Question 1

Organizing work differently to improve productivity will likely fail ________.

Accepted Answer

If changes interfere with strongly held value systems, employees may resist the changes or become demotivated, leading to a failure in improving productivity.

Question 2

A firm that concentrates on national cultural differences in terms of averages is more likely to ________.

Accepted Answer

Focusing only on national cultural differences in terms of averages can lead the firm to overlook outliers, which are individuals or groups that deviate from the norm. This can result in missed opportunities or risks that were not taken into account.

Question 3

The specific learned norms based on attitudes,values,and beliefs of a group of people are known as ethnology.

Accepted Answer

Ethnology is the study of different cultures and how they interact with each other. The specific learned norms based on attitudes, values, and beliefs of a group of people are known as culture or cultural norms.

Question 4

When a company does business in another country whose official language is the same as its home country's,the company should most likely ________.

Accepted Answer

Even if the official language is the same, there might be cultural and linguistic differences that could affect communication. There could be words or phrases that have different meanings or connotations in the foreign country, which could cause misunderstandings. Therefore, the company should be aware of these potential differences and take them into account when communicating with people from the foreign country.

Question 5

One of the potential problems for an MNE that practices too much polycentrism is ________.

Accepted Answer

Too much polycentrism can lead to a lack of innovation and reliance on less-risky host-country practices, which can hinder the MNE's ability to compete in the global market.

Question 6

Evaluating the importance of potential clients or partners by the way they dress is an example of using ________.

Accepted Answer

Evaluating someone by the way they dress is an example of using silent language, which refers to nonverbal cues like body language, tone of voice, and appearance. Pragmatism refers to practicality and efficiency, polychronism refers to the preference for multitasking and handling multiple tasks simultaneously, and fatalism refers to the belief that events are predetermined by fate and cannot be changed.

Question 7

Jack,an American accounts manager,is preparing a presentation for a group of Japanese businesspeople. Jack's presentation would be most effective if he ________.

Accepted Answer

Since Jack is presenting to Japanese businesspeople, who may not have the same level of fluency in English, it would be best for him to anticipate and budget extra time for translation and clarification. This will ensure that his message is conveyed accurately and effectively. Option A would depend on cultural context and sense of humor. Option B may come off as disrespectful or unprofessional. Option C may come off as pretentious and difficult to understand.

Question 8

Ethnocentrism in international business refers to the ________.

Accepted Answer

Ethnocentrism in international business refers to the belief that what works best at home should work best everywhere. It is the tendency to evaluate other cultures and customs only from the perspective of one's own cultural norms and values. This can lead to a lack of understanding and appreciation for other cultures, and can hinder effective international business practices.

Question 9

The fact that an English word such as blue-jeans has entered the Spanish language,while a Spanish word such as macho has come into American English illustrates that ________.

Accepted Answer

The exchange of words between two languages demonstrates that cultural diffusion is not a one-way process but rather a two-way process where different cultural elements are exchanged and influence each other.

Question 10

U.S. companies monopolize much of the international entertainment media,which largely portrays U.S. products and lifestyles as glamorous and appealing. This situation would most likely be used as an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

The situation described is an example of cultural imperialism, which is the domination of one culture over another through the spread of its products and values. In this case, U.S. companies are spreading their products and lifestyles through the media they produce, which can have an impact on how other cultures view the world.

Question 11

In the opening case on the Java Lounge in Saudi Arabia,Saudi businessmen engaged in chit-chat while drinking coffee at a café during the conduct of business. Which of the following was the most likely reason for their behavior?

Accepted Answer

The behavior of the Saudi businessmen aligns with the characteristics of a high-context culture, in which small talk and seemingly unrelated information is important to decision making. This type of culture places great importance on building and maintaining relationships, and the social bonding function of coffee houses may have been instrumental in this regard. Additionally, the religious convictions of the Saudi people would discourage the consumption of alcohol, making coffee a more suitable choice for socializing during business meetings.

Question 12

When a company wishes to introduce change in a foreign country,its likelihood of success can most likely be improved by ________.

