Quiz 3: Culture and Business

Local culture, values, and customs play an insignificant role in the business environment.

The highest hurdle to cross-cultural understanding and effective relationships is our frequent inability to understand the influence of culture on the personality.

Culture is the beliefs, values, mind-sets, and practices of a group of people.

The Western languages follow the traditional and the more singular definition of culture, where the word often implies refinement.

Cross-cultural understanding means persuading individuals from other cultures to convert to ones' own point of view.

Culture influences our individual perspectives to such a great extent that we cannot always account for or comprehend its influence.

Culture awareness most commonly refers to the automatic acceptance of another culture's values and perspective.

The study of cross-cultural analysis incorporates the fields of anthropology, sociology, psychology, and communication.

Edward T.Hall is sometimes called the father of modern cross-cultural science and thinking.

According to Geert Hofstede, values are mostly conscious.

In high power distance cultures, superiors and subordinates are more likely to see each other as equal in power.

Individualism refers to people's tendency to take care of themselves and their immediate circle of family and friends, perhaps at the expense of the overall society.

Even though people are focused on the bottom line, culture plays a crucial role in deciding with whom they do business.

Understanding culture is important in determining the success of a business because different cultures have business practices, communication, and management styles that are different from those to which you are accustomed.

Preconceived notions help in successfully conducting business with people from other cultures.

In Western Cultures, looking into someone's eyes, especially if they are older, may come off as disrespectful, since focusing directly on someone who is senior to you implies disrespect.

Culture influences communication and, therefore, affects business if one is sourcing from different countries.

Ethics is a branch of philosophy that seeks to address questions about morality.

Today's philosophers divide ethical theories into eight general subject areas.

A sense of ethics is determined by a number of social, cultural, and religious factors this sense influences us beginning early in adulthood.

Ethical behavior refers to behavior that is generally accepted across cultures.

In theory, most global firms have clear guidelines articulating antidiscrimination policies whereas in reality, they routinely self-censor.

Even within a specific culture, individuals have different ideas of what constitutes ethical or unethical behavior.

Bribery can be considered ethical by some cultures, if it is a part of normal traditional, social practices.

In some cultures, where companies are seen as "guardians," efforts to lay off employees may be perceived as culturally unethical.

Which of the following is not true when discussing cultural factors and their impact on business? A)a company's global clients' expectations may differ B)culture is a factor in decision making and negotiations C)employees are managed based on their values and priorities D)customer service has a universal operating standard E)business protocol varies based on culture

"Guanxi" refers to: A)the personal connections which are essential for doing business in China. B)the sub-cultural groups that exist in China. C)the dominant cultural group that decides Chinese culture. D)the cultural differences between Taiwan and China. E)the department responsible for implementing cultural practices in China.

When firms operate in a country, they have to assess how new employees will fit into their respective _____, which usually emphasize creativity, innovation, and teamwork, balanced with individual accomplishment, and a keen sense of privacy. A)organizations B)subculture C)national culture D)corporate culture E)social philosophy

In the United States of America, children strike out on their own at a very early age.They pay for their own housing and education.The American society serves as an example of a(n): A)masculine culture. B)individualistic culture. C)collectivistic culture. D)feminine culture. E)culture with long-term orientation.

One of the main jobs of managers in multinational companies is: A)to discourage multiculturalism. B)to encourage the takeover of the company culture by the local culture. C)to replace the local culture by the company culture. D)to ensure the coexistence of the local culture with the company culture. E)to insulate the employees from the local culture.

The term "national culture" refers to: A)the culture which had been prevalent for more than two centuries. B)the culture which is implemented by the government in power. C)the regional cultures in the neighboring countries. D)the culture of a nation wherever it exists irrespective of boundaries. E)the dominant culture of a particular nation.

???_____ refers to how openly a society or culture accepts or does not accept differences between people, as in hierarchies in the workplace, in politics. A)Power distance B)Individualism C)Uncertainty avoidance D)Proxemics E)Collectivism

A culture which openly accepts that a boss is "higher" and as such deserves more formal respect and authority is a culture with: A)high individuality. B)low masculinity. C)high masculinity. D)low power distance. E)high power distance.

_____ refers to people's tendency to take care of themselves and their immediate circle of family and friends, perhaps at the expense of the overall society. A)Individualism B)Collectivism C)Masculinity D)Power distance E)Uncertainty avoidance

Which of the following statements is true about individualistic cultures? A)Group goals take precedence over individual goals. B)Individual effort is appreciated and applauded. C)Individual effort is criticized and looked down upon. D)Collectivism is held in high esteem. E)Individual rights and identity take a back-seat.

In Swedish cultures, both genders swap roles and the focus is on quality of life, service, and independence.Sweden serves as an example of a(n): A)masculine culture. B)individualistic culture. C)collectivistic culture. D)low context culture. E)feminine culture.

Uncertainty avoidance in a culture refers to: A)whether a culture has a long-term or short-term orientation. B)people's tendency to take care of themselves at the expense of the society. C)the degree of risk a society or culture is willing to accept. D)the degree to which gender roles are crisply defined in a culture. E)the study of physical space and people.

