Question 1

Scientific improvements and innovations are examples of
A)social forces.
B)industry forces.
C)economic forces
D)None of the above.

Accepted Answer

Scientific improvements and innovations do not fall under any of the given categories as they are related to advancements in technology and knowledge rather than social, industry or economic forces.

Question 2

Societal values,trends,traditional,and religious practices are examples of
A)consumer forces.
B)industry forces.
C)social forces.
D)None of the above.

Accepted Answer

Societal values, trends, traditional, and religious practices are all factors that shape and influence the behavior and attitudes of individuals in a society. These social forces can impact consumer behavior and ultimately shape industry trends and practices. Therefore, societal values, trends, traditional, and religious practices are examples of social forces.

Question 3

Social forces can
A)vary widely among nations.
B)affect different industries in markedly different ways.
C)affect different businesses in an industry in different ways.
D)All of the above

Accepted Answer

Social forces can vary widely among nations, affecting different industries in markedly different ways, and also affecting different businesses in an industry in different ways. Therefore, all of the above options are correct.

Question 4

Reading the Wall Street Journal can be an integral part of environmental scanning.

Accepted Answer

The Wall Street Journal covers news and analysis on various industries, economic trends, and global events that can impact businesses. This makes it a useful tool for environmental scanning, which involves monitoring and analyzing external factors that can impact a company's operations and strategies.

Question 5

The country accounting for the greatest piece of the U.S.trade deficit is Mexico.

Accepted Answer

China, not Mexico, has historically been the country with which the U.S. has the largest trade deficit.

Question 6

The unconscious reference to one's own cultural values as a standard of judgment is known as
A)the self-reference criterion.
B)cultural distinction.
C)cultural awareness.
D)cultural apathy.

Accepted Answer

The self-reference criterion is the unconscious reference to one's own cultural values as a standard of judgment. It can lead to misunderstandings and miscommunications when interacting with individuals from other cultures who may have different values and beliefs.

Question 7

One of the reasons that outsourcing/offshoring debates are so difficult to resolve is that accurate data can be difficult to obtain,especially in developing nations.

Accepted Answer

Obtaining accurate data in developing nations can be a challenge, making it difficult to fully understand the impact of outsourcing/offshoring debates.

Question 8

Commoditization refers to the increasing difficulty firms have distinguishing their products and services from those of their rivals.

Accepted Answer

Commoditization occurs when products and services become increasingly standardized and interchangeable, making it difficult for firms to differentiate themselves in the market. This often leads to price competition and a focus on cost-cutting measures rather than innovation and creativity.

Question 9

Environmental scanning refers to the systematic analysis of a firm's social responsible activity related to environmental awareness.

Accepted Answer

Environmental scanning refers to the process of gathering, analyzing, and interpreting information and data about the external environment, including economic, social, technological, and political factors that may impact a company's operations and strategy. It is not specifically related to a firm's social responsible activity related to environmental awareness.

Question 10

One of Friedman's primary arguments in The World is Flat is that
A)organizations must restructure every five years or so.
B)global business has become more regionalized.
C)recent changes have "leveled the playing field" between firms in developed nations and those in developing nations.
D)None of the above.

Accepted Answer

Friedman's primary argument in The World is Flat is that recent changes, such as advancements in technology and globalization, have "leveled the playing field" between firms in developed nations and those in developing nations. This means that businesses in developing nations now have greater access to resources and can compete more effectively with firms in developed nations. Friedman argues that organizations must adapt to these changes and embrace new models of collaboration in order to remain competitive.

Question 11

Social forces can vary markedly among nations,even those whose cultures are similar.

Accepted Answer

Although cultures may share similarities, factors such as history, government, and economic conditions can greatly affect social forces within a nation. Therefore, social forces can still vary significantly even among culturally similar nations.

Question 12

Outsourcing refers to contracting out a firm's non-core,non-revenue-producing activities to other organizations primarily to reduce costs.

Accepted Answer

Outsourcing is commonly done to reduce costs by delegating non-core, non-revenue-producing activities to other organizations that specialize in those activities.

Question 13

The unconscious reference to one's own cultural values as a standard of judgment is known as cultural discrimination.

Accepted Answer

This is known as ethnocentrism, not cultural discrimination. Ethnocentrism is the act of judging another culture solely based on the values and standards of one's own culture.

Question 14

The rate of technological change varies considerably across industries in different nations,but generally not in the same nation.

Accepted Answer

The rate of technological change can vary significantly even within the same nation, as different industries may have varying levels of investment, innovation, and regulatory environments that affect their pace of technological advancement.

Question 15

On-line shoppers tend to be single,female,and college educated.

Accepted Answer

This statement is a stereotype and is not true for all online shoppers. Online shoppers vary in age, gender, and education level.

Question 16

Mass customization refers to the ability to individualize product and service offerings to meet specific buyer needs.

Accepted Answer

Mass customization allows for the customization of products and services for individual buyers rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach.

Question 17

Offshoring refers to relocating some or all of a firm's manufacturing or other business processes to another country to reduce costs.

Accepted Answer

Offshoring is defined as relocating a portion or all of a company's business operations to a foreign country to reduce costs, take advantage of tax incentives, or gain access to new markets.

Question 18

The Internet acts as a distribution channel for many non-tangible goods and services.

Accepted Answer

The Internet enables the distribution of non-tangible goods and services such as software, music, movies, e-books, online courses, consulting services, and more.

Question 19

The process of disaggregation and reaggregation has resulted in an increased emphasis on partnerships.

Accepted Answer

Disaggregation and reaggregation refer to the breaking down of large organizations into smaller, more specialized units and then bringing those units back together in different ways. This process often leads to an increased emphasis on partnerships and collaboration between different units or organizations to achieve common goals. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 20

The Internet fosters information asymmetry,a state whereby the seller and buyer are not likely to share the same information.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Internet fosters information asymmetry,a state whereby...

Quiz 4: External Environment: Social Technological Forces

Scientific improvements and innovations are examples of

Societal values,trends,traditional,and religious practices are examples of

Social forces can