Question 1

Which of the following actions is important for marketers in order to be effective in a foreign market?
A) Learning to appreciate the intricacies of cultures different from their own
B) Ensuring that the promotions for the product are indifferent to social beliefs
C) Adhering to the prominent prejudices in one's own society
D) Creating product differentiation by being indifferent to the culture of the foreign market
E) Making the product relate to one's own religion

Accepted Answer

It is imperative for foreign marketers to learn to appreciate the intricacies of cultures different from their own if they are to be effective in foreign markets.

Question 2

According to Edward Hall's comments on culture, which of the following could hurt companies and careers in foreign markets?
A) Adherence to the social norms of the foreign market
B) Being agents of change in the new market
C) Ignorance of cultural differences in the foreign market
D) Strict following of the political rules of the foreign society
E) Consideration of the economic system of the new market

Accepted Answer

The salient points in Hall's comments are that cultural differences are often invisible and that marketers who ignore them often hurt both their companies and careers.

Question 3

When marketers first introduced the personal digital assistant (PDA) to the American consumers, they most likely performed the role of _____ because the cultural impact of the product became widespread.
A) gatekeepers
B) conciliators
C) agents of socialization
D) agents of change
E) arbitrators

Accepted Answer

In this case, marketers most likely performed the role of agents of change. Marketers are constantly adjusting their efforts to cultural demands of the market, but they also are acting as agents of change whenever the product or idea being marketed is innovative.

Question 4

James Day Hodgson, former U.S. ambassador to Japan, describes culture as a(n) _____, which according to him is tough to get through, but effort and patience could often lead to success.
A) neutral market
B) maze
C) intelligence test
D) thicket
E) perseverance test

Accepted Answer

James Day Hodgson, former U.S. ambassador to Japan, describes culture as a "thicket." This metaphor holds hope for struggling international marketers. According to the ambassador, thickets are tough to get through, but effort and patience often lead to successes.

Question 5

When a culture scores high in Individualism/Collectivism Index, individuals fail to identify with groups.

Accepted Answer

Cultures that score high in Individualism/Collectivism Index (IDV) reflect an "I" mentality and tend to reward and accept individual initiative, whereas those low in individualism reflect a "we" mentality and generally subjugate the individual to the group. This distinction does not mean that individuals fail to identify with groups when a culture scores high on IDV but rather that personal initiative and independence are accepted and endorsed.

Question 6

When designing a product, the style, uses, and other related marketing activities, marketers must:
A) ensure they are culturally acceptable if they are to be operative and meaningful.
B) ensure that there is no cultural interaction.
C) understand that culture is static.
D) be insensitive to cultural differences if they are to be successful.
E) be indifferent to societal conditions.

Accepted Answer

When designing a product, the style, uses, and other related marketing activities must be made culturally acceptable (i.e., acceptable to the present society) if they are to be operative and meaningful.

Question 7

According to Dutch management professor Geert Hofstede, culture can be referred to as the:
A) "software of the mind."
B) "defining factor of life."
C) "conflict of civilization versus the masses."
D) "tool of the elite."
E) "art's triumph over banality."

Accepted Answer

Dutch management professor Geert Hofstede refers to culture as the "software of the mind" and argues that it provides a guide for humans on how to think and behave.

Question 8

Cultures with high Uncertainty Avoidance Index scores tend to have a low level of anxiety and stress.

Accepted Answer

Cultures with high Uncertainty Avoidance Index scores are highly intolerant of ambiguity and as a result tend to be distrustful of new ideas or behaviors. They tend to have a high level of anxiety and stress and a concern with security and rule following.

Question 9

Which of the following reflects Dutch management professor Geert Hofstede's perception of culture?
A) It is a weapon that is often used against the poor.
B) It is a problem-solving tool.
C) It is a bias that is used to justify racial inequality.
D) It is a relationship enhancer.
E) It is a reflection of a nation's evolution.

Accepted Answer

Dutch management professor Geert Hofstede refers to culture as the "software of the mind" and argues that it provides a guide for humans on how to think and behave; it is a problem-solving tool.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

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 11

Which of the following best describes culture?
A) It is radical in nature and readily accepts change.
B) It is the same across all countries.
C) It is the human-made part of human environment.
D) It is static in nature.
E) It is insignificant in assessing new markets.

