Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

IBUS12-250 International Business > Topic 6 - Cultural Environments > Flashcards

Topic 6 - Cultural Environments Flashcards

1
Q

Describe culture and cross-cultural risk

A

Culture is the values, attitudes, beliefs, arts, and other products of human thought and work that characterise the people of a given society. Cross-cultural risk is a situation or event in which a cultural misunderstanding puts some human value at stake.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Describe the characteristics of high-context cultures and give examples

A

Prefer indirect and polite style that emphasise mutual respect and care for each other
Establish social trust first
Personal relations and goodwill are valued
Agreements emphasise trust
Negotiations are slow and ritualistic
E.g. Asian countries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are cultural metaphors and why are they significant?

A

A distinctive tradition or institution strongly associated with a particular society. Cultural metaphors are a guide to deciphering people’s attitudes, values and behaviour.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the two major perceptions of time and how does each affect international business?

A

Monochronic and polychronic. Managers is a monochromic culture have a relatively short-term perspective when it comes to investments and making money. A manager in a polychronic culture is future-orientated and would focus on how a firm will perform in a decade from now.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a sub-culture?

A

Shared values of a group within a larger, dominant culture e.g. lifestyle, ethnic, sporting.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the six major religions and how do they affect international business?

A

Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Judaism. Religious concepts of right and wrong have played a key role in the development of ethical values and social responsibility and it influences managerial and customer behaviour.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the elements of language?

A

Verbal language and nonverbal communication.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Distinguish the three layers of culture. What are the major elements of country-level and professional culture?

A
  • High culture: cultural makeup that is visible e.g. fine arts, literature, classical music
  • Folk culture: cultural makeup we are aware of e.g. religion, etiquette, diet
  • Deep culture: cultural makeup we are unaware of e.g. gender roles, perceptions, beliefs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How can a manager use critical incident analysis to avoid the self-reference criterion? Why is this an important factor?

A

A manager should analyse awkward situation is cross-cultural encounters by becoming more objective and developing empathy for other points of view rather than viewing cultures through the lens of their own culture. It is important in avoiding cultural bias and making ethnocentric mistakes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How does a manager with a deal orientation differ from a manager with a relationship orientation?

A

Deal-orientated managers focus on the task at hand and prefer getting down to business. Relationship-orientated managers put more value on relationships with people, important to build trust and get to know the other party in business interactions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the four key personality traits that characterise cross-cultural proficiency?

A

o Tolerance for ambiguity
o Perceptiveness
o Valuing personal relationships
o Flexibility and adaptability

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Define socialisation

A

The process of learning the rules and behavioural patterns appropriate for living in one’s own society .

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Name the 9 components of culture

A
  1. Aesthetics
  2. Values and attitudes
  3. Manners and customs
  4. Social Structure
  5. Religion
  6. Personal communication
  7. Education
  8. Physical and environments
  9. Material productions and creative expressions
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Define cultural metaphor

A

A distinctive tradition or institution strongly associated with a particular society.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Describe the cultural component of values and attitudes

A

Values represent a person’s judgements about what is good or bad, acceptable or unacceptable, important or unimportant, and normal or abnormal. Attitudes are positive or negative evaluations, feelings & tendencies that individuals have toward specific situations. They are similar to opinions and may not be based on logical facts.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Define ethnocentric orientation

A

Using our own culture as the standard for judging other cultures and assuming our culture is the best.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Define high-culture context

A

A culture that emphasises nonverbal messages and views communication as a means to promote smooth, harmonious relationships .

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Define idiom

A

An expression whose symbolic meaning is different from its literal meaning.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Define individualism vs collectivism

A

Describes whether a person functions primarily as an individual or part of a group.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Define indulgence vs restraint

A

The extent to which people try to control their desires and impulse.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Define long-term vs short-term orientation

A

Refers to the degree to which people and organisations defer pleasure and gratification to achieve long-term success.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Define low-context culture

A

A culture that relies on elaborative verbal explanations, putting much emphasis on spoken words.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Define masculinity vs femininity

A

Refers to a society’s orientation based on traditional male and female values.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Define monochronic

A

A rigid orientation to time, in which the individual is focused on schedules, punctuality, and tome as a resource.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What complications arise when using verbal and nonverbal communication?

