UNIT 3 CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT

Question 1

the collection of values, beliefs, behaviors, customs and attitudes that distinguish one society from another.

Answer 1

culture

Question 2

A society’s culture determines the rules that govern how firms operate in the society.

Answer 2

culture

Question 3

characteristics of culture

Answer 3

learned behavior
interrelated
adaptive
shared by members of the society

Question 4

the culture changes in response to external forces that affect the society

Answer 4

culture is adaptive

Question 5

elements of culture

Answer 5

social structure
language
communication
religion
values and attitudes

Question 6

– the overall framework that determines the roles of individuals within the society, the stratification of the society and the individual’s mobility within the society.

Answer 6

Social structure

Question 7

Social structure (3)

Answer 7

Individuals, families and groups
social stratificaiton
social mobility

Question 8

All human societies involve individuals living in family units and working with each other in groups.

Answer 8

Individuals, families and groups

Question 9

Societies differ, however, in the way they define family and in the relative importance they place on the individuals’ role within groups.

Answer 9

Individuals, families and groups

Question 10

T or F. Societies do not differ in their degree of social stratification.

Answer 10

F, differ

Question 11

All societies categorize people to some extent on the basis of their birth, occupation, educational achievements or other attributes.

Answer 11

Social stratification

Question 12

ability of individuals to move from one stratum of society to another

Answer 12

Social mobility

Question 13

It often affects individual’s attitudes and behaviors towards such factors as labor relations, human capital formation, risk taking and entrepreneurship.

Answer 13

Social mobility

Question 14

a primary delineator of cultural groups because it is an important means by which a society’s members communicate with each other.

Answer 14

Language

Question 15

To conduct business, international businesspeople must be able to communicate.

Answer 15

Language

Question 16

it has emerged as the predominant common language or lingua franca of international business.

Answer 16

English

Question 17

used to ensure that the right message is given to the customers.

Answer 17

Backtranslation

Question 18

Communicating across cultural boundaries, whether verbally or nonverbally is a particularly important skill for international managers.

Answer 18

Communication

Question 19

Gift-giving and hospitality are important means of communication in many business cultures.

Answer 19

communication

Question 20

Among the Jews handshakes are a standard mode of greeting

Answer 20

Israel

Question 21

The “wai” is usually accompanied by a slight nod or bow of the head. The higher the hands are raised indicates the level of respect one is giving or being given.

Answer 21

Thailand

Question 22

First names are reserved for family and close friends. Wait until invited before using someone’s first name.

Answer 22

France

Question 23

When leaving a small group, each person must bid farewell individually.

Answer 23

India

Question 24

Talking with your hands in your pockets is disrespectful.

Answer 24

Germany

Question 25

Invitations are generally given verbally.

Answer 25

Norway

Question 26

A large portion of your communication will take place over lunches and dinners. They are an extremely important part of business life in Spain. Business colleagues often dine together, but different ranks within a company do not mix.

Answer 26

Spain

Question 27

Staring is a big no-no.

Answer 27

Japan

Question 28

Openly criticizing a person is a form of violence. Head is considered to be the highest and purest part of the human body. Never pass anything above anyone’s head.

Answer 28

Thailand

Question 30

Israelis are known to be very direct and to the point

Answer 30

Israel

Question 31

When you have finished eating, place your chopsticks in the chopstick rest or on the table. Do not place your chopstick across the top of your bowl.

Answer 31

Hong Kong

Question 32

Gifts are not opened when received. Hindus should not be given gifts made of leather. Leaving a small amount of food on your plate indicates that you are satisfied. Finishing all your food means that you are still hungry.

Answer 32

India

Question 33

Offer gifts with the right hand only or both hands if the item is large. Do not wrap gifts in white, blue or black paper as these are mourning colors. Men and women may shake hands, although the woman must extend her hand first.

Answer 33

Singapore

Question 34

It is considered impolite to use a mobile phone in formal situations such as in lectures and meetings.

Answer 34

UK

Question 35

Yawning and passing gas in public is considered rude.

Answer 35

USA

Question 36

an important aspect of most societies. It affects the ways in which members of a society relate to each other and to outsiders.

Answer 36

religion

Question 37

values and attitudes (TAES)

Answer 37

time age education status

Question 38

Social relationships are defined as one person being superior to the other. Parents are superior to their children, teachers to their students, and bosses to their subordinates. Thais generally use first name rather than surname, with the honorific title Khun before the name.

Answer 38

Thailand

Question 39

French business emphasizes courtesy and a fair degree of formality. The French are private people. They don’t want to talk about their private life except in their social circle. There is high divorce rate in the country. Around 40% of marriages end in divorce, leading to more women in the work force.

Answer 39

France

Question 40

Saudis socialize primarily in restaurants and hotels when entertaining expatriates whom they do not know well. Women cannot vote or be elected to high political positions.

Answer 40

Saudi Arabia

Question 41

Never disagree or criticize someone who is senior to you in rank. People observe a strict chain of command.

Answer 41

Sinagpore

Question 42

Understanding the big picture regarding a country’s culture

Answer 42

Hall's theory cultural cluster approach hofstede's five dimensions

Question 43

Hall's theory is developed by who?

Answer 43

Edward and Mildred Hall

Question 44

the 3 principal categories of hall

Answer 44

context, space, time

Question 45

the words used by the speaker explicitly convey the speaker’s message to the listener

Answer 45

low context

Question 46

the context in which a conversation occurs is just as important as the words that are actually spoken and cultural clues are important in understanding what is being communicated.

Answer 46

high context

Question 47

refers to the study of physical space and people or proxemics.

Answer 47

space

Question 48

deal with situations

Answer 48

low context cultures (monochronic)

Question 49

deal simultaneously with all situations

Answer 49

high context cultures (polychronic)

Question 50

Similarities exist among many cultures, thereby reducing some of the need to customize business practices to meet the demands of local cultures.

Answer 50

Cultural Cluster Approach

Question 51

comprises countries that share many cultural similarities, although differences do remain.

Answer 51

cultural cluster

Question 52

hofstede-s five dimensions

Answer 52

power distance individualism vs collectivism goal orientation uncertainty avoidance orientation towards life and work

Question 53

degree to which a country accepts the fact that differences in its citizens’ physical and intellectual capabilities give rise to inequalities in their well-being

Answer 53

power distance

Question 54

the country allows inequalities to persist and increase

Answer 54

o High power distance

Question 55

prevents wide gap between rich and poor

Answer 55

o Low power distance

Question 56

focuses on the values that govern the relationship between individuals and groups

Answer 56

Individualism versus collectivism

Question 57

person comes first attitude; values that are stressed are individual achievement, freedom and competition

Answer 57

individualism

Question 58

values that are stressed are group harmony, cohesiveness, consensus and cooperation

Answer 58

collectivism

Question 59

value assertiveness, performance, success and competition ; results oriented

Answer 59

Aggressive goal behaviour

Question 60

value the quality of life, warm personal relationships and service; care for the weak

Answer 60

nurturing

Question 61

tolerance of uncertainty and willingness to take risks

Answer 61

uncertainty avoidance

Question 62

easy going, value diversity, tolerant of differences in what people believe and do; they accept that uncertainties do happen

Answer 62

uncertainty acceptance

Question 63

rigid and intolerant; conforming to the values of the social and work groups to which they belong is the norm; ambiguity and change are undesirable, prefers routine bureaucratic way of doing things

Answer 63

high uncertainty avoidance

Question 64

derives values such as thrift (saving) and persistence in achieving goals

Answer 64

long term

Question 65

expresses concern for maintaining personal stability or happiness and for living in the present

Answer 65

short term