Final Exam Review Flashcards
1.How do spatial relations demonstrate power?
Spatial relations demonstrate different amounts of power depending on where the boss is located, how big his office is etc. A boss with a big office that is separated from his employees represents a bigger spatial relationship.
- Describe how a low power distance is reflected in a culture politically, socially, relationally and professionally.
Low Power Distance
- Politically- (change made through democratic process)
- Socially -concerned with narrowing the gap between wealthy and poor; educated and uneducated
- Social mobility is possible
- Assistance for unemployed, medical care, and charitable agencies are important parts of these societies - Relationally- less formal in addressing superior
- Why? Status is achieved/ earned - Professionally – employees are less reliant on superiors; they provide suggestions to superiors
- Describe how power distance is reflected in organizational, structure?
Tall Structure - Power is centralized - Authoritative approach - High Hierarchy - High power distance Flat Structure - Power is decentralized - Low power distance
- Referring to the Big Dog Software Case, what should the owners of this company have known about Japanese culture prior to the arrival of their Japanese partners from Ichi Ban Heavy Industries of Japan.
- High power distance
- Status is important
- Expectation of treatment depending on status
- Explain the types of power and the preference for specific types of power depending on the national cultural value of power distance.
Legitimate power
– used in low power distance cultures
-Power derived from a job, position, or status and held as belonging to the person in such a position.
- Used when boss tells you to do something
Referent power
- Influence over others, acquired from being well liked or respected by them.
- Being a famous hockey player telling fans what to do
– high power distance cultures
Expert power
- Ability to influence other parties based on expertise and knowledge. Expert power in an organization is the ability to influence the behavior of others in the organization based solely on past experience and expertise in a specific area.
- Doctors giving patients advice and or telling them what to do
– both high and low power distance
Reward power
– low power distance
The most popular forms are offering raises, promotions, and simply compliments.
- The extent to which an entity can control the dispensing of rewards or benefits.
Coercive power
– high power distance cultures
Authority or power that is dependent on fear, suppression of free will, and/or use of punishment or threat, for its existence.
- Hitler
Information power
– both high and low power distance
-A person who has access to valuable information
- Bankers, Fuck I don’t know
- Describe how high power distance is reflected in a culture politically, socially, relationally and professionally.
Politically:
- in a high power distance culture change is not made in a democratic process
Socially:
- Social divide is huge in a high power distance culture because there is a difference in the wealthy and the poor, and the educated and the uneducated.
- high power distance cultures assign importance to a person’s position in society
Relationally:
- more formal in addressing superiors and more respect
- status is ascribed
- titles are important
- strong ties are associated with the internal structure of the nuclear family and its extended members, affects everything from from structure to customs in the family
Professionally:
- employees are more reliant and dependent on their superiors they are reluctant on providing feedback, opinions or suggestions
- not vocal with conflict or unhappy in their work environment
- a hierarchy of power is demonstrated in the workplace when a superior or “boss” is granted power and privilege
- What gestures signal power in business environments?
- the way they dress, being business professional
- firm hand shake
- slow movement
- office space and size, corner office you are important, cubicle you are less important
- bowing
- wai
- who enters the room first
- standing up for the boss
- posture
- eye contact
- sitting at the head of the table
- title
- What is culture shock?
Culture shock is a natural process that results from a loss of cultural anchors.
Some examples of anchors are:
- food
- family
- politeness
- laws
- What are some barriers to effective cross-cultural communication?
- Assume similarities instead of differences;
- Ethnocentrism;
- Language difference (context);
- Nonverbal misinterpretation;
- Preconceptions & stereotypes;
- The tendency to evaluate;
- High anxiety/stress.
- What are cultural anchors and how do them impact cultural shock?
• Food • Politeness • Treatment of animals • Rules and regulations • Laws and personal safety • Clothing and dress codes • Technology • Bathrooms and cleanliness • Family and friends • Humor • Physical activities They may impact culture shock with problems of sleeping, staying awake, problems of eating too much or not enough, getting sick, being socially alienated, being affected by finances, poverty or wealth of the country.
- What are the four stages of culture shock?
Honey moon stage
Irritability and hostility
Gradually adjust
Adaptation and biculturalism
- Referring specifically to the Canwall case study how did the Canadians and Chinese negotiating methods differ?
Chinese negotiating methods had a slow start and focus on building trust relationships. They asked the same questions many time to ensure consistency of information and technology. Chinese negotiators were indirect. They negotiated and discussed collectively in groups. On the other hand, Canadians were direct and wanted to get it done fast and right away. They didn’t work in group but individually.
What were Dr. Sedky’s observations about doing business in Egypt?
There is so much traffic being late is typical.
- If you are going to bring business to Egypt, it should be innovative and make existing operations more efficient.
- Feasts - Do not feel like you have to eat everything. Bring a present for host and thank for the meal. Arrive either on time if by yourself or a bit late if you’re with Egyptians.
- She commented that Egyptians are not very open-minded to international trade and are not very stable but they are in a great geographic location, which is known as the “mother of the world”.
- What are some strategies for dealing with culture shock?
- Get involved in activities and socialize
- Don’t expect too much from yourself or others
- Humour
- Accept as normal process
- Talk about it
- Don’t be constantly in contact with home
- Learn about culture and learn language
- Have a mentor
- Explain Guanxi?
Guanxi is the ability to tap into your network of resources and connections to get something done.
