communications or body languages are similar across all cultures.

Question 29

Affective cultures express emotions openly,and persons from affective cultures can unnerve persons from neutral cultures.

Question 30

Under Islamic banking practices,Muslims prefer to invest in banks that

A)offer high interest rates on savings.
B)offer low interest rates on savings.
C)provide profit-loss accounts,allowing customers to invest their savings in businesses that banks preselect.
D)offer low interest rates on the loans to the poor.

Question 31

China,Korea,and Japan are examples of neutral cultures.

Question 32

EuroDisney's initial success in the European market was because it used the identical business model it used in the United States.

Question 33

When operating in Muslim countries,U.S.fast-food chains respect local traditions by

A)closing all day Friday.
B)certifying their products as halal.
C)certifying their products as kosher.
D)not using any beef products.

Question 34

Many companies that operate largely outside of the English speaking world are adopting English as their primary language.

Question 35

When marketing in India,the Korean car manufacturer,Hyundai,launches new cars

A)on auspicious days selected from the Hindu calendar.
B)on the first day of the month.
C)during the holy month of Ramadan.
D)on New Year's Day.

Question 36

With a trend toward the dissolution of nuclear families in Western Europe,there has been a(n)

A)increase in the demand for consumer durables.
B)decrease in the demand for consumer durables.
C)increase in demand for consumer nondurables.
D)decrease in demand for imports.

Question 37

Which of the following is forbidden under Islam?

A)Pork
B)Alcohol
C)Beef
D)Both a and b

Question 38

In the United States,the largest sales occur in December because

A)it coincides with Christmas,the religion of the majority of Americans.
B)it is the end of college football season.
C)of no apparent reason.
D)people get yearly bonuses in December.

Question 39

El Al,the national airline of Israel,does not fly on Saturdays because

A)maintenance is scheduled on that day.
B)Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath.
C)of security concerns.
D)of a shortage of workforce.

Question 40

Culture can be defined as

A)the entire heritage of society transmitted by word,literature,or any other form.
B)the traditions,morals,habits,and religion of a people.
C)human behaviors encompassing social,linguistic,and family behavior.
D)All of the above.

Question 41

Ethnic Chinese account for about ____ percent of commerce and industry in Indonesia.

A)10
B)50
C)85
D)There are no ethnic Chinese in Indonesia.

Question 42

In typical feminine societies,which virtue is predominant?

A)Acquisitiveness
B)Competitiveness
C)Education
D)Modesty

Question 43

Hofstede's measures

A)describe every individual in every society.
B)are useful in identifying cultural differences.
C)are absolute measures.
D)are available for every society in every country.

Question 44

Brazil is an example of a(n)

A)polychronic society.
B)triad country.
C)Islamic country.
D)halal society.

Question 45

Which Asian country has a halal certification agency?

A)Indonesia
B)Malaysia
C)Singapore
D)All of the above

Question 46

Two countries that score similarly across all four Hofstede measures are

A)Sweden and France.
B)Chile and Mexico.
C)Britain and the United States.
D)India and Israel.

Question 47

Sales people from monochronic cultures who travel to polychronic cultures should expect their customers to be

A)inscrutable.
B)late for meetings.
C)demure.
D)always consulting their bosses.

Question 48

Compared to Sweden,France is a

A)more neutral culture.
B)common-law country.
C)future-oriented country.
D)high-power-distance society.

Question 49

Disney made a cultural mistake in its Hong Kong theme park when it

A)didn't serve beer in its restaurants.
B)refused to cut prices in off-season months.
C)underestimated demand during the Lunar New Year.
D)All of the above

Question 50

A monochronic culture is one in which

A)a manager is expected to manage multiple tasks.
B)schedules and agendas must bend to the needs of people.
C)activities are addressed one at a time,and schedules and agendas are respected.
D)all the people of a country have the same habits and preferences.

Question 51

People who are uncertainty-avoidant

A)are risk averse.
B)defer to their bosses.
C)are uncomfortable when busy.
D)are anxious in general.