A

National languages, dialects and use of idioms and colloquialisms tend to complicate verbal communication and it can lost in translation. Some nonverbal communication can mean different things in different cultures and could potentially be offensive.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Define polychronic

A

A flexible, nonlinear orientation to time, in which the individual takes a long-term perspective and emphasizes human relationships.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Define power distance

A

Describes how a society deals with the inequalities in power that exist among people.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Describe the cultural component of physical and environments

A

Topography, demography, population distribution, resources, climate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Describe the cultural component of material productions and creative expressions

A

Material productions are artefacts, objects, and technological systems that people construct to function within their environments e.g. social infrastructure (housing, education, healthcare), financial infrastructure (banks and financial institutions) and marketing infrastructure (ad agencies).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Define uncertainty avoidance

A

The extent to which people can tolerate risk and uncertainty in their lives.

31
Q

Describe personal space

A

Intimate zone – 45cm
Friend zone – 1.2m
Social zone – 3.6m
Audience zone – beyond

32
Q

Describe motivation

A

Cultural differences in work ethic, materialism, expectation of success and reward and separation of work and leisure

33
Q

Describe the characteristics of low-context cultures and give examples

A

Communication is direct, meaningful and straightforward
Expertise and performance are valued
Agreements emphasise specific, legalistic contract
Negotiations are as efficient as possible
E.g. Swiss, German, Scandinavia

34
Q

How is culture transmitted?

A

Culture is transmitted through socialisation and acculturation.

35
Q

What are the six elements of Hofstede’s national culture?

A
  1. Power distance
  2. Individualism v collectivism
  3. Masculinity v femininity
  4. Uncertainty avoidance
  5. Long-term orientation v short-term orientation
  6. Indulgence v restraint
36
Q

Describe the characteristics of a high power distance culture

A

Substantial gap between powerful and weak
Do not care very much about inequalities and allow them to grow over time
Autocratic management styles focus power at the top and grant little self-rule to lower-level employees

37
Q

Describe the characteristics of a low power distance culture

A

Gaps between powerful and weak are small
Firms, managers, and subordinates are relatively equal and cooperate to achieve organisational goals
More consultative

38
Q

Describe the characteristics of an individualist culture

A

Individuals focus on their own self-interests
Low dependence on organisation
Self-actualising and challenges needed

39
Q

Describe the characteristics of a collectivist culture

A

Loyal to and dependent on organisation
Safe physical & social environment
Conformity and compromise help maintain group harmony

40
Q

Describe the characteristics of a masculine culture

A 
Competitiveness 
Personal assertiveness
Ambition 
Wealth accumulation
Materialism
Entrepreneurial drive
Reward for performance
41
Q

Describe the characteristics of a feminine culture

A

Relaxed lifestyles
Caring for others including less fortunate
Nurturing
Interdependence among people

42
Q

Describe the characteristics of a feminine culture

A

Relaxed lifestyles
Caring for others including less fortunate
Nurturing
Interdependence among people

43
Q

Describe the characteristics of a high uncertainty avoidance culture

A

Like rules & security
Implementing change difficult – managers slow to make decisions as they investigate the nature and potential outcomes of several options
Create institutions that minimise risk and ensure financial security
Companies emphasize stable careers and produce many rules to regulate worker actions and minimize uncertainty

44
Q

Describe the characteristics of a low uncertainty avoidance culture

A

Open to change & new ideas Managers less precise Entrepreneurial and comfortable taking risks
Make decisions quickly
Socialise members to accept and become accustomed to uncertainty

45
Q

Describe the characteristics of a low uncertainty avoidance culture

A

Open to change & new ideas Managers less precise Entrepreneurial and comfortable taking risks
Make decisions quickly
Socialise members to accept and become accustomed to uncertainty

46
Q

Describe the characteristics of a short-term orientation culture

A

o Establishing the absolute truth
o Respect for traditions
o Little save for the future
o Focus on quick results

47
Q

Describe the characteristics of a long-term orientation culture

A

o Truth depends on situation, context and time
o Adapt traditions to changed conditions
o Focus on saving, investing, thriftiness, & perseverance in achieving results

48
Q

Describe the characteristics of an indulgent culture

A

o Free gratification - enjoying life & showing emotion

o In the workplace people feel freer to express their opinions, give feedback and change jobs

49
Q

Describe the characteristics of a restraint culture

A

o Suppressed gratification of needs
o Happiness of the individual is less valued
o Regulates through strict social norms
o People avoid expressing opinions and job mobility is limited

50
Q

What are the three ways to acquire cross-cultural competence?

