International Business CH 2
10) A problem of using the nation as a reference point for culture is that ________. A) nations fail to mediate the different interests within their boundaries B) self-stereotypes tend to fall along national lines C) such an approach tends to be polycentric D) variations tend to be great within a country
D)
12) It is most accurate to say that within most nation's borders, people largely share such essential attributes as ________ and ________. A) work attitudes; occupations B) lifestyles; education level C) education level; ethnicity D) values; language
D)
13) Most people's basic value system is ________. A) modified significantly between childhood and adulthood B) altered during adulthood through imposition C) affected primarily by teenage peer pressure D) acquired mainly during early childhood
D)
23) The more closed a society is, the more important ________ group membership is. A) acquired B) age-based C) education D) ascribed
D)
30) Assume a firm has operations in Tokyo, where there is a collectivist culture. Which of the following would most likely motivate the firm's Japanese employees? A) "employee-of-the-month" programs B) extensive vacation time C) on-the-job challenges D) good health benefits
D)
42) Jack, an American accounts manager, is preparing a presentation for a group of Japanese businesspeople. Jack's presentation would be most effective if he ________. A) told an opening joke to put everyone at ease B) used slang to create an informal atmosphere C) used long words to impress his counterparts D) budgeted extra time for translation and clarification
D)
49) A firm that concentrates on national cultural differences in terms of averages is more likely to ________. A) underestimate market demands B) increase political risks C) seek cultural collision D) overlook outliers
D)
50) Organizing work differently to improve productivity will likely fail ________. A) if the work force has a low tolerance for authoritarianism B) if workers participate in planning the improvement C) unless changes are compatible to competitor's practices D) if changes interfere with strongly held value systems
D)
53) U.S. companies monopolize much of the international entertainment media, which largely portrays U.S. products and lifestyles as glamorous and appealing. This situation would most likely be used as an example of ________. A) the stronger work ethic typical of developed countries B) the spread of high-context cultures C) cultural fragmentation D) cultural imperialism
D)
55) American hamburgers, Japanese sushi, Italian pizza, Mexican tacos, and Middle Eastern pita bread are now commonly found in most countries. This best supports the argument that ________. A) although visible expressions of culture are becoming homogenized, basic differences in societal values remain strong B) globalization fulfills lower order needs in Maslow's hierarchy C) cultural imperialism is increasingly widespread D) cultural hybridization is occurring
D)
59) Assume a U.S. firm plans to expand into either Mexico, Germany, or Japan. Its executives are traveling to each country to meet with local businesspeople in the decision-making process. Which of the following would be LEAST beneficial when the executives make a presentation? A) requesting a translator with technical vocabulary knowledge B) simplifying vocabulary and terminology for the audience C) conducting back translations for written work D) avoiding repetition to prevent boredom
D)
60) The specific learned norms based on attitudes, values, and beliefs of a group of people are known as ethnology.
FALSE
78) Where future orientation is high, people are more willing to delay gratification by investing.A
nswer: TRUE
35) Raj, an engineer, works long hours and takes full responsibility for both his good and bad work performance. Raj most likely believes in ________. A) self-determination B) low power distance C) collectivism D) fatalism
A)
40) All of the following are international business translation problems EXCEPT which of the following? A) All written work requires back translation in order to be understood in a second language. B) Because languages and the common meaning of words are constantly evolving, the intended meaning of a word may be different from what the listener or reader understands. C) Some words in one language simply don't have a direct translation into another language. D) Words mean different things in different contexts, thus the wrong context may be translated.
A)
54) The fact that an English word such as blue-jeans has entered the Spanish language, while a Spanish word such as macho has come into American English illustrates that ________. A) cultural diffusion is a two-way process B) cultural trends come from emerging nations C) existing national borders are shifting D) material cultures are becoming universal
A)
58) Assume a firm plans to expand internationally. If its managers wish to avoid pitfalls caused by differences in "silent language," they should consider differences in ________. A) normal proximity during conversations B) degree of detail expected in written contract C) the meaning of slang words during presentations D) importance of adherence to schedules
A)
63) The lack of cultural guidebooks and research specifically for international managers poses a significant problem for global firms.
Answer: FALSE
65) Cultures do not transcend national boundaries.
Answer: FALSE
76) In collectivist cultures based on kinship, security and social needs are met more effectively in the workplace than at home.
Answer: FALSE
61) Many firms gain a global competitive advantage by fostering cultural diversity.
Answer: TRUE
62) Most cultural variables are universal.
Answer: TRUE
64) Similarity among people is both a cause and effect of national boundaries.