Question 52

In which country do students spend the least hours on mathematics,science,and history?

A)United States
B)France
C)Germany
D)Japan

Question 53

Mexico is an example of a ____ society.

A)present-oriented
B)future-oriented
C)feminine
D)None of the above

Question 54

The development of large corporations in the United States can be attributed to the fact that

A)it is a low-trust society.
B)it is a high-trust society.
C)the U.S.government helped these companies financially.
D)there is a large number of wealthy extended families.

Question 55

Extended families are less important in

A)high-power-distance societies.
B)masculine societies.
C)the United States.
D)China.

Question 56

Which of the following countries serve as an example of a polychronic culture?

A)Saudi Arabia
B)United States
C)Germany
D)All of the above

Question 57

Which of the following is not true about affective cultures?

A)Speakers express emotion loudly.
B)Speakers appear inscrutable.
C)Speakers gesticulate.
D)Speakers can unnerve people from neutral cultures.

Question 58

In high-context cultures,

A)communication is explicit.
B)words tend to keep the same meanings in all situations.
C)communication is implicit.
D)None of the above.

Question 59

Power distance is defined as the

A)extent to which less powerful members of the society accept that power is distributed unevenly.
B)ratio of power to distance.
C)tendency of people to form in-groups and out-groups.
D)level of assertiveness.

Question 60

Large corporations in Korea hire fewer MBAs than their American counterparts because

A)they pay lower salaries.
B)they prefer to train their managers in-house.
C)they only place family members in top management positions.
D)it is very difficult to fire managers in Korea.

Question 61

In Germany,Japan,and the United States,trust is readily extended beyond the immediate family.These countries have a history of voluntary associations-civic,religious,and business-that extend beyond the family.Large,publicly owned corporations play a major role in their economies.These are ____ societies.

A)high trust
B)low trust
C)matrix
D)Triandis

Question 62

In Israel,children learn to say no at a young age and are encouraged to attain personal independence from the family.In the workplace,subordinates are not very dependent on their bosses and are typically comfortable approaching them or contradicting them.This description reveals that Israel is a ____ society.

A)feminine
B)high uncertainty avoidance
C)low power distance
D)None of the above

Question 63

In Guatemala,the good of the group prevails over the good of the individual.From birth,individuals are integrated into strong,cohesive groups and are identified in terms of their group allegiance and their group role.Group members are expected to take care of one another and follow group norms to avoid deviating from the group in opinions and behavior.This description reveals that Guatemala is a(n)____ society.

A)collectivist
B)high uncertainty avoidance
C)individualist
D)feminine

Question 64

In the United States,activities are undertaken one at a time.People generally respect schedules and agendas.The United States is a ____ culture.

A)sequential
B)hour-based
C)monochronic
D)polychronic

Question 65

On Hofstede's individualism/collectivism scale,Japan scores a 46 and South Korea scores an 18.Based on this data,which of the following is a true statement?

A)Japan is a more individualistic society than South Korea.
B)Japan is a more collectivistic society than South Korea.
C)Japan is a low power distance society.
D)The information is inconclusive because Hofstede measures cannot be compared.

Question 66

A Mexican manufacturer notes that as soon as his employees make enough money for the week,they stopped coming to work.In Mexico,life is enjoyed for the moment.The ____ is oriented to the present in Mexico.

A)chronic focus
B)tempus fugit
C)temporal orientation
D)None of the above

Question 67

In China,Saudi Arabia,and southern Italy,interpersonal trust is extended only to immediate family members.Most businesses in these countries are family-owned firms.These are ____ societies.

A)Confucian
B)low trust
C)matrix
D)high trust

Question 68

In Malaysia,children are expected to be obedient to their parents,and respect for parents is considered a very important virtue.In the workplace,subordinates are very dependent on their bosses and are not comfortable confronting or contradicting them.This description reveals that Malaysia is a ____ society.

