Deck 4: Cultural Dynamics in Assessing Global Markets

Question 1

According to Philip Parker, there are strong correlations between latitude and the per capita GDP of countries.

Answer 1

True
Explanation: Philip Parker, a marketing professor, argues for geography's deep influence on history, economics, and consumer behavior. For example, he reports strong correlations between the latitude (climate) and the per capita GDP of countries.

Question 2

The Individualism/Collective Index refers to the preference for behavior that promotes one's self-interest.

Answer 2

True
Explanation: The Individualism/Collective Index refers to the preference for behavior that promotes one's self-interest.

Question 3

According to the text, the Internet is the technological innovation that has had the greatest impact on institutions and cultural values in the past 50 years in the United States.

Answer 3

False
Explanation: Considering what technological innovation has had the greatest impact on institutions and cultural values in the past 50 years in the United States, the best answer is most likely the pill. Birth control pills, or more broadly birth control techniques, have had a huge effect on everyday life for most Americans and people around the world.

Question 4

According to the World Bank, no country with less than 50 percent literacy has succeeded economically.

Question 5

The Power Distance dimension of culture identified by Geert Hofstede has proven the most useful of the four dimensions.

Question 6

People from cultures with high PDI scores are more likely to have a general distrust of others.

Question 7

Acculturation refers becoming a change agent by innovating.

Question 8

Cultures with high UAI scores tend to have a low level of anxiety and stress.

Question 9

For most of the 20th century, the predominant approach to governance was colonialism.

Question 10

Dutch management professor Geert Hofstede refers to culture as the "software of the mind."

Question 11

During the military conflicts in the Middle East in 2003, new cola brands sprang up as alternatives to Coca-Cola-Mecca Cola, Muslim Up, Arab Cola, and ColaTurka. These are examples of how geographical position can influence product ideas.

Question 12

Birthrate increases as countries move from agricultural to industrial to services economies.

Question 13

When a culture scores high on IDV, individuals fail to identify with groups.

Question 14

According to Jared Diamond, a professor of physiology, innovations spread faster north to south than east to west.

Question 15

When a product or idea is innovative, the marketers involved act as agents of change.

Question 16

One's own religion is most often the best guide to another's beliefs.

Question 17

According to data provided in the text, Mexico scores high in the Individualism/Collective Index (IDV).

Question 18

The Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI), one of the four dimensions of culture identified by Geert Hofstede, focuses on assertiveness and achievement.

Question 19

In most cultures, the first social institution infants are exposed to outside the home takes the form of a church, mosque, shrine, or synagogue.

Question 20

The four social institutions that most strongly influence values and culture are schools, churches, families, and the media.

Question 21

A traditional definition of _____ centers around the notion that it is the sum of the values, rituals, symbols, beliefs, and thought processes that are learned, shared by a group of people, and transmitted from generation to generation.

A) social class
B) psychology
C) anthropology
D) demography
E) culture

Question 22

Which of the following is true regarding birthrates?

A) A service economy usually has higher birthrate than an industrial economy.
B) As countries move from agricultural to industrial to services economies, birthrates decline.
C) Economic status of a country has minimal impact on the birthrates within that country.
D) Countries that move from agricultural economies to service economies experience increasing birthrates.
E) An agricultural economy finds it hard to support high birthrates, compared to an industrial economy.

Question 23

The family, religion, schools, the media, government, and corporations are all illustrations of what are called:

A) social institutions.
B) cultural icons.
C) internal variables.
D) external variables.
E) demographic variables.

Question 24

Which of the following is the description of culture given by James Day Hodgson, former U.S. ambassador to Japan, which according to him are tough to get through, but effort and patience often lead to success?

A) A merry-go-round
B) A maze
C) An intelligence test
D) A thicket
E) A perseverance test

Question 25

When marketers first introduced the PDA to the American consumer they performed the role of being a(n) _____ because the cultural impact of the product became widespread.

A) gatekeeper
B) role player
C) supply creator
D) agent of change
E) promoter

Question 26

The process of adjusting to a new culture is known as:

A) diffusion.
B) culture transfer.
C) acculturation.
D) assimilation.
E) transference.

Question 27

The strategy of cultural congruence involves marketing products similar to ones already on the market in a manner as congruent as possible with existing cultural norms, thereby minimizing resistance.

Question 28

Cultures low in UAI take a more empirical approach to understanding and knowledge.

Question 29

With respect to a cultural fact, which of the following countries has the highest rate of consumption of chocolate?