Answer: TRUE
66) The identity of a nation is typically promoted through symbols, monuments, and museums.
Answer: TRUE
67) Most people's basic values are acquired during childhood and are not readily changed later in life.
Answer: TRUE
11) Certain attitudes can link groups, such as managers, from different nations more closely than managers with labor within a given nation. As a result, international businesspeople should most likely ________. A) assume that there are few significant cultural differences among nations B) examine relevant groups when comparing nations C) adopt universal operating methods D) avoid cultural imperialism
B)
15) Creolization refers to ________. A) government efforts to maintain a distinct cultural identity through legislation and language B) the process of mixing elements of an outside culture with those of a national culture C) the use of stereotypes to describe a culture D) changes as cultures evolve over time
B)
16) Cultural change imposed by an alien culture is called ________. A) multicultural ethnocentrism B) cultural imperialism C) collectivism D) high-context
B)
17) Which of the following languages has the most native speakers? A) English B) Mandarin C) Spanish D) Hindi
B)
24) Studies indicate a strong correlation between the intensity of religious belief and ________. A) a desire to convert productivity gains into more leisure time B) an adherence to some attributes that lead to economic growth C) the belief that material success is related to salvation D) the degree of ethnocentrism exhibited in a culture
B)
31) Safe work environments motivate ________; challenges motivate ________. A) individualists; collectivists B) collectivists; individualists C) non-fatalists; fatalists D) materialists; non-materialists
B)
33) In societies where trust is high, ________. A) people tend to be more future-oriented B) business costs are typically lower C) people tend to be more fatalistic D) family businesses are dominant
B)
34) Expatriate managers located in cultures characterized by ________ have noticed that local employees are highly motivated by retirement programs. A) low uncertainty avoidance B) high future orientation C) low masculinity D) high power distance
B)
43) Evaluating the importance of potential clients or partners by the way they dress is an example of using ________. A) pragmatism B) silent language C) polychronism D) fatalism
B)
51) When a company wishes to introduce change in a foreign country, its likelihood of success can most likely be improved by ________. A) introducing many changes simultaneously B) gaining the support of local opinion leaders C) agreeing to make some home-country changes in return D) employing expatriate managers to supervise local workers
B)
6) Which of the following is the most accurate statement about culture? A) Cultural variables can easily be isolated from other factors such as economic and political conditions. B) Although most cultural variables are universal, the forms these variables take differ from culture to culture. C) Most cultural variables are superficial and can easily be influenced by environmental factors. D) Within a culture, everyone responds to particular cultural variables the same way.
B)
9) The nation offers a workable reference for studying cultural differences because ________. A) a nation contains only one distinct culture B) similarity among people is both a cause and effect of national boundaries C) the commonality of language within a nation eases the process of conducting surveys D) different groups within the same country always have more in common with each other than with groups in other countries
B)
14) Contact among countries brings about cultural change, which is a process called ________. A) cultural collision B) cultural imperialism C) cultural diffusion D) polycentrism
C)
19) Which of the following statements about the English language is most likely NOT true? A) The largest portion of global output is in English-speaking countries. B) A large portion of MNEs are headquartered in English-speaking countries. C) English is the official national language in most countries where FDI is encouraged. D) Many MNEs from non-English speaking countries use English as their operating language.
C)
32) Managers should be more precise in their directions to subordinates when ________. A) the company has a philosophy of geocentrism B) the society believes age equals wisdom C) uncertainty avoidance is high D) power distance is low
C)
44) The term "cultural distance" refers to the ________. A) physical space between people during communication B) time it takes people to adjust to the language, traditions, and norms of a foreign culture C) degree to which countries differ on cultural dimensions D) preferred relationship between superiors and subordinates in a given culture
C)
46) One of the potential problems for an MNE that practices too much polycentrism is ________. A) demanding that local communication methods be replaced with modern technology B) underestimating the complexity of introducing new management practices C) losing innovative capabilities to less-risky host-country practices D) relying too much on home-country directions and policies
C)
47) Ethnocentrism in international business refers to the ________. A) study of group ethics and approaches to corporate social responsibility B) comparison of the Protestant ethic with other religious views C) belief that what works best at home should work best everywhere D) ethnic segmentation of marketing programs within countries
C)
8) Which of the following is a common shortcoming of studies examining culture in different countries and regions? A) Cultures are static, which leads researchers to draw false conclusions from old data. B) It is impossible to compare countries because of differences in data. C) Responses are reported in averages, which can lead to a belief in unrealistic stereotypes. D) People are reluctant to complain about their own cultures, so they present only positive opinions to researchers.
C)
