Deck 4: The Meanings and Dimensions of Culture

Question 1

The word culture comes from the Latin cultura,which is related to cult or worship.

Answer 1

True
Explanation: The word culture comes from the Latin cultura, which is related to cult or worship.

Question 2

In the context of Hofstede's original four dimensions,power distance is "the extent to which less powerful members of institutions and organizations accept that power is distributed unequally."

Answer 2

True
Explanation: In the context of Hofstede's original four dimensions, power distance is "the extent to which less powerful members of institutions and organizations accept that power is distributed unequally."

Question 3

An achievement culture is a culture in which status is attributed based on who or what a person is.

Answer 3

False
Explanation: An achievement culture is one in which people are accorded status based on how well they perform their functions.

Question 4

In the context of Hofstede's original four dimensions,countries with low-uncertainty-avoidance cultures have a great deal of structuring of organizational activities,more written rules,less risk taking by managers,lower labor turnover,and less ambitious employees.

Question 5

In the context of values in transition,collectivism is on the rise in Japan.

Question 6

In the context of cultural diversity,a supplemental way of understanding cultural differences is to compare culture as a normal distribution and then to examine it in terms of stereotyping.

Question 7

In China,Confucianism,which was overshadowed,is slowly gaining popularity once again,emphasizing respect for authority,concern for others,balance,harmony,and overall order.

Question 8

In the context of the values in transition,China is moving away from a collectivist culture.

Question 9

Universalism is the belief that ideas and practices can be applied everywhere without modification.

Question 10

In the context of Hofstede's original four dimensions,organizations in high-power-distance countries will tend to be centralized and have tall organization structures.

Question 11

In the context of the values in transition,the stateside Japanese managers,Japanese managers working for Japanese firms in the United States,believed that unconditional tenure in one organization was of major importance.

Question 12

In the context of Dutch researcher,Fons Trompenaars's relationship orientations,people in high-communitarianism societies stress personal and individual matters.

Question 13

According to the priorities of cultural values of the United States,Japan,and Arab countries,independence is the top cultural priority in Japan.

Question 14

A neutral culture is one in which emotions are held in check.

Question 15

In the context of Dutch researcher,Fons Trompenaars's relationship orientations,cultures with high universalism focus more on relationships and trust than on formal rules.

Question 16

In the context of the characteristics of culture,transgenerational means that culture has structure and is integrated; a change in one part will bring changes in another.

Question 17

In the context of Hofstede's original four dimensions,cultures with a high masculinity index tend to favor earnings,advancement,and challenge.

Question 18

In the context of the important values in the Japanese culture,paternalism is often measured by a manager's involvement in both personal and off-the-job problems of subordinates.

Question 19

When depicting cultural diversity through visually separating its components by using concentric circles,the middle ring contains the norms and values of society.

Question 20

Hofstede found that wealthy countries have higher collectivism scores and poorer countries higher individualism scores.

Question 21

According to the priorities of cultural values of the United States,Japan,and Arab countries,the most important cultural value in the United States is _____.

A) family security
B) belonging
C) freedom
D) cooperation

Question 22

According to a cross-cultural study of differences in work values,_____ managers placed a high value on the tactful acquisition of influence and on regard for others.

A) Chinese
B) German
C) French
D) U.S.

Question 23

When depicting cultural diversity through visually separating its components by using concentric circles,the inner circle:

A) contains the norms, beliefs, dimensions, and values of society.
B) contains the implicit, basic assumptions that govern behavior.
C) consists of language and art.
D) consists of food and buildings.

Question 24

Identify a true statement about the different approaches identified by Dutch researcher,Fons Trompenaars to describe the ways in which people deal with the concept of time.

A) People in Mexico often build slack into their schedules to allow for interruptions.
B) People in Mexico give utmost importance to the particular path or sequence used to reach an end.
C) People in the United States adjust their approach because of factors that are beyond their control.
D) People in the United States operate under more of a synchronous-time orientation.

Question 25

According to most scholars of culture,culture is:

A) based on the human capacity to symbolize.
B) based on the genetically driven adaptive process of animals.
C) specific to single individuals.
D) inherited or biologically based.

Question 26

Which of the following statements is true about stateside Japanese managers?

A) They believed that unconditional tenure in one organization is of major importance.
B) They believed that job security was important.
C) They accepted the idea that one should not question a superior.
D) They perceived obedience and conformity to be very important.

Question 27

In the context of integrating the dimensions of culture,which of the following are very useful in depicting what countries appear similar in values and to what extent they differ from other country groupings?

A) Use of pie charts
B) Use of concentric circles
C) Normal distribution
D) Cluster distribution

Question 28

When examining the effects of the U.S.environment on the cultural values of Japanese managers working for Japanese firms in the United States,researchers found that these managers:

A) did not believe that job security was important.
B) supported the concept of formal authority.
C) did not support the organizational values of group orientation and cooperation.
D) perceived obedience and conformity to be very important.