A) France
B) Germany
C) United States
D) Italy
E) United Kingdom

Question 30

Which of the following reflects prediction by experts, based on the growing popularity of smaller families worldwide?

A) As countries move toward service economies, larger families will be more favored in future.
B) Countries with larger families will outdo developed countries owing to their larger talent pool.
C) As smaller families increase, the multiplier effect could increase world population beyond control by the year 2050.
D) Countries facing labor shortages will encourage and popularize larger families.
E) The planet's population will actually begin to decline after 2050.

Question 31

According to Dutch management professor Geert Hofstede, culture is seen as:

A) "software of the mind."
B) "the difference between life and death."
C) "the conflict of civilization versus the masses."
D) "tool of the elite."
E) "art's triumph over banality."

Question 32

Which of the following is not a way individuals learn culture?

A) Application
B) Socialization
C) Acculturation
D) Role modeling
E) Imitation of peers

Question 33

The idea suggested by linguistic distance, as a factor in determining differences in values, is that crossing "thinner" differences increases transaction costs.

Question 34

According to Dutch management professor Geert Hofstede, culture is seen as a:

A) weapon that is often used on the poor.
B) problem-solving tool.
C) bias that is used to justify racial inequality.
D) a relationship enhancer.
E) reflection of a nation's evolution.

Question 35

The sum total of knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, law, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by humans as members of society is called:

A) sociology
B) psychology
C) culture
D) reference groups
E) cohort groups

Question 36

Mervin is excited about his new home in the Philippines. Even though he was born in Los Angeles, Mervin has been given the opportunity to learn about a new culture, form new friends, and capitalize on opportunities than were not available in his previous home or workplace. Mervin will go through what is called a _____ as he adjusts to living in Manila.

A) acculturation
B) socialization
C) naturalization
D) emancipation
E) standardization

Question 37

As Mike Jones has grown up, he has learned a great about his culture from his schools, church, mass media, and family. This learning is called:

A) acculturation.
B) socialization.
C) naturalization.
D) emancipation.
E) adaptation.

Question 38

The "marketplace" is the metaphor attached to the Chinese culture.

Question 39

Which of the following best summarizes Professor Jared Diamond's contribution regarding the influence of geography on history and cultural values?

A) People in the plains are more likely to invade than those settled in higher altitudes.
B) Historically, societies in the north are more developed than those in the south.
C) Civilizations near major rivers are more developed than those settled near major oceans.
D) Historically, innovations spread faster east to west than north to south.
E) Historically, invasions have always happened from the west to the east.

Question 40

Rituals let people know what to expect.

Question 41

Which of the following terms pertains to societies in which people from birth onward are integrated into strong, cohesive groups, which throughout people's lifetimes continue to protect them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty?

A) Power distance
B) Individualism
C) Uncertainty
D) Collectivism
E) Masculinity

Question 42

The Uncertainty Avoidance Index measure the tolerance of _____ and _____ among members of a society.

A) social equality; inequality
B) self-interest; collective interest
C) uncertainty; ambiguity
D) primary language; secondary language
E) ritual; hierarchy

Question 43

Many languages are very different from other languages. Which of the following languages is the most distant from English?

A) French
B) German
C) Spanish
D) Arabic
E) Taiwanese

Question 44

A low score in the _____ reflects more egalitarian views.

A) Power Distance Index
B) Individualism/Collectivism Index
C) Distance from English Index
D) Uncertainty Avoidance Index
E) Masculinity/Femininity Index

Question 45

According to the text, which of the following technological innovations has had the greatest impact on institutions and cultural values in the past 50 years in the United States?

A) Mobile phones
B) Computers
C) Aircraft
D) The Internet
E) Birth control techniques

Question 46

Which of the following indexes have proven to be the most useful dimension in understanding cultural values?

A) Power Distance Index
B) Individualism/Collectivism Index
C) Distance from English Index
D) Uncertainty Avoidance Index
E) Masculinity/Femininity Index

Question 47

In most cultures the first social institution infants are exposed to outside the home takes the form of a:

A) day care center.
B) school.
C) religious institution.
D) shopping mall.
E) government agency.

Question 48

Cultures with high _____ scores are highly intolerant of ambiguity and as a result tend to be distrustful of new ideas or behaviors.

A) Power Distance Index
B) Individualism/Collectivism Index
C) Distance from English Index
D) Uncertainty Avoidance Index
E) Masculinity/Femininity Index

Question 49

Based on the Individualism/Collectivism Index, in which of the following countries will the "virtual social" activity of sitting alone at one's computer be most acceptable?

