Chapter 14

Question 1

8 key dimensions to determine difference in culture

Answer 1

1. Assertiveness
2. Gender differentiation
3. Uncertainty avoidance
4. Power distance
5. In-group collectivism
6. Performance orientation
7. Humane orientation
   8 Institutional collectivism

Question 2

Assertiveness

Answer 2

focuses on how assertive people are in society and the degree to which they are confrontational

Question 3

Gender differentiation

Answer 3

focuses on how society views differences in gender roles and affords higher status to certain roles

Question 4

uncertainty avoidances

Answer 4

refers to the degree to which people are consistent and seek structure in their lives

Question 5

power distance

Answer 5

focuses on the degree to which people are separated by power and authority

Question 6

in-group collectivisim

Answer 6

focuses on the degree to which a society feels loyal either toward their family or other collective groups

Question 7

performance orientation

Answer 7

focuses on the extent to which society recognizes and rewards performance

Question 8

Humane orientation

Answer 8

focuses on the degree to which societies focus on altruistic behaviour and generosity

Question 9

Institutional collectivism

Answer 9

refers to the degree to which institutions want individuals to integrate into the larger structure, even if this is at the cost of individual freedoms

Question 10

Competencies of an expatriate manager

Answer 10

Multidimensional perspective
Cultural adaptability
Decision making ability
Team-Building and leadership ability
Resourcefulness
Negotiation Skills
Change-Agent Skills

Question 11

Multidimensional Perspective

Answer 11

Ability to consider multiple dimensions of a problem and their interrelationships and ability to integrate them. Ability to conceptualize and resolve a problem at multifunctional, multi-product, multi-industry, and multi-country levels,

Question 12

Cultural Adaptability

Answer 12

Ability to understand and adapt to local cultural norms and practices without losing track of one’s objectives.

Question 13

Decision-Making Ability

Answer 13

Strategic-thinking ability, abilitiy to process information and identify creative alternatives to problems, evaluate and test alternatives for their feasibility, and ability to modify own decision process to suit the needs of the situation.

Question 14

Team-building and Leadership Ability

Answer 14

Ability to understand the motivators of a culturally diverse workforce, bring them together as a high-performing team to accomplish organizational objectives

Question 15

Resourcefulness

Answer 15

Ability to adapt own actions and practices to the needs of the situation. Ability to accurately guage the various political, cultural, technological, and other constraints surrounding own firm and find creative solutions to meet them

Question 16

Negotiation skills

Answer 16

Ability to conduct successful strategic business negotiations in a multicultural and political environment. An understanding of the motivations of the “other side” at the bargaining table and ability to identify solutions that result in win-win solutions,

Question 17

Change-Agent Skills

Answer 17

Ability to bring about changes in a foreign setting and influence others into newer ways of thinking and acting. Ability to understand the cultural parameters surrounding oneself and adapt one’s change strategy to meet these cultural requirements.