Question 1

Which of the following is the most widely spoken language in the world,and is increasingly becoming the language of international business?

Accepted Answer

English is the most widely spoken language in the world, with over 1.5 billion people speaking it either as their first or second language. It is also the language of international business, with many companies conducting their operations in English and it being the dominant language in industries such as technology, finance, and tourism.

Question 2

The natives of the Republic of Coastland are always prepared to take risks and they also demonstrate less emotional resistance to change.Apart from these characteristics,the ties between people are loose,sex roles are less sharply distinguished,and inequalities of power and wealth are discouraged in the country.According to this information,the Republic of Coastland most likely demonstrates

Accepted Answer

The information given suggests that the Republic of Coastland has low uncertainty avoidance, which means its people are more comfortable taking risks and adapting to change. This cultural dimension is often associated with societies that value innovation, informality, and flexibility. The other dimensions mentioned in the answer options are not strongly supported by the information given or are contradicted by it. Collectivism implies strong group cohesion, which is not mentioned as a defining trait of Coastland's culture. Masculinity would suggest that gender roles are more clearly defined, which is also not indicated in the text. High power distance implies greater acceptance of hierarchies and social stratification, which is discouraged in Coastland. Class consciousness is not mentioned at all.

Question 3

Chinese is the mother tongue of the largest number of people,but English is the most widely spoken language in the world.This indicates that

Accepted Answer

While Chinese may be the mother tongue of the largest number of people, English is still considered the most widely spoken language in the world due to the fact that many people speak it as a second language. This can be seen in countries where English is not the mother tongue, but is still widely spoken and used in business and education.

Question 4

Which of the following Confucian ethics is central to the Chinese concept of guanxi?

Accepted Answer

The central Confucian ethics in guanxi is the idea of reciprocal obligations, which emphasize the importance of maintaining social relationships and fulfilling mutual obligations to build trust and respect among individuals. This is the foundation of guanxi, which refers to a network of social connections based on mutual trust and benefit in Chinese society.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is true with regard to Geert Hofstede's cultural dimensions?

Accepted Answer

Geert Hofstede's cultural dimensions state that high uncertainty avoidance cultures have a strong need for rules and regulations. The other options are not consistent with his findings.

Question 6

China Innovation Inc.is a devout follower of Confucian ethics.Hence,it hires people who live by similar principles.Which of the following is most likely to be a characteristic of this company?

Accepted Answer

Confucian ethics emphasize the importance of trust and reciprocity in relationships. This means that China Innovation Inc. is likely to place a high value on building and maintaining relationships based on trust and mutual benefit. As a result, it is more likely to offer favorable terms to businesses with which it has a positive relationship, leading to lower costs of doing business for those companies.

Question 7

Which of the following is an aspect of nonverbal communication?

Accepted Answer

Personal space is an aspect of nonverbal communication, which refers to the physical distance between individuals when communicating. Other options such as grammar, punctuation, speech tone, and voice modulation are all related to verbal communication.

Question 8

Managers at the Blue Dragon Inc.,an international company with operations in China and the United States,are often heard complaining about the difficulties in achieving synergy and cooperation between the employees of both the countries.After extensive research it was concluded that the cultural differences between these countries,which resulted in different work-related values,caused the lack of cooperation.In order to effectively tackle this problem,Blue Dragon Inc.should

Accepted Answer

Varying management processes and practices to account for cultural differences is the most effective way to achieve synergy and cooperation between employees of different countries. This approach acknowledges and respects cultural differences and seeks to find common ground for effective working relationships. Adopting the host country's practices or the home country's practices in both countries could result in ignoring cultural differences and creating further conflict. Exiting one of the countries is not a viable solution as it would result in lost opportunities and potential profits. Providing incentives based only on individual performance could create a competitive and divisive working environment that does not foster collaboration.

Question 9

When traveling to a foreign country on business,Jenner was shocked to find a male nurse.Back from where he came,nurses were always female.Jenner's home country culture displays a high degree of which of Hofstede's cultural dimensions?

Accepted Answer

The best choice is B, masculinity, as it refers to the degree to which a culture values assertiveness, competition, and material success, typically associated with males. Jenner's surprise at finding a male nurse in his home country suggests that there is a strong cultural expectation for nurses to be female, which may reflect a traditional gender role division between men and women. Choices A, C, D, and E do not directly apply to the scenario described.

Question 10

Which of the following is not concerned with the supernatural,has little to say about the concept of a supreme being or an afterlife,and believes that loyalty to one's superiors is an absolute obligation?