A) Brazil
B) Colombia
C) Japan
D) The United States
E) Mexico

Question 50

The cola alternatives (Mecca Cola, Muslim Up, Arab Cola, and ColaTurka) that sprang up after the military conflicts in the Middle East in 2003 served to prove as an instance how:

A) Coca-Cola played an important role in easing the cultural divide among the warring nations.
B) American beverage companies diversify to cater to various markets.
C) specific events in history can influence consumer behavior.
D) businesses exploit cheap human labor during war-times.
E) cultural aspects influence the development and acceptance of products.

Question 51

The most useful information on how cultural values influence various types of business and market behavior comes from work done by:

A) Sigmund Freud.
B) George Gallup.
C) Geert Hofstede.
D) Ayn Rand.
E) Milton Friedman.

Question 52

Which of the following countries scores highest on the Individualism/Collectivism Index meaning that this country values and rewards individual initiative more than the others cited?

A) Brazil
B) Greece
C) France
D) Germany
E) United States

Question 53

Based on Hofstede's four dimensions, cultures with high PDI scores tend to be:

A) secular.
B) hierarchical.
C) flat in organization.
D) fragmented.
E) egalitarian.

Question 54

According to the text, there is some good news about gender equality in recent years -- the _____ gap between the sexes is narrowing in many places around the world.

A) intelligence
B) biological
C) identity
D) education
E) language

Question 55

Which of the following is an unfavorable outcome of the pervasiveness of birth control techniques?

A) Educational institutions are finding it tougher to fill in student seats.
B) Midwifery, as a profession, is soon becoming extinct.
C) More men and women are opting for smaller families.
D) Women are increasingly taking up job roles traditionally reserved for men.
E) Schools are forced to address issues like abstinence and condom distribution.

Question 56

Which of the following cultures are associated with low level of anxiety and stress, a tolerance of deviance, and dissent, and a willingness to take risks?

A) Culture scoring high in masculinity/femininity
B) Cultures scoring low in uncertainty avoidance
C) Cultures scoring high in power distance
D) Cultures scoring high in individualism/collectivism
E) Cultures scoring low in individualism/collectivism

Question 57

The _____ Index refers to the preference for behavior that promotes one's self-interest.

A) Individualism/Collectivism
B) Power Distance
C) Uncertainty Avoidance
D) Ritual
E) Language

Question 58

Which of the following thinkers is famous for his argument on geography's deep influence on history, economics, and consumer behavior?

A) Jared Diamond
B) Philip Parker
C) Desmond Morris
D) Noam Chomsky
E) Jacques Derrida

Question 59

Emma Smith has just been hired as a consultant for the Smith Barney stock brokerage firm. Her task is to determine whether Smith Barney should use face-to-face contacts to encourage sales or the more impersonal electronic communications that have become so popular today. Her data indicate (based on reviews of Individualism/Collectivism studies) that all but one of the following countries would probably favor electronic communication. Which country would most likely favor face-to-face contact with a Smith Barney broker?

A) United States
B) Australia
C) Canada
D) Japan
E) Great Britain

Question 60

Which of the following countries would have the most affinity (score highest) for collectivism (cohesive groups are honored and encouraged)?

A) Great Britain
B) Australia
C) Canada
D) France
E) Japan

Question 61

This strategy involves marketing products similar to ones already on the market thereby minimizing resistance. The reference is to ____.

A) flank attack
B) cultural congruence
C) guerilla marketing
D) lateral marketing
E) culture equalization

Question 62

In many parts of the world, language is itself thought of as a social institution (often with political importance). Which of the following countries best exemplifies the above statement?

A) Australia
B) United States
C) France
D) Mexico
E) Switzerland

Question 63

According to a book written by Richard Nisbett, The Geography of Thought, Asians tend to:

A) prefer home cooking to fast food.
B) see the whole picture and can report details about background and foreground.
C) focus on small details in the foreground but cannot often see the "big picture."
D) see the world (surprisingly) in a similar way to everyone else.
E) see only what they want to see as they are very biased on their outlook on life.

Question 64

The strategy of _____ deliberately sets out to change those aspects of the culture offering resistance to predetermined marketing goals.

A) planned change
B) top-down change
C) guerilla marketing
D) differentiated marketing
E) disruptive marketing

Question 65

Rituals are patterns of behavior and interaction that are:

A) learned and repeated.
B) scientifically verified for effectiveness.
C) enforced by governments.
D) unique to each individual.
E) universally accepted as proper behavior.

Question 66

Which of the following is the most important factors in determining what kind and how much of an innovation will be accepted?

