Topic 1. International HRM

Question 1

Name the difference domains of culture (hofstede)

Answer 1

Individualism
Power distance
Uncertainty avoidance
Masculinity
Long term and short term orientation

Question 2

Name the three differenct perspectives of managing an International Organisation?

Answer 2

Etnocentric (focuses on own country)
Polycentric (focussed on guest country)
Global (worldwide perspective)

Question 3

What is etnocentricity?

Answer 3

This is when a businessmanager thinks that outsiders don’t posses the right qualitites for the job. Only people within their own country.

Question 4

What is polycentricity?

Answer 4

This is a belief of managers that when the company spreads to another country, it is the best to follow their methods(of the guest county) because that will fit the most.

Question 5

What does it mean when an international organisation is global?

Answer 5

This is a worldwide perspective. They don’t exclude others.

Question 6

Give three problems which can occur in communication in International Organisations.

Answer 6

Cognitive dissonance
Jargon
Impact of expectations of receiver.

Question 7

What is cognitive dissonance?

Answer 7

conflicting attitudes, conflicts or behaviors

Question 8

Give solutions for communication problems on organizational level.

Answer 8

Systematic distribution (work flow)
Carefully chosen information
Channels

Question 9

What is evangalisation?

Answer 9

This is inspiring others about your ideas

Question 10

Name the three most important cultural dimensions of Hofstede regarding IO management.

• Power distance OR uncertainty avoidance
• femininity/masculinity OR individualism/collectivism
• LT vs. ST orientation OR Religiousness

Answer 10

• Power distance: centralisation of decision making
• Individiualism: rewards & organisational loyalty
• LT vs ST orientation: risk taking & formality~

Question 11

True or false: the cultural diversity theory of Hofstede (1991) focuses on the following two dimensions of cultural diversity: uncertainty avoidance and LT vs. ST orientation.

Answer 11

False, it focuses on uncertainty avoidance and power distance.~

Question 12

True or false: a well-oiled machine has a high uncertainty avoidance and a low power distance.

Answer 12

True, think of a machine that always runs smoothly, never needs a check-up because no one messes with it. Countries as Germany and Israel belong to this category.

Question 13

A high power distance and a low uncertainty avoidance fits with the following construct, according to the cultural diversity theory (Hofstede, 1991):
A Village market
B Family
C Well-oiled machine
D Pyramid of people

Answer 13

B Family

Question 14

A low power distance and a low uncertainty avoidance fits with the following construct, according to the cultural diversity theory (Hofstede, 1991):
A Village market
B Family
C Well-oiled machine
D Pyramid of people

Answer 14

A Village market

Question 15

A high power distance and a high uncertainty avoidance fits with the following construct, according to the cultural diversity theory (Hofstede, 1991):
A Village market
B Family
C Well-oiled machine
D Pyramid of people

Answer 15

D Pyramid of people

Question 16

True or false: an expat costs 3-4 times the money compared to a ‘normal’ employee.

Answer 16

True

Question 17

Name two cons of expats.

Answer 17

• expensive
• less longterm contact with customers (because they leave again)
• geen/minder ontwikkeling van lokaal talent (de mensen die al in het bedrijf werken en daar waarschijnlijk langer zullen werken, ivm oa kosten.~

Question 18

Historically most companies used an [....] approach for parts of the company in other countries.
A ethnocentric
B polycentric
C Regional
D Geocentric

Answer 18

A ethnocentric

Question 19

What are soft skills (a term mostly used in vacancies)?

Answer 19

Skills like: self-awareness, flexibility, intercultural empathy and interpersonal skills that can not be strictly objectively measured.~

Question 20

Name three examples of hard skills (a term mostly used in vacancies).

Answer 20

Hard skills can be strictly and objectively measured.

• a certain diploma
• language skills
• the knowledge/skills in the use of a certrain program, like PP, Excel or AutoCad.

Question 21

True or false: a good preparations of expats is important because this will decrease the culture shock and improve the adjustment to the new environment.

Answer 21

True

Question 22

True or false: the moving back to the home-country after a period of expation (this is the self-made verb of being an expat).

Answer 22

True

Question 23

True or false: there is a clear view on the costs and the benefits of expats.

Answer 23

False, there is a clear view on the costs, but not on the benefits. However there are various positive speculations and hypothesis, especially regarding the productivity of the expats.

Question 24

True or false: one of the conventional approaches of coordinating IO is: some bosses make descisions for the entire company. In which of the following constructs does this belong?
A European socialization
B American formalization
C Japanese centralization
D Hedonistic pluralization

Answer 24

C Japanese centralization

Question 25

True or false: one of the conventional approaches of coordinating IO is: making intuitive decisions? 
A European socialization
B American formalization
C Japanese centralization
D Hedonistic pluralization

Answer 25

A European socialization

Question 26

True or false: one of the conventional approaches of coordinating IO is: using a lot of formal rules and procedures, (in accordance with the quality manual, that gives an answer to everything).
A European socialization
B American formalization
C Japanese centralization
D Hedonistic pluralization

Answer 26

B American formalization

Hedonistic pluralization is nothing.

Question 27

Steve Jobs is an example of the usage of the following additional method in coordination in IO:
A Evangelisation
B Standards and norms
C systems

Answer 27

A Evangelisation; he shares his belief as Jezus or Mozes or Mohamed might have done.

Question 28

McDonalds is an example of the usage of the following additional method in coordination in IO, because it uses an ISO approach:
A Evangelisation
B Standards and norms
C systems

Answer 28

B Standards and norms, ISO stands for International Organisation for Standardization.

Question 29

Teletext is an example of the usage of the following additional method in coordination in IO:
A Evangelisation
B Standards and norms
C systems

Answer 29

C Systems, because it is a system has the same structure in every country.

Question 30

True or false: a matrix structure is a organisational structure in which people that fulfill similar tasks are put in one department of the organisation.

Answer 30

True

Question 31

In which of the possible designs of an IO fits the following describing: a employee can only be promoted to the highest level of the local organisational company-part.
A product group
B organisational function
C geographic region
D matrix structure

Answer 31

C geographic region

Question 32

In which of the possible designs of an IO fits the following describing: the structure is organised around the central product.
A product group
B organisational function
C geographic region
D matrix structure

Answer 32

A product group

Question 33

Name the two key issues of management in IO

Answer 33

• communication

- coordination

Question 34

The role of IHRM is …?

Answer 34

Guiding the international employment of a company by making effectively use of international labour markets.

Question 35

Explain the concept cultural sensitivity

Answer 35

Being more careful in other countries regarding your behavior, because this might have a different meaning due to cultural differences.