Cross Cultural Quiz 2

Achievement culture

A culture in which people gain status based on how well they perform their jobs.

Ascription culture

A culture in which status is based on who a person is, such as their age, family, education, or position.

Collectivism

The tendency for people to belong to groups and look after each other in exchange for loyalty.

Communitarianism

The belief that people are part of a group rather than only individuals.

Culture

Acquired knowledge people use to understand experiences and guide their values, attitudes, and behavior.

Diffuse culture

A culture in which public and private life overlap, so relationships in one area can extend into other areas.

Emotional culture

A culture in which people express their emotions openly and naturally.

Femininity

A cultural characteristic that values caring for others and quality of life.

GLOBE

A study of cultural attributes and leadership behaviors involving more than 17,000 managers from 951 organizations in 62 countries.

Individualism

The tendency for people to focus on themselves and their immediate families.

Masculinity

A cultural characteristic that emphasizes success, money, competition, and material achievements.

Neutral culture

A culture in which people control their emotions and do not express them openly.

Particularism

The belief that decisions and rules should depend on the situation and relationships involved.

Power distance

The extent to which people accept that power and authority are distributed unequally.

Specific culture

A culture in which people separate public and private life, sharing public space easily but protecting their private space.

Uncertainty avoidance

The extent to which people feel uncomfortable with uncertain or ambiguous situations and try to avoid them.

Universalism

The belief that rules and practices should be applied consistently across situations and people.

Values

Basic beliefs about what is right or wrong, good or bad, and important or unimportant.

What is culture, and how can the United States, Germany, and Japan differ in business behavior?

Culture shapes how people make decisions, handle risk, reward employees, show loyalty, and cooperate or compete. The United States often emphasizes individual achievement and competition, Germany tends to value planning and structure, and Japan often emphasizes group harmony, cooperation, and loyalty. These are general patterns, not rules for every person.

What are cultural values, and how do they change?

Cultural values are beliefs about what is important and acceptable. They differ across countries and can change over time as societies experience new generations, technology, education, and global contact.

What are Hofstede's four original cultural dimensions?

Individualism versus collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity versus femininity.

How can cultural dimensions differ across the United States, Asia, Latin America, and Latin Europe?

The United States generally emphasizes individualism. Many Asian cultures emphasize group loyalty and higher power distance. Latin American cultures often place greater importance on relationships and hierarchy. Latin European cultures can also value relationships and hierarchy, although differences exist between countries.

Why were Hofstede's fifth and sixth dimensions added?

The fifth dimension, long-term versus short-term orientation, helped explain differences in how cultures view the future and traditions. The sixth, indulgence versus restraint, helped explain differences in how cultures control desires and enjoy life.

Will international travel and cultural exposure eliminate cultural barriers?

They can reduce barriers by helping people understand other cultures, but differences may remain because people still have different values, communication styles, and expectations.

What is the difference between universalism and particularism?

Universalism applies rules consistently across situations, while particularism considers relationships and circumstances when making decisions.

What is the difference between neutral and emotional cultures?

Neutral cultures control emotional expressions, while emotional cultures express feelings openly.

What is the difference between specific and diffuse cultures?

Specific cultures separate work and private life, while diffuse cultures allow relationships and interactions to overlap across different areas of life.

What is the difference between achievement and ascription cultures?

Achievement cultures give status based on performance and accomplishments, while ascription cultures give status based on identity, age, background, or position.

How did Project GLOBE build on Hofstede's research?

GLOBE expanded research on cultural differences by studying how cultural values relate to leadership behaviors across many countries and organizations.

How can different attitudes toward time affect business?

Some cultures value strict schedules and punctuality, while others are more flexible and allow relationships or circumstances to affect timing. This can cause misunderstandings about deadlines and meetings.

How can different attitudes toward controlling the environment affect business?

Some cultures believe people should actively control events and outcomes, while others believe people should adapt to circumstances or work with forces outside their control. This can affect planning and decision-making.

Ethnocentric predisposition

A management philosophy in which the parent company's values and interests guide decisions in other countries.

Geocentric predisposition

global approach and considers the best ideas and people from around the world.

Globalization imperative

The belief that one worldwide approach to business is the key to efficiency and effectiveness.

Guanxi

A Chinese term for good connections and relationships that can help people conduct business.

Parochialism

The tendency to view the world only through one's own cultural perspective.

Polycentric predisposition

A management philosophy in which decisions are adapted to the culture of each country where the company operates.

Regiocentric predisposition

A management philosophy that considers the needs and interests of a regional group of countries.

Simplification

Treating different cultural groups as if they are the same and using the same approach with all of them.

What are the four MNC management orientations?

Ethnocentric means following the parent company's approach; polycentric means adapting to each country; regiocentric means adapting to regional needs; and geocentric means using a global approach that draws on the best ideas worldwide.

Which management orientation would work well for a manufacturing company expanding into France?

A polycentric approach could work well because the company would adapt its management practices to French culture and local business conditions.

How do parochialism and simplification create barriers to cross-cultural management?

Parochialism makes managers judge other cultures using their own standards. Simplification makes managers assume different cultures are alike. For example, a U.S. manager might assume employees in every country prefer the same reward system.

Can U.S. management practices succeed in other cultures?

Yes, some practices can succeed, but they may need adjustments. For example, teamwork and employee training can be useful in many countries, but communication, leadership, and rewards may need to fit local expectations.

Why must management practices be adapted internationally?

Countries have different values, laws, communication styles, and expectations. For example, managers may need to adjust leadership styles, employee rewards, and negotiation methods to fit the local culture.