A) The time required for the change to occur.
B) The number of people that could be benefited.
C) The degree of interest in the particular subject.
D) The power or authority of the change agent.
E) The financial impact, immediate and long-term, of accepting the change.

Question 67

Nexar Energy is advocating the use of solar power to replace all petroleum-based energy sources. The company has demonstrations to show how solar power could be used in all major petroleum-based products--automobiles, power sources, and heating and cooling. Since Nexar Energy is advocating ____, their information documents their deliberate attempt to change the way we do things with respect to energy sources.

A) unplanned change
B) planned change
C) parallel change
D) syncopated change
E) synergistic change

Question 68

Modern medicine in the United States has been impacted by application of herbal remedies from South America and acupuncture from the Orient. This would be an example of which of the following?

A) Cultural ombudsmanship
B) Cultural congruence
C) Cultural hegemony
D) Cultural sensitivity
E) Cultural borrowing

Question 69

Morton Foods has decided to introduce a new line of turkey products to the American consumer. Turkey Steaks will resemble beefsteak in taste but will be made from turkey meat. The Turkey Steaks will be leaner and healthier for a variety of reasons. However, Morton Foods is concerned that the product will not be accepted. If Morton Foods follows a strategy of ____, they are more likely to succeed with the introduction of the new product.

A) unplanned change
B) cultural adiaphoria
C) cultural syncopation
D) cultural congruence
E) continuous change

Question 70

The Westernized diet has caused many Japanese to become overweight. This is an example of ____.

A) top-down change
B) planned change
C) cultural hegemony
D) unplanned change
E) bottom-up change

Question 71

Which of the following metaphors represents the Chinese culture?

A) Kingdom
B) The marketplace
C) The family altar
D) The conversations
E) The ballet

Question 72

What is the main idea suggested by linguistic distance that helps in determining differences in values across countries and the amount of trade between countries?

A) The closer the languages the tougher the interactions.
B) Crossing "wider" language differences increases transaction costs.
C) The more distant a language from the other, the more valuable the brand becomes in the new territory.
D) Major languages have "syntactical superiority" over minor languages or dialects which help in brand positioning.
E) A 'neutral' language is required to address the differences arising out of linguistic distances.

Question 73

Based on Richard Nisbett's metaphor involving Confucius's worthy picture, what is his analysis regarding the thought process or perceptual process of Westerners?

A) Westerners can provide great details about central figures but see relatively little in the background.
B) Westerners observe things sequentially, thus fail to comprehend the larger picture.
C) Westerners are good at observing details but fail to comprehend the central message.
D) Westerners prefer larger than life figures to convey messages.
E) Westerners tend to focus on the brighter colors in the image and fail to see the lines and finer drawings.

Question 74

Giving a gift in another country requires careful attention if it is to be done properly. According to the following characteristics of gift giving, which country most likely practices this form of gift giving: never make an issue of a gift presentation--publicly or privately; gifts should be presented privately, with the exception of collective ceremonial gifts at banquets or after speeches.

A) Arab World
B) United States
C) Japan
D) Latin America
E) China

Question 75

_____ refers to being attuned to the nuances of culture so that a new culture can be viewed objectively, evaluated, and appreciated.

A) Cultural integration
B) Acculturated
C) Counter culture
D) Cultural sensitivity
E) Culture transfer

Question 76

The relationship between language and international marketing is an important factor that cannot be overestimated. Recent studies indicate that a new concept, ____, is proving useful to marketing researchers in market segmentation and strategic entry decisions.

A) paralinguistics
B) linguistic distance
C) language parallels
D) language roots
E) linguistic accents

Question 77

Marketing strategy is judged culturally in terms of ____.

A) inclusion or exclusion
B) cultural intensity or cultural sublimity
C) acceptance, resistance, or rejection
D) sensitivity to hidden aspects of culture in a society
E) spread, intensity, and degree of change required

Question 78

_____ is an important ancient belief held by Chinese, considered the process that links humans and the universe to ch'i, the energy that sustains life and flows through our bodies and surroundings, in and around our homes and workplaces.

A) Shamanism
B) Voodoo
C) Ouija
D) Kung fu
E) Feng shui

Question 79

Anthropologist Edward T. Hall tells us that culture is:

A) all-encompassing.
B) relatively minor in the scheme of life.
C) communication.
D) strongly linked to physiology.
E) standard throughout the world.

Question 80

Which of the following is NOT part of aesthetics?

A) Folklore
B) Drama
C) Dress
D) Cosmetics
E) Rituals