Which of the following value is not specific to Hofstede's long-term orientation dimension? A)persistence B)gift giving C)perseverance D)thriftiness E)having a sense of shame

The _____ dimension values tradition and fulfilling social obligations. A)uncertainty avoidance B)indulgence C)short-term orientation D)long-term orientation E)individualism

In _____, the physical context of the message carries a great deal of importance.People tend to be more indirect and to expect the person they are communicating withto decode the implicit part of their message. A)low-context cultures B)masculine cultures C)monochronic cultures D)high-context cultures E)polychronic cultures

Which of the following value dimensions is defined as the extent to which people try to control their desires and impulses, based on the way they were raised? A)Long-term orientation B)Uncertainty avoidance C)Power distance D)Individualism E)Indulgence

In the Chinese business world, every single member in Chinese companies is willing to follow office regulation and work guidelines made by the owner.Employees do not want to challenge their senior workers or supervisors.This is an example of: A)small power distance culture B)low uncertainty avoidance culture C)masculine-oriented culture D)high uncertainty avoidance culture E)high power distance culture

In low-context cultures, A)standing distances between people shrink. B)people tend to be explicit and direct in their communications. C)the physical context of the message carries a great deal of importance. D)body language is as important as the actual words spoken. E)people tend to do one task at a time.

The tendency of people to do several things at the same time is reflected in a: A)polychronic culture. B)high context culture. C)long-term orientation culture. D)monochronic culture. E)collectivist culture.

The study which focuses on space and distance between people as they interact is called: A)collectivism. B)power distance. C)uncertainty avoidance. D)ethnocentrism. E)proxemics.

The tendency to do one task at a time is seen in: A)low context cultures. B)monochronic cultures C)high context cultures. D)polychronic cultures. E)collectivist cultures.

In _____ cultures, people regard work as part of a larger interaction with a community, and are less likely to simply end a meeting. A)collectivist B)polychronic C)monochronic D)low-context E)individualistic

The view that a person's own culture is central and other cultures are measured in relation to it is referred to as: A)consequentialism. B)utilitarianism. C)ethnocentrism. D)collectivism. E)individualism.

The specific values included in Hofstede's research is referred to as: A)value dimensions. B)value system. C)uncertainty avoidance. D)individualism. E)ethnocentrism.

People who have low uncertainty avoidance prefer: A)to take on risks. B)to steer clear of conflict and competition. C)to exhibit less aggressiveness. D)stability and the known. E)very clear instructions.

In family-owned businesses in Latin America, the _____ tends to retain the key decision making roles. a.hierarch b.patriarch c.officially appointed head d.board of directors trierarch

_____ is that branch of philosophy that seeks to address questions about morality. A)Proxemics B)Ethics C)Egoism D)Esthetics E)Ethnocentrism

What of the following statements is true of the Reformation and Enlightenment? A)They focus on practicality and profitability rather than being ethical. B)They focus on equality and individual rights. C)They focus on monarchy and divine rights. D)They focus on the preeminence of the state. E)They focus on discrimination based on race and ethnicity.

_____ is the ethical theory, which investigates where our ethical principles come from, and what they mean. A)Ethnocentrism B)Applied ethics C)Normative ethics D)Metaethics E)Proxemics

Normative ethics involves: A)establishing moral standards that regulate right and wrong conduct. B)investigating where our ethical principles come from, and what they mean. C)examining specific controversial issues, such as animal rights and environmental concerns. D)making a comparative analysis of cross-cultural moral standards. E)establishing the supremacy of moral standards of the Western school of thought.

Applied ethics involves: A)investigating where our ethical principles come from and what they mean. B)making a comparative analysis of cross-cultural moral standards. C)establishing moral standards that regulate right and wrong conduct. D)focusing on the issues of universal truths, the will of God. E)examining specific controversial issues.

The Enlightenment promoted a set of values in which _____, not religion, was advocated as the primary source for legitimacy and authority. A)beliefs B)reason C)cultural values D)faith E)ethnic background

People in Northern Europe and North America tend to schedule one event at a time.They serve as an example of a(n)_____. A)polychronic culture. B)monochronic culture. C)individualistic culture. D)culture with high power distance. E)culture with low uncertainty avoidance.

In cultures where organizations are seen as "guardians," any effort to lay off employees: A)is considered unlawful. B)invites penalties from the government. C)is considered unethical. D)is considered discriminatory. E)means disrespect to the cultural beliefs.

_____ refers to "giving or obtaining advantage through means which are illegitimate, immoral, and/or inconsistent with one's duty or the rights of others." A)Reformation B)Abolition C)Altruism D)Corruption E)Abjection

Grease payments refer to: A)legalized payments to establish a business relationship. B)penalties paid by organizations for unethical behavior. C)financial incentives given to ethical companies in some countries. D)small inducements intended to expedite decisions. E)ethical business strategies used by corporate houses.

Which of the following is true about gift giving? A)It is formalized and structured in the American countries. B)It is formalized and structured in Japan and China. C)It is illegal and a punishable offence in Japan and China. D)It is nonexistent for business purposes in European culture. E)It is not prevalent in Middle Eastern culture.

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act refers to the: A)UN law that specifically bans any form of glass ceiling. B)European Union law that specifically bans any form of discrimination. C)UN law that specifically bans any form of tax evasion. D)U.S.law that specifically bans any form of bribery. E)Indian law specifying guidelines for gift giving.

_____ is the technical term to define corporate conscience wherein organizations monitor and ensure their active compliance with the spirit of the law, ethical standards, and international norms. A)Corporate goodwill B)Corporate image C)Corporate social responsibility D)Proxemics E)Reformation

A Japanese automobile manufacturer manufactures a faulty piece of gearing instrument, which leads to a number of accidents.The organization recalls the faulty instrument from the market and the CEO apologizes to the customers.This is representative of a(n): A)individualistic culture. B)collectivistic culture. C)culture with long-term orientation. D)culture with short-term orientation. E)masculine culture.

French companies show a preference for low-risk decisions and the employees prefer sharply defined rules and rituals to get tasks completed.This serves as an example of a(n): A)masculine culture. B)culture with high uncertainty avoidance. C)culture with long-term orientation. D)collectivistic culture. E)individualistic culture.

Transparency International tracks illicit behavior, such as bribery and embezzlement, and assigns a _____ rating to each country. A)Corruption Perceptions Index B)Criminality Recognition Index C)Transparency Perceptions Index D)Corruption Awareness Index E)Criminality Awareness Index

Which of the following does the term Corporate Social Responsibility relate to? A)Environmental practice B)Ethical conduct C)Wellbeing of employees D)Community investment E)all of the above

Define culture.

What is organizational culture?

How can we effectively deal with the problems of cross-cultural interaction?

Which are the other external factors that constitute a culture apart from the ones stated by Hofstede and Hall?

What is the study of Proxemics?

Language is one of the more conspicuous expressions of culture.Explain.

Which areas of business are affected by culture?

Which are the areas that one needs to take care of when doing business with individuals from other cultures?

How do ethics impact business management practices?

What is the source of the value system that every individual possesses?

Culture is a slave neither to geographical barriers nor to the political boundaries drawn by man.Do you agree with the statement? Substantiate.

How does ethnocentrism color our opinions about individuals from other cultures?

How does the Latin business culture differ from that of North America and Europe?

Ethics as a concept is culture specific.Discuss. Corruption is "giving or obtaining advantage through means which are illegitimate, immoral, and/or inconsistent with one's duty or the rights of others." Corruption often results from patronage.Our modern understanding of business ethics notes that following culturally accepted norms is not always the ethical choice.What may be acceptable at certain points in history, such as racism or sexism, became unacceptable with the further development of society's mind-set.What happens when cultures changes but business practices don't? Does that behavior become unethical, and is the person engaged in the behavior unethical? In some cultures, there may be conflicts with global business practices, such as in the area of gift giving, which has evolved into bribery-a form of corruption.Paying bribes is relatively common in many countries, and bribes often take the form of grease payments, which are small inducements intended to expedite decisions and transactions.In India and Mexico, for example, a grease payment may help get your phones installed faster-at home or at work.Ethics therefore is not an absolute term.It depends on the cultures in which a particular activity is being carried out.The culture decides whether that activity would be considered ethical or not.

What is CSR and why do organizations involve themselves in it?

One of the most important cultural factors in many countries is the emphasis on networking or relationships.Explain

Culture awareness most commonly refers to having an understanding of the values and perspective of another _____.

_____ requires that we reorient our mind-set and expectations, in order to interpret the gestures, attitudes, and statements of the people we encounter.

The teachings and experiences in a particular culture decide the reasoning and the _____ of the people.

_____ refers to the set of beliefs, values, and norms, together with symbols like dramatized events and personalities that represents the unique character of an organization.

Geert Hofstede is a(n)_____ who focused on a comparison of nations using a statistical analysis of two unique databases.

_____ refers to the specific values included in Hofstede's research.

_____ can be defined as broad preferences for one state of affairs over others.

A culture where people prize relatively strong control over their urges is called a culture of _____.

In _____ cultures, men cut tough and independent personas, while women cultivate modesty and quality of life.

_____ refers to the manner in which individuals physically and verbally meet and interact.

_____ refers to how one gestures, twitches, or scrunches up the face, which in turn represents a veritable legend to one's emotions.

The U.S.is Moderately _____, reflecting contradictory attitudes and behaviors.For example, it's a country which has waged war on drugs for decades and yet has the highest substance abuse problems in contrast to other wealthy countries.

Philosophers today usually divide ethical theories into _____ general subject areas.

Corruption and bribery are a critical result of _____ behavior.

_____ can be defined as a system of moral standards or values.

One of the most important cultural factors in many countries is the emphasis on or relationships.