Accepted Answer

Gaining the support of local opinion leaders can help a company understand the local culture and gain credibility among the local people. This can increase the likelihood of success for introducing change in a foreign country. Introducing multiple changes simultaneously or imposing changes without considering the local culture can lead to resistance and failure. Agreeing to make home-country changes in return may not be effective if it does not address the local needs and concerns. Employing expatriate managers may help in implementing changes, but it may not address the cultural differences and local perspectives.

Question 13

The term "cultural distance" refers to the ________.

Accepted Answer

Cultural distance refers to the differences between cultures on various dimensions such as power distance, individualism/collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, etc. It is a measure of how dissimilar two cultures are from each other.

Question 14

American hamburgers,Japanese sushi,Italian pizza,Mexican tacos,and Middle Eastern pita bread are now commonly found in most countries. This best supports the argument that ________.

Accepted Answer

The fact that different types of food from different cultures are now commonly found in most countries suggests that cultural hybridization is occurring, as different cultures are blending and influencing each other's cuisine. This does not necessarily mean that cultural values or imperialism are being homogenized, as cultural values can remain strong even as certain aspects of culture blend together. Globalization may fulfill lower order needs in Maslow's hierarchy, but this is not directly supported by the given information.

Question 15

Assume a firm plans to expand internationally. If its managers wish to avoid pitfalls caused by differences in "silent language," they should consider differences in ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Assume a firm plans to expand internationally....

Question 16

In the opening case on the Java Lounge in Saudi Arabia,people in the port city of Jeddah were less culturally conservative than people in the interior of the country. The most likely reason for this is that ________.

Accepted Answer

The opening case mentions that people in the port city of Jeddah have more contact with foreigners, which can expose them to different cultures and ideas, leading to a less culturally conservative attitude compared to people in the interior of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, option A is the most likely reason for the difference in cultural attitudes.

Question 17

Ellen,a U.S. citizen,worked for a U.S. firm in Germany for four years and was transferred back to the firm's home office in Chicago two months ago. Ellen feels significant dissatisfaction with her job and life in Chicago,which is most likely a result of ________.

Accepted Answer

Ellen's dissatisfaction with her job and life is most likely due to reverse culture shock, which is the psychological and emotional challenge individuals experience when they return to their home culture after living and working abroad for an extended period.

Question 18

Assume a U.S. firm plans to expand into either Mexico,Germany,or Japan. Its executives are traveling to each country to meet with local businesspeople in the decision-making process. Which of the following would be LEAST beneficial when the executives make a presentation?

Accepted Answer

Avoiding repetition is not necessarily the least beneficial option, but it is less important compared to the other options. Requesting a translator with technical vocabulary knowledge (A) is important to ensure accurate communication. Simplifying vocabulary and terminology for the audience (B) is also important to ensure that the audience can understand the presentation. Conducting back translations for written work (C) is important to ensure that the translated text accurately reflects the original content. In comparison, avoiding repetition (D) may help prevent boredom, but it is not as critical to ensuring effective communication.

Question 19

The approach a company takes when it bases foreign operations on an informed knowledge of its organizational culture along with home- and host-country needs,capabilities,and constraints is called ________.

Accepted Answer

Geocentrism, also known as global integration, is the approach where a company considers the needs and constraints of both the home country and the host country while also incorporating its organizational culture. This approach allows for a balance between global efficiency and local responsiveness, creating a more effective global strategy. Polycentrism focuses only on local responsiveness, ethnocentrism only on home country needs, and neocentrism is not a widely recognized approach in international business.

Question 20

If an MNE convinced a popular priest that its vitamin-enriched soft drink would benefit parishioners' health,the MNE would be using ________ to help bring about change.

Accepted Answer

An opinion leader is someone who has a significant impact on the opinions and actions of others. In this case, the popular priest would be considered an opinion leader within the parish community, and the MNE is using this influence to convince parishioners to buy and consume their product.

Quiz 2: The Cultural Environments Facing Business