Question 1

In North America and Western Europe, labor is generally regarded as an asset rather than an expense.

Accepted Answer

In North America and Western Europe, labor is typically considered an expense on financial statements, as it represents a cost incurred by the company.

Question 2

Latin American management styles are modern, with democratic decision-making and respect based on merit.

Accepted Answer

Latin American management styles are often characterized by hierarchical structures and respect for authority, with decision-making typically centralized rather than democratic.

Question 3

As Western Europe has unified economically and politically, firms have generally moved from shareholder to stakeholder orientations.

Accepted Answer

Western European firms have traditionally had a stakeholder orientation, focusing on the interests of employees, customers, and the community, rather than moving from a shareholder to a stakeholder orientation. This contrasts with the more shareholder-focused approach traditionally seen in the United States.

Question 4

Over time, international competition forces companies to maintain worker-management differences.

Accepted Answer

International competition often encourages companies to improve efficiency and innovation, which can lead to better worker-management collaboration and reduced differences as they work together to enhance competitiveness.

Question 5

Countries with long histories of social class differences tend to maintain worker-management differences.

Accepted Answer

Countries with long histories of social class differences often have deeply ingrained cultural norms and values that perpetuate distinctions between different social groups, including those between workers and management. This can lead to a more pronounced and persistent divide in workplace dynamics and relations.

Question 6

Western European management styles have historically been shaped by social distinctions.

Accepted Answer

Western European management styles have historically been influenced by the region's social distinctions, including class structures and hierarchical societal organization, which have shaped attitudes towards authority, leadership, and organizational practices.

Question 7

North American management styles are based on merit, internal competition among employees for resources, and individual accountability.

Accepted Answer

North American management styles typically emphasize merit-based advancement, encourage internal competition among employees as a means to allocate resources and foster innovation, and prioritize individual accountability for performance and outcomes.

Question 8

As national economies are opened up to international competition, labor unrest results and there are pressures on governments to broaden national welfare and unemploymentsystems.

Accepted Answer

Opening national economies to international competition can lead to labor unrest due to job insecurity and wage pressures. This often prompts governments to expand welfare and unemployment systems to mitigate the negative impacts on workers.

Question 9

In North America and much of Western Europe, labor is generally regarded as an expense rather than a corporate asset.

Accepted Answer

In North America and much of Western Europe, the prevailing business mindset often views labor primarily as a cost to be minimized, rather than as an asset or investment that can generate long-term value for the company. This perspective influences how companies manage their workforce, focusing on reducing labor costs through measures such as automation, outsourcing, and minimizing wage increases.

Question 10

Developed countries are realizing that upgrading their educational infrastructures is a key weapon in retaining high value-added industries.

Accepted Answer

Developed countries recognize that enhancing their educational systems is crucial for maintaining competitiveness in high value-added industries, as it ensures a skilled workforce capable of innovation and high productivity.

Question 11

Developing nations are realizing that upgrading national educational systems is a key to attracting high tech industries.

Accepted Answer

Developing nations recognize that improving their educational systems, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), is crucial for creating a skilled workforce that can attract and sustain high-tech industries, fostering economic growth and development.

Question 12

In Asia and in many traditional economies, collectivist orientations result in paternalistic attitudes towards labor and job preservation.

Accepted Answer

In many Asian and traditional economies, collectivist orientations emphasize the group over the individual, often leading to paternalistic attitudes where employers take a protective and directive approach towards employees, including efforts to preserve jobs and ensure the welfare of their workforce.

Question 13

The African Ubuntu management style emphasizes collectivist principles, consensus decision-making, and products that are useful to society.

Accepted Answer

The African Ubuntu management style indeed focuses on collectivist principles, emphasizing the importance of community, consensus in decision-making processes, and the creation of products that benefit society as a whole. This approach is rooted in the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which stresses human interconnectedness and the belief that a person is a person through other people.

Question 14

Management styles in India have been shaped by Confucian, Buddhist and Shinto influences.

Accepted Answer

Management styles in India have primarily been influenced by its own cultural and historical contexts, including Hinduism, Islam, and colonial legacies, rather than Confucian, Buddhist, and Shinto influences which are more characteristic of East Asian cultures.

Question 15

In France, management is viewed as an intellectual activity and is elitest in its outlook.

Accepted Answer

In France, management is often seen as an intellectual pursuit, and the approach to management tends to be more elitist, with a strong emphasis on academic credentials and theoretical knowledge from prestigious schools.

Question 16

The African Ubuntu management style focuses on individual self-fulfillment and corporate profit motives.

Accepted Answer

The African Ubuntu management style emphasizes communal values, teamwork, and mutual respect over individual self-fulfillment and corporate profit motives.

Question 17

Eastern European management styles until the 1980s were traditional in outlook, emphasizing employment maximization, collectivist philosophies, and mistrust between labor and management.

Accepted Answer

Eastern European management styles until the 1980s were indeed traditional, focusing on employment maximization due to the socialist economies prevalent in the region, which emphasized full employment. Collectivist philosophies were a core part of the socialist ideology, promoting collective ownership and decision-making. Mistrust between labor and management was common due to the centralized control and lack of transparency in decision-making processes.

Question 18

Asian management styles are mainly traditional, with market share, employment goals, seniority orientations, and lifelong employment.

Accepted Answer

Asian management styles often emphasize long-term relationships, stability, and loyalty, which align with traditional practices such as prioritizing market share, employment goals, seniority, and lifelong employment.

Question 19

After perestroika and glasnost, Eastern European management styles have evolved under western influences to emphasize quantitative performance indicators and professional development of human resources.

Accepted Answer

After perestroika and glasnost, Eastern European countries underwent significant political and economic reforms, leading to the adoption of more Western management practices, including a focus on quantitative performance indicators and the professional development of human resources. These changes were part of a broader shift towards market-oriented economies and the integration into global business practices.

Question 20

Asian management styles have been shaped by religious, geographic and historic circumstances.

Accepted Answer

Asian management styles are influenced by various factors including religious beliefs (such as Confucianism, Buddhism, and Hinduism), geographic diversity, and historical contexts (such as colonialism and the Silk Road trade), which have all contributed to the development of unique management practices and philosophies in the region.

Quiz 12: Localization Strategies: Managing Stakeholders and Supply Chains