Accepted Answer

Confucianism does not focus on supernatural beliefs or the concept of a supreme being or afterlife. It instead emphasizes the importance of ethical behavior, loyalty to one's superiors, and fulfilling one's social roles and responsibilities. The other options, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam, all have beliefs and teachings related to the supernatural, a supreme being, and an afterlife.

Question 11

Which of the following statements best defines personal space?

Accepted Answer

Personal space refers to the comfortable amount of distance between two individuals while interacting with each other. It varies based on cultural, social and individual factors. Option D best describes this concept.

Question 12

The recent trend to outsource information technology jobs to countries such as India indicates that

Accepted Answer

The trend to outsource information technology jobs to countries such as India indicates that these countries have a good education system, which is a determinant of national competitive advantage. Companies outsource to these countries because they have a skilled workforce that can do the required job at a lower cost. It is not about unskilled labor or the countries moving towards communism. Nor is it related to the availability of unskilled labor in Western countries or their latitudinal location.

Question 13

When schools emphasize respect for others,obedience to authority,honesty,neatness,being on time,and use a grading system,they are

Accepted Answer

Schools are not necessarily impinging on fundamental freedoms and values, as these values are widely accepted in society. Nor are they creating a rigid caste system, as social mobility is possible through education. Rather, schools are indirectly teaching cultural values and norms that are important for children to learn in order to function and succeed in society. The grading system, for example, is a way to measure academic progress and prepare students for future opportunities.

Question 14

A country characterized with low uncertainty avoidance and low masculinity will

Accepted Answer

A country with low uncertainty avoidance (meaning they are comfortable with ambiguity and change) and low masculinity (meaning they value cooperation, consensus, and work-life balance over competition and achievement) would likely be less resistant to change and would not distinguish heavily between men and women in the same job. This suggests a more flexible and open culture, with less rigid rules and roles for gender, in line with Option C. Options A, B, D, and E all describe characteristics that would be more typical of countries with higher uncertainty avoidance and/or masculinity scores.

Question 15

A person seeking and receiving help through a guanxi network is

Accepted Answer

In guanxi networks, reciprocity is a key principle. Therefore, if a person receives help from the network, they are expected to reciprocate when called upon. Failure to do so can result in social sanctions or damage to their reputation.

Question 16

In Brendan's home country,senior officers eat in the same cafeteria as the entry level workers.On a trip to a different country,he was surprised to find that the company he was visiting had different cafeterias for managers and workers as well as different parking lots.The difference that Brendan perceived is attributed to which of Hofstede's dimensions?

Accepted Answer

The difference in cafeteria and parking facilities between managers and workers in a different country suggests a high power distance, where there is a clear hierarchy and separation between those in positions of authority and those who are not. Hofstede's power distance dimension measures how different cultures perceive and distribute power within organizations and society. Brendan's surprise indicates that his home country has a lower power distance, where individuals in senior positions are not as far removed from entry-level workers.

Question 17

In a Confucian culture,loyalty of the subordinates to their superiors should be

Accepted Answer

In Confucian culture, loyalty is often seen as a reciprocal relationship where superiors are expected to care for and reward their subordinates, creating a harmonious and mutually beneficial relationship.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is true of Confucianism?

Accepted Answer

In Confucian thought, loyalty to one's superiors is indeed regarded as a sacred duty. Confucianism is primarily a moral and ethical system of beliefs and practices that emphasizes the importance of education, family values, social harmony, and moral virtues such as benevolence, righteousness, and proper conduct in personal and public life. It does not focus on the supernatural, the concept of a supreme being, or an afterlife, and it is mainly followed in China and East Asia, not India. Confucian ethics do not necessarily raise the costs of doing business or cause high conflict between management and labor; in fact, they can encourage trust, respect, and social responsibility in business relationships.

Question 19

Which of the following is a characteristic of high uncertainty avoidance cultures?

Accepted Answer

High uncertainty avoidance cultures tend to have a low tolerance for ambiguity, which is reflected in their preference for maintaining strict rules and regulations. This can extend to a manager tightly controlling subordinates' initiatives to avoid potential mistakes or unexpected outcomes.

Question 20

According to Hofstede,in societies where _____ was emphasized,ties between individuals were tight.

Accepted Answer

According to Hofstede, societies with a high score in collectivism value tight ties between individuals, placing higher importance on group harmony and interdependence rather than individualism.

Quiz 4: Differences in Culture