IB Chapter 4: Differences in Cultures

The religion where followers believe in reincarnation and karma is

Hinduism.

What are the four dimensions originally identified by Hofstede?

Individualism versus collectivism, Uncertainty avoidance, Power distance, Masculinity versus femininity

Unspoken language is another way to describe ______ communication.

nonverbal

Energy Resources Ltd. does business in 50 countries around the world. The company stresses to all employees the importance of understanding the prevailing culture in the countries that they are doing business in. In other words, the company is aware of the importance of

cross-cultural literacy.

The ideas about what a group believes to be good, right, and desirable are called _____.

values

According to Hofstede, if the ties between people are loose, it is most likely a sign of a(n) ______ society.

individualistic

Monica asked her manager if appropriate dress for the meeting was business casual or traditional business. Monica is inquiring about the ______ associated with the meeting.

folkway

Norms that are more widely observed within a society and have greater moral significance than folkways are called _____.

mores

True or False: While religion can influence the values and norms of society, the values and norms of society can also impact religion.

true

The basic social organization of a society is called its social _____.

structure

Stephen usually eats lunch with three of his co-workers and on the weekends he gets together with his college friends. The people Stephen interacts with represent two types of _____.

groups

Hofstede studied how ______ relates to values in the workplace.

culture

The U.S. economy is considered _____ because it is impacted by the philosophy of individualism.

dynamic

All societies are divided on a hierarchical basis into social categories called social ____

strata

Nigel was born into a poor, working-class family in England. He is resigned to the fact that his life will be much like his fathers as he has no way to earn a degree and change his status. Nigel believes that a lack of _____ determines his fate.

social mobility

A caste system is a type of social structure that divides people on the basis of _____.

inherited social status

Which example demonstrates mores?

It is against the law in the United States to commit theft.

What are two ways a person can change their social status within a class system?

achievement, luck

Which profession would have been included in the upper-middle class in traditional British society?

lawyer

Class ______ is an awareness of one's social or economic rank in society.

consciousness

The set of shared beliefs followed by Catholics and those of the Jewish faith represent their individual _____.

religions

According to Weber, thrift, efficiency, and hard work are the result of a person's belief in the ethics of _____.

Protestantism

One reason for the rise of Islamic fundamentalism is the

influence of Western ideas and culture.

Recently, there has been a marked increase in some countries with regard to symbolic gestures of _____. This includes women wearing floor-length, long-sleeved dresses that cover their entire body and their hair.

Islamic fundamentalism

Which two phrases reflect the economic implications of Islam?

Cannot earn profit through exploitation of others, Hold property as trustees, rather than as owners (per Western definition of ownership)

When an Islamic bank implements a mudarabah contract, it is similar to a _____ that might take place in the United States.

profit sharing scheme (takes share of the profit, not interest)

Buddhism has all the same basic beliefs as Hinduism EXCEPT it does not advocate for which two factors?

Support for the caste system, Advocacy in extreme ascetic behavior

Confucianism values harmonious relationships, which are based on moral and ethical conduct and ______.

loyalty to others

Which ethical system is NOT concerned with the afterlife?

Confucianism

What are the three values central to the Confucian system of ethics that may have led to economic success in some Asian countries?

Honesty in dealing with others, loyalty, Reciprocal obligations

Social norms that address the customs and conventions of a society and are central to the functioning of the society are called _____.

mores

Which ideology has, as one of its key beliefs, that honesty has major economic implications?

Confucianism

As the result of criticism of his original work, Hofstede went on to expand his model with the addition of which dimension?

Long-term versus short-term orientation

In the ______ dimension identified by Hofstede, the degree of power and wealth is not balanced within a country.

power distance

According to Hofstede, societies with stiff codes of behavior, rules, and laws score ____, on the uncertainty avoidance index.

high

What are three tenets associated with Confucianism?

High moral conduct, Loyalty to others, High ethical conduct

In a Confucian society, expensive lawyers would not be needed to resolve contract disputes because

importance is attached to honesty.

The Hofstede dimension that looks at the relationship between gender and work roles is

masculinity versus femininity.

Which of Hofstede's dimensions focuses on delaying gratification of material needs?

Long-term versus short-term orientation

One way a company can become more informed about the practices of an international affiliate is to

employ local citizens to help them do business in a particular culture.

Hofstede's fifth dimension was inspired by _____.

Confucianism

Geoff believes that the way his U.S.-based company does business is superior to the way his French affiliate office conducts business. Geoff's attitude is an example of _____.

ethnocentrism

is the Hofstede dimension that measures a society's tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty.

Uncertainty avoidance

There is a connection between culture and competitive advantage. What are two reasons why this connection is important?

The connection suggests which countries might produce the most viable competitors, This connection can affect the choice of countries to do business in and locate production facilities in.

Hindus believe in ______, the behaviors and responsibilities governing individual conduct.

dharma

The routine conventions of living, thinking, and acting in a group are called ______.

folkways

Most people talk quietly when going into a library because it is a social rule. This type of social rule is called a _____.

norm

______ join the political entity of a state to the cultural entity of a nation.

nation states

What are three principles of social stratification?

It carries over to the next generation, It involves beliefs as well as inequality, It is generally universal.

Max Weber attributed the relationship between the emergence of ______ and Protestantism to the value system of the religion.

capitalism

In a ______ culture, sex roles are sharply differentiated.

masculine

What term is used by Hofstede to describe a society that allows relatively free gratification of basic human drives?

indulgence

Zhang is a representative for a Chinese company that is based in Confucian culture. When Zhang mentions to his staff that guanxi should be taken into consideration, what is he referring to?

relationships or connections the business has, Guanxi means relationships, although in business settings it can be better understood as connections.

What is the new "sixth dimension" to be added to Hofstede's original dimensions?

indulgence versus restraint

convergence hypothesis

a hypothesis holding that cultural differences among places are being reduced by improved transportation and communications systems, leading to a homogenization of popular culture.