Ch.11 Culture Flashcards
Define culture.
Culture refers to the learned norms based on values, attitudes, and beliefs of a group of people. Can be based on nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, work organization, profession, age, political party membership, income level, etc. Culture is an integral part of a nation’s operating environment. Every business function is subject to potential cultural differences.
Define a low-context culture.
Only direct information is considered relevant. What was said, the words used, only the subject matter at hand is important.
Define a high-context culture.
A wider set of information is considered important for understanding. How it was said (tone, emphasis, body language). Broader inputs (relative positions, relationships, cultural references).
Why would companies foster cultural diversity?
Can allow a company to gain a global competitive advantage by bringing together people of diverse backgrounds and experience.
What is culture collision?
When a company implements practices that are less effective when employees encounter distress because of difficulty in accepting or adjusting to foreign behaviours.
Name two things that can hinder managers cultural awareness.
- Subconscious reactions to circumstances
- The assumption that all societal subgroups are similar
Why is the nation a useful definition of society?
- Similarity among people is a cause and an effect of national boundaries
- Laws apply primarily along national lines
- Language and values are shared within national borders
- Rites and symbols are shared along national lines
Why can country-by-country analysis be difficult?
- Subcultures exist within nations
- Similarties link groups from different countries
What determines social ranking?
- An individual’ achievements and qualifications
- An individual’s affiliation with, or membership in, certain groups
What determines group affiliations?
- Ascribed group membership based on gender, family, age, caste, ethnic, racial, or national origin
- Acquired group membership based on religion, political affiliation, professional association
Name two other important factors for social stratification.
Education
Social connections
Define power distance.
- High power distance implies little superior-subordinate interaction, autocratic or paternalistic management style
- Low power distance implies a lot superior-subordinate interaction, consultative style
Describe individualism versus collectivism.
-High individualism potentially welcomes challenges
- High collectivism potentially prefers safe work environment
True or False, cultural differences only apply across countries?
False, cultural differences can apply across different countries, companies in the same country, or even different departments in the same company.
Name 4 traits that vary across cultures.
Uncertainty avoidance
Trust
Future orientation (Delaying gratification)
Fatalism (Attitudes of self-determination)
