Unit 2: Cultures and their Impact on International Business

French companies show a preference for low-risk decisions, and their employees prefer sharply defined rules and rituals to get tasks completed. What kind of culture does this situation represent? Culture with long-term orientation Individualistic culture Collectivistic culture Culture with high uncertainty avoidance

Culture with high uncertainty avoidance - The uncertainty avoidance dimension expresses the degree to which the members of a society feel comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity.

A Japanese automobile maker manufactures a faulty gearing instrument, which leads to a number of accidents. The organization recalls the faulty instrument from the market and the CEO apologizes to the customers. What type of culture does this case represent? Culture with long-term orientation Collectivistic culture Culture with short-term orientation Individualistic culture

Culture with long-term orientation - Long-term orientation cultures emphasize virtues oriented towards future rewards, in particular favoring perseverance and thrift.

In many Asian cultures, what does looking into someone's eyes imply? Disrespect Confidence Attraction Respect

Disrespect - In many cultures, such as East Asia and Nigeria, it is respectful to not look a person higher on the hierarchy in the eye, but in Western culture, this can be interpreted as a sign of lacking confidence or being untrustworthy.

Which of the following statements is true about individualistic cultures? Individual effort is criticized and looked down upon Individual effort is appreciated and applauded Group goals take precedence over individual goals Associations are held in high esteem

Individual effort is appreciated and applauded - Individualists promote the exercise of one's goals and desires and so value independence and self-reliance.

In Country D, children strike out on their own at a very early age. They pay for their own housing and education. What type of culture does this statement describe? Feminine Masculine Individualistic Collective

Individualistic - Individualism emphasizes the importance of individual freedom and self-expression

People in Northern Europe and North America tend to schedule one event at a time. What type of culture do they belong to? Culture with low uncertainty avoidance Culture with high power distance Monochronic Polychronic

Monochronic - The monochronic approach to tasking prefers to deal with situations sequentially.

Which of the following terms refers to how openly a society or culture accepts differences between people, as in the structure of hierarchies in the workplace and in politics? Individualism Power distance Uncertainty avoidance Collectivism

Power Distance - Power distance is a measurement of preference for consultative versus autocratic styles of management.

Which of the following statements describes cultures and values? They are irrelevant to the world of business They are constantly evolving by nature They are hindrances to economic development They are stagnant by nature

They are constantly evolving by nature - Cultural values and beliefs are not stagnant; they change when a person encounters new experiences and ideas.

Which of the following statements is true of the Reformation and the Enlightenment? They focus on monarchy and divine rights They focus on discrimination based on race and ethnicity They focus on the preeminence of the state They focus on equality and individual rights

They focus on equality and individual rights - The Reformation and Enlightenment are the basis of individualism.

Which of the following refers to broad preferences of one state of affairs over others? Ethnocentrism Altruism Values Ethics

Values - Values are broad preferences concerning appropriate courses of action or outcomes. Values reflect a person's sense of right and wrong or what ought to be.