Question 29

Dutch researcher,Fons Trompenaars,recommends that when people from specific cultures do business in diffuse cultures,they should _____.

A) try to get to the point and be efficient
B) learn to structure meetings with the judicious use of agendas
C) not acknowledge achievements or skills that are irrelevant to the issues being discussed
D) not get impatient when people are being indirect or circuitous

Question 30

_____ can be defined as acquired knowledge that people use to interpret experience and generate social behavior.

A) Edification
B) Culture
C) Symbol
D) Cognition

Question 31

A diffuse culture is one in which individuals:

A) guard their public space carefully.
B) greet each other with a great deal of enthusiasm.
C) are direct and extroverted.
D) have a large public space and a small private space.

Question 32

Dutch researcher,Fons Trompenaars,recommends that when individuals from achievement cultures do business in ascription cultures,they should:

A) make sure that their group has sufficient data to convince the other group that they are proficient.
B) make sure that their group has knowledgeable people who can impress the other side.
C) respect the status and influence of their counterparts in the other group.
D) respect the knowledge and information of their counterparts on the other team.

Question 33

In the context of how people deal with the concept of time,which of the following statements is true about the sequential approach identified by Dutch researcher,Fons Trompenaars?

A) People show a strong preference for following plans but are likely to deviate.
B) Appointments are approximate and may be changed at a moment's notice.
C) Schedules are subordinate to relationships.
D) People tend to do only one activity at a time.

Question 34

Which of the following is a characteristic of the Japanese culture?

A) Nonconformance to hierarchic position
B) Balance between a group and a personal orientation
C) Group orientation
D) Merit-based reward

Question 35

According to a cross-cultural study of differences in work values,_____ managers placed a high value on deference to superiors,company commitment,and the cautious use of aggressiveness and control.

A) U.S.
B) German
C) French
D) Japanese

Question 36

_____ are basic convictions that people have regarding what is right and wrong,good and bad,and important or unimportant.

A) Tenets
B) Edicts
C) Norms
D) Values

Question 37

Confucianism,associated with China,does not emphasize:

A) respect for authority
B) balance
C) harmony
D) profit

Question 38

An achievement culture is one in which people are accorded status based on their _____.

A) age
B) gender
C) performance
D) social connections

Question 39

Culturally,a German can be expected to have a _____ handshake.

A) gentle
B) light and quick
C) brusque and firm
D) long and involved

Question 40

Paternalism,measured by a manager's involvement in both personal and off-the-job problems of subordinates is very important in _____.

A) the United States
B) Australia
C) Japan
D) France

Question 41

According to Hofstede,countries with a high _____ encourage individuals to be independent decision makers and to define achievement in terms of recognition and wealth.

A) power distance
B) masculinity index
C) uncertainty avoidance
D) individualism score

Question 42

_____ is the term used by Hofstede to describe "a situation in which the dominant values in society are caring for others and the quality of life."

A) Collectivism
B) Individualism
C) Femininity
D) Masculinity

Question 43

Dutch researcher,Fons Trompenaars's discussion of the dimension of _____ explores whether people believe in controlling outcomes (inner-directed)or letting things take their own course (outer-directed).

A) time
B) the environment
C) masculinity
D) ascription

Question 44

Hofstede's _____ dimension focused on the tendency of people to look after themselves and their immediate family rather than the tendency to belong to groups to look after each other in exchange for loyalty

A) individualism versus collectivism
B) masculinity versus femininity
C) uncertainty avoidance
D) power distance

Question 45

According to Dutch researcher Geert Hofstede,there are four original dimensions of culture.These are:

A) power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism, and masculinity.
B) tolerance, group orientation, aggressiveness, and forwardness.
C) group orientation, uncertainty avoidance, aggressiveness, and masculinity.
D) tolerance, power distance, individualism, and aggressiveness.

Question 46

Hofstede's _____ dimension looked at the relationship between gender and work roles.

A) power distance
B) uncertainty avoidance
C) masculinity versus femininity
D) individualism versus collectivism

Question 47

According to Dutch researcher,Fons Trompenaars,_____ refers to people regarding themselves as individuals,while _____ refers to people regarding themselves as part of a group.

A) individualism; communitarianism
B) individualism; universalism
C) universalism; particularism
D) communitarianism; universalism

Question 48

In his early research,Dutch researcher,Fons Trompenaars,found that in countries such as the United States,Australia,Germany,Sweden and the United Kingdom,there was high _____.

A) particularism
B) communitarianism
C) universalism
D) individualism

Question 49

Countries in which people blindly obey the orders of their superiors have a high _____.

A) uncertainty avoidance
B) masculinity index
C) power distance
D) individualism index

Question 50

Nations that are collectivist in their approach tend to be characterized by:

A) large power distance and low individualism.
B) low power distance and high individualism.
C) small power distance and weak uncertainty avoidance.
D) large power distance and weak uncertainty avoidance.