Accepted Answer

Culture is the human-made part of human environment-the sum total of knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, laws, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by humans as members of society.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

People from cultures with high PDI (Power Distance Index) scores are more likely to have a general distrust of others (not those in their groups) because power is seen to rest with individuals and is coercive rather than legitimate.

Question 13

Cultures scoring low in Uncertainty Avoidance Index take a more empirical approach to understanding and knowledge.

Accepted Answer

Cultures scoring low in Uncertainty Avoidance Index take a more empirical approach to understanding and knowledge, whereas those scoring high in Uncertainty Avoidance Index seek absolute truth.

Question 14

In the context of the elements of culture, marriage ceremonies and funerals are good examples of rituals.

Accepted Answer

Life is filled with rituals, that is, patterns of behavior and interaction that are learned and repeated. The most obvious ones are associated with major events in life. Marriage ceremonies and funerals are good examples.

Question 15

In the context of culture's pervasive impact, which of the following is true about birth rates?
A) A service economy usually has a higher birth rate than an industrial economy.
B) Government policies and birth control technologies may have caused a decline in birth rates.
C) The economic status of a country has minimal impact on the birth rates in that country.
D) Countries that move from agricultural economies to service economies experience increased birth rates.
E) Agricultural economies support higher birth rates than industrial economies.

Accepted Answer

As countries move from agricultural to industrial to services economies, birth rates decline. Immediate causes may be government policies and birth control technologies, but a global change in values is also occurring.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 17

The process of adjusting to a new culture is known as:
A) diffusion.
B) culture transfer.
C) acculturation.
D) assimilation.
E) transference.

Accepted Answer

Individuals learn culture from social institutions through socialization (growing up) and acculturation (adjusting to a new culture).

Question 18

The Masculinity/Femininity Index (MAS), identified by Geert Hofstede, focuses on risk orientation.

Accepted Answer

The Masculinity/Femininity Index (MAS) focuses on assertiveness and achievement.

Question 19

In some countries, language is itself thought of as a social institution, with absolutely no relation to political importance.

Accepted Answer

For some around the world, language is itself thought of as a social institution, often with political importance.

Question 20

Social planners gained the acceptance for hybrid grains and better sanitation methods through unplanned change among the peoples of underdeveloped societies.

Accepted Answer

The first step in bringing about planned change in a society is to determine which cultural factors conflict with an innovation, thus creating resistance to its acceptance. The same deliberate approaches used by the social planner to gain acceptance for hybrid grains, better sanitation methods, improved farming techniques, or protein-rich diets among the peoples of underdeveloped societies can be adopted by marketers to achieve marketing goals.

Quiz 4: Cultural Dynamics in Assessing Global Markets

Which of the following actions is important for marketers in order to be effective in a foreign market?

According to Edward Hall's comments on culture, which of the following could hurt companies and careers in foreign markets?

When marketers first introduced the personal digital assistant (PDA) to the American consumers, they most likely performed the role of _____ because the cultural impact of the product became widespread.

James Day Hodgson, former U.S. ambassador to Japan, describes culture as a(n) _____, which according to him is tough to get through, but effort and patience could often lead to success.

When a culture scores high in Individualism/Collectivism Index, individuals fail to identify with groups.

When designing a product, the style, uses, and other related marketing activities, marketers must:

According to Dutch management professor Geert Hofstede, culture can be referred to as the:

Cultures with high Uncertainty Avoidance Index scores tend to have a low level of anxiety and stress.

Which of the following reflects Dutch management professor Geert Hofstede's perception of culture?

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

Which of the following best describes culture?

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

Cultures scoring low in Uncertainty Avoidance Index take a more empirical approach to understanding and knowledge.

In the context of the elements of culture, marriage ceremonies and funerals are good examples of rituals.

In the context of culture's pervasive impact, which of the following is true about birth rates?

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

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

The Masculinity/Femininity Index (MAS), identified by Geert Hofstede, focuses on risk orientation.

In some countries, language is itself thought of as a social institution, with absolutely no relation to political importance.

Social planners gained the acceptance for hybrid grains and better sanitation methods through unplanned change among the peoples of underdeveloped societies.