How can cultural values influence behavior differently across countries?

Individualism may encourage personal goals, while collectivism emphasizes group goals. High power distance may lead employees to defer to managers, while low power distance encourages more equality. Different uncertainty avoidance levels can affect how comfortable people are with risk and change.

Bicultural group

A group in which members represent two different cultures.

Eiffel Tower culture

An organizational culture that emphasizes hierarchy and tasks.

Family culture

An organizational culture that emphasizes hierarchy and personal relationships.

Groupthink

When people conform to group opinions because of social pressure instead of freely sharing different ideas.

Guided missile culture

An organizational culture that emphasizes equality and completing tasks.

Homogeneous group

A group whose members have similar backgrounds and tend to understand and evaluate situations in similar ways.

Incubator culture

An organizational culture that emphasizes equality, personal development, and individual expression.

Multicultural group

A group that includes members from three or more different cultural backgrounds.

Organizational culture

The shared values and beliefs that help employees understand their roles and the organization's expectations.

Token group

A group in which nearly everyone shares the same background except for one member.

Why might employees emphasize their national culture when working for a foreign MNC?

Employees bring their country's values and expectations into the workplace. Understanding these differences helps managers communicate clearly, motivate employees, and avoid misunderstandings.

What are three possible differences between French and Spanish negotiating styles?

Negotiators may differ in how formally they behave, how much time they spend building relationships, and how directly they communicate. Companies should research the people they are negotiating with and adapt rather than assume everyone from a country negotiates the same way.

Which organizational cultures might suit American and Japanese employees?

A guided missile culture may appeal to employees who value equality and task completion, while a family culture may appeal to employees who value hierarchy and close relationships. However, preferences vary among individuals, so managers should not assume all Americans or Japanese employees prefer one culture.

Do companies need international operations to face multicultural challenges?

No. Companies can face cultural differences within their own country when employees, customers, and business partners come from different backgrounds.

What are two challenges of multicultural teams?

Communication misunderstandings and conflict over different work styles can make teamwork more difficult.

What are two advantages of multicultural teams?

They can bring a wider range of ideas and perspectives, and they can help a company understand different customers and markets.

Chromatics

The use of color to communicate messages.

Chronemics

The way time is used and understood in a culture.

Communication

The process of transferring meaning from a sender to a receiver.

Context

The information surrounding a message that helps people understand its meaning.

Distributive negotiations

Negotiations in which parties with opposing goals compete over a fixed amount of value.

Downward communication

The flow of information from a superior to a subordinate.

Haptics

Communication through physical touch.

Integrative negotiation

Negotiation in which parties cooperate to find mutual benefits and create value.

Intimate distance

The physical distance used for very close or confidential communication.

Kinesics

Communication through body movements, gestures, and facial expressions.

Monochronic time schedule

A schedule in which tasks are handled one at a time in a linear order.

Negotiation

A discussion or bargaining process intended to reach an agreement acceptable to the parties involved.

Nonverbal communication

The transfer of meaning through body language, gestures, facial expressions, touch, and physical space.

Oculesics

Communication through eye contact and gaze.

Perception

The process of selecting and interpreting information to understand the world.

Personal distance

The physical distance generally used between friends or people having a personal conversation.

Polychronic time schedule

A schedule in which people handle multiple activities at once and may place relationships above strict timing.

Proxemics

The study of how physical space and distance are used in communication.

Public distance

The physical distance used for public speaking or addressing a large group.

Social distance

The physical distance generally used for formal or less personal interactions.

Upward communication

The flow of information from subordinates to superiors.

How do explicit and implicit communication differ?

Explicit communication states the message directly, while implicit communication relies more on context and hints. A direct communicator might clearly explain an employee's mistakes and how to fix them. An indirect communicator might offer suggestions more carefully to avoid embarrassment.

Why can American slang create communication barriers for foreign employees?

Slang can have meanings that are not obvious from the individual words. "Laughing like hell" means laughing a lot; "a piece of cake" means something is easy; and "throw ideas against the wall" means sharing ideas to see which ones might work. Clear alternatives are "laughing a lot," "very easy," and "share ideas to see what works."

How might cultural misperceptions create communication barriers between Japanese executives and Georgia officials?

They may interpret communication styles differently. For example, Japanese executives may use pauses or indirect language to show respect, while Georgia officials may expect direct answers. Differences in decision-making and relationship-building can also lead each side to misunderstand the other's intentions.

How might cultural differences create communication barriers for a Barcelona winery expanding into Chicago?

The winery may encounter differences in communication styles, relationship-building, negotiation, and expectations about time. It should use clear language, research local business customs, and adapt its approach to Chicago customers and partners.

How can nonverbal communication create cross-cultural barriers?

Gestures, eye contact, touch, personal space, and facial expressions can have different meanings across cultures. A behavior intended as friendly or respectful in one culture may seem rude or uncomfortable in another.

Would nonverbal communication barriers be greater for Yamamoto Iron and Steel or Diaz Brothers?

The study guide does not provide enough case details to determine which company would face greater barriers. The answer depends on the cultural differences between the companies and the people they communicate with.

What are the five major steps in international negotiation?

Preparation: research the other party and set goals. Relationship building: establish trust. Information exchange: share needs and priorities. Persuasion: explain positions and work toward agreement. Concessions and agreement: make compromises and finalize the deal.

Which negotiation steps should be conducted internally, and which should involve all parties?

Preparation should mainly be done internally so each side can set goals and plan. Relationship building, information exchange, persuasion, and reaching an agreement generally involve all parties because they require communication and cooperation.

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