Question 51

According to Dutch researcher,Fons Trompenaars,it is important to play hardball,test the resilience of the opponent,win some objectives,and always lose from time to time when dealing with those from cultures that believe:

A) in dominating the environment.
B) in letting things take their natural course.
C) in caring for others.
D) in compromising.

Question 52

According to Hofstede's time orientation dimension,which of the following statements is true about long-term-oriented societies?

A) Traditions are sacrosanct.
B) Family life is guided by shared tasks.
C) Service to others is an important goal.
D) Students attribute success and failure to luck.

Question 53

Countries that have high individualism and relatively low power distance:

A) prefer others to do things for themselves.
B) are upset when others have more power than they do.
C) are not upset when others have more power than they do.
D) are collectivist in their approach.

Question 54

Which of the following statements is true about restrained societies?

A) People give importance to freedom of speech.
B) People are more likely to remember positive emotions.
C) People experience a perception of helplessness.
D) People are less likely to give importance to law and order.

Question 55

_____ is the extent to which people feel threatened by ambiguous situations and have created beliefs and institutions that try to avoid these.

A) Power distance
B) Uncertainty avoidance
C) Individualism versus collectivism
D) Masculinity versus femininity

Question 56

Cultures with a low masculinity place great importance on conservation of the environment and tend to favor _____.

A) third world countries
B) less developed countries
C) underdeveloped countries
D) small-scale enterprises

Question 57

Low-uncertainty-avoidance societies have organization settings with:

A) lower labor turnover.
B) less risk taking by managers.
C) more ambitious employees.
D) more written rules.

Question 58

_____ is the belief that circumstances dictate how ideas and practices should be applied.

A) Universalism
B) Individualism
C) Communitarianism
D) Particularism

Question 59

Cultures with low _____ have people who are more willing to accept that risks are associated with the unknown and that life must go on in spite of this.

A) individualism
B) power distance
C) uncertainty avoidance
D) masculinity index

Question 60

Which of the following dimensions measures the freedom to satisfy one's natural needs and desires within a society?

A) Achievement versus ascription
B) Specific versus diffuse
C) Indulgence versus restraint
D) Universalism versus particularism

Question 61

In the context of the cultural impact on international management,list some specific examples where the culture of a society can directly affect management approaches.

Question 62

Define culture and list its characteristics as agreed by most scholars.

Question 63

Societal collectivism refers to the degree to which:

A) individuals express pride, loyalty, and cohesiveness in their organizations or families.
B) individuals in organizations or societies encourage and reward individuals for being fair.
C) organizational and societal institutional practices encourage and reward collective distribution of resources and collective action.
D) individuals in organizations or societies are confrontational.

Question 64

The three completed GLOBE phases explore the various elements of the dynamic relationship between _____ and _____.

A) time; the environment
B) the culture; organizational behavior
C) physical; psychological well-being
D) political; economic systems

Question 65

Discuss the cultural dimensions as identified during phase one of the GLOBE project.

Question 66

Briefly describe the original four dimensions that were examined by Dutch researcher Geert Hofstede.

Question 67

Which of the following statements is true about cultures with high communitarianism?

A) Negotiations are typically made on the spot by a representative.
B) People jointly assume responsibility.
C) Entrepreneurial spirit is most likely high.
D) People give more importance to personal and individual matters.

Question 68

Austria,the United Kingdom,the United States and Switzerland all are _____ cultures.

A) diffuse
B) specific
C) emotional
D) neutral

Question 69

A(n)_____ culture accords status based on age,gender,or social connections.

A) diffuse
B) ascription
C) specific
D) achievement

Question 70

According to the GLOBE Cultural Variable Results,which of the following countries were the most assertive?

A) Spain and the United States
B) Egypt and the United States
C) Spain and Ireland
D) Ireland and Sweden

Question 71

A(n)_____ culture is one in which emotions are held in check.

A) emotional
B) buoyant
C) neutral
D) specific

Question 72

Describe the differences between an achievement culture and an ascription culture.According to Dutch researcher,Fons Trompenaars,how does an understanding of these differences help an international manager be effective in dealing with clients outside his or her own culture?

Question 73

A(n)_____ culture is one in which both public and private space are similar in size and individuals guard their public space carefully because entry into public space affords entry into private space as well.

A) diffuse
B) neutral
C) emotional
D) specific

Question 74

A(n)_____ culture is one in which people are accorded status based on how well they perform their functions.

A) achievement
B) ascription
C) diffuse
D) specific

Question 75

Which of the following fundamental questions is not included in the specific objectives of the GLOBE project?

A) Are there leader behaviors, attributes, and organizational practices that are accepted and effective in only some cultures?
B) What is the effect of violating cultural norms that are relevant to leadership and organizational practices?
C) What is the relative standing of each of the cultures studied on each of the nine core dimensions of culture?
D) How do attributes of societal and organizational cultures affect the behaviors of lower-level workers in an organization?