A)masculine
B)low uncertainty avoidance
C)high power distance
D)None of the above

Question 69

Eating habits and tastes vary greatly around the world,but few of these variations reflect physiological differences among people.This is because eating habits are often shaped by ____.

A)culture
B)political economy
C)genetics
D)None of the above

Question 70

Salespeople from ____ cultures who travel to ____ cultures should expect to be kept waiting and should not interpret their client's tardiness as a lack of interest or disrespect.

A)sequential;distracted
B)monochromic;polychromic
C)sequential;diversified
D)polychronic;monochromic

Question 71

Kenneth Cole,a British citizen,traveled to Egypt for a meeting with his company's major supplier in Cairo.His supplier was thirty minutes late for the meeting and did not apologize or give an excuse.During the meeting,the supplier was interrupted several times by his employees.This shocked Mr.Cole because in Britain,businesspeople are expected to be punctual and focused,undertaking one activity at a time.Mr.Cole is from a ____ culture and his supplier is from a ____ culture.

A)sequential;distracted
B)monochronic;polychromic
C)sequential;diversified
D)polychronic;monochromic

Question 72

When Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty 30 years ago,it ended a war that had been going on nearly 30 years.In 2005,Israeli firms have barely begun to penetrate the Egyptian market.Egyptian consumers,distributors,potential partners,and government officials are still highly aware of the 30 years of war that preceded the peace.This is because Egypt is a ____ culture.

A)past temporally oriented
B)present temporally oriented
C)future temporally oriented
D)None of the above

Question 73

An online social site that brings strangers together is a/an example of a(n)____ market.

A)collectivist
B)individualistic
C)polychronic
D)present oriented

Question 74

In the United Kingdom,outsiders are generally welcomed.From birth,children are taught to become independent of their family,are encouraged to improve themselves as individuals,and are expected to attain resources for themselves.This description reveals that the United Kingdom is a(n)____ society.

A)collectivist
B)high uncertainty avoidance
C)individualist
D)feminine

Question 75

A manager is sent to Saudi Arabia to establish business relations.He discovers that it is difficult to establish a trusted relationship with his potential client.After a long time,the potential Saudi client agrees to do business with the firm,but only if the manager who originally established the relationship stays and manages the relationship.One of the reasons that this has transpired is that Saudi Arabia is a ____ society.

A)masculine
B)low power distance
C)matrix
D)collectivist

Question 76

Tea is preferred in certain cultures;in other cultures coffee is the drink of choice.In some countries,white is the color worn at a funeral,but in other countries,black is commonly worn.In Turkey,cheese,tomatoes,cucumbers,and olives are common for breakfast,but cereal,milk,and juice are more common in the United States.These normative differences are due to cross-national differences in ____.

A)culture
B)political economy
C)genetics
D)None of the above

Question 77

The United States is a(n)____ society but most of the world is comprised of ____ societies.

A)individualist;collectivist
B)collectivist;differentiated
C)individualist;differentiated
D)collectivist;individualist

Question 78

Jay Anderson,Vice President of Marketing for the American company,Helshire Electronics,goes to Brazil to visit his subsidiary manager there.His manager picks him up forty-five minutes late at the airport and does not apologize or give an excuse.During the ride back to the office,he alternates asking Jay questions about his personal life and about company-related issues.When they arrive at the office,their conversation is constantly interrupted because several of the subsidiary employees come into the room to talk to the subsidiary manager.Brazil is an example of a ____ culture.

A)matrix
B)monochronic
C)polychronic
D)tempus fugit

Question 79

In Uruguay and Portugal,what is different is considered dangerous.This description reveals that Uruguay and Portugal are ____ societies.

A)collectivist
B)high uncertainty avoidance
C)individualist
D)feminine

Question 80

Latin American culture is

A)increasingly polychronic in work situations
B)increasingly monochronic in work situations
C)increasingly past oriented in work situations
D)increasingly feminine in work situations