A
  1. Acquire factual knowledge about the other culture and try to speak the language
  2. Avoid cultural bias
  3. Develop cross-cultural skills
51
Q

Name five ways in which culture affects international business

A
  1. Managing employees
  2. Communicating and interacting with foreign business partners
  3. Negotiating and structuring international business ventures
  4. Design and development of products and services
  5. Preparing advertising and promotional materials
52
Q

Define acculturation

A

The process of adjusting and adapting to a culture other than one’s own.

53
Q

Define critical incident analysis

A

A method for analysing awkward situations in cross-cultural encounters by becoming more objective and developing empathy for other points of view.

54
Q

Define cross-cultural risk

A

A situation or event in which a cultural misunderstanding puts some human value at stake.

55
Q

Define culture

A

The values, attitudes, beliefs, arts, and other products of human thought and work that characterise the people of a given society.

56
Q

Define geocentric orientation

A

A global mind-set by which the manager can understand a business or market without regard to country boundaries. - No culture is best, all are just different.

57
Q

Define polycentric orientation

A

A host-country mind-set in which the manager develops a strong attachment to the country in which they conduct business - assuming the host-country culture is best.

58
Q

Define self-reference criterion

A

The tendency to view other cultures through the lens of our own culture.

59
Q

How are values and attitudes internalised?

A

Values and attitudes are internalised through socialisation, the process of learning the rules and behavioural patterns appropriate for living in one’s own society.

60
Q

Name three things culture is not

A
  • Not right or wrong – culture is relative
  • Not about individual behaviour – culture is about groups
  • Not inherited – culture comes from people’s social environment
61
Q

Define stereotyping

A

Assumption that all members of a culture are the same.

62
Q

Define prototyping

A

Perception of culture is subject to modification and improvement.

63
Q

Describe the cultural component of aesthetics

A

Imagery and symbolism e.g. letters, figures, colours, or other characters that communicate meaning that can be expressed through music, painting, dance, drama and architecture

64
Q

Describe the cultural component of manners and customs

A

Manners: appropriate ways of behaving and conducting oneself in public and business situations.
Customs: behaviour practiced in homogenous.

65
Q

Describe the cultural component of social structure

A

Patters on social arrangements and organised relationships that characterise a society.

66
Q

With respect to the cultural component of social structure name and describe five ways in which society may be organsied

A
  1. Individuals - determined by individual performance
  2. Family - family holds particular importance in some nation’s social structure, thus family often plays a substantial role in the formation and structure of business activity
  3. Reference groups - social status defined by group or employer affiliation rather than individual performance
  4. Social stratification - individuals are classified within classes or social layers depending on their occupation, income level, or family history
  5. Social mobility - the ease with which a person can move up within social strata
67
Q

What is an ascribed group membership?

A

Determined by birth e.g. gender, family, age, caste, ethnic, racial or national origin

68
Q

What is an acquired group membership?

A

Determined by birth e.g. religion, political affiliations, profession

69
Q

Define religion

A

System of common beliefs or attitudes concerning a being or a system of thought that people consider sacred, divine, or the highest truth and includes the moral codes, values, institutions, traditions, and rituals associated with this system.

70
Q

Provide examples of nonverbal communication/kinesics

A

Ways of talking (volume, inflection), sounds, body proximity, body contact, posture and stance, head movements, eye movements, facial expressions, hand movements and appearance

71
Q

Describe the cross-cultural element of education

A

Passing on ideas, beliefs, attitudes, traditions, customs, and values through lessons and behaviour acquired from parents, family, peers, participation in groups e.g. social, business, religion and formal schooling

72
Q

What is brain drain?

A

The departure of highly educated people from a profession, geographic region or nation

73
Q

Name four other influences on culture

A

Performance orientation v Seniority
Male v female
Young v old
Personal space

IBUS12-250 International Business (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions