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Quiz
2 Chapter 2
CHAPTER
2: The Cultural Context of IHRM
TRUE/FALSE
1. The first contributions to cross-cultural
management research were made in the late 1930s.
2. Unforeseen conflicts and lower performance in
many foreign business enterprises created doubts about how easily concepts and
management research from the English speaking world could be transferred to
other cultures.
3. One of the advantages of cross cultural
studies is that there is one, widely accepted definition of the meaning of
culture.
4. Hansen emphasizes culture as the
standardization – the consistency of collective behavior.
5. Hofstede the Dutch researcher, famously
likens or company’s culture to the “software of the mind”.
6. Schein considers “artefacts” as the invisible
and unconscious conventions and perceptions deeply held by members on a
culture.
7. There may be large similarities of the
artefact level within the European Union, but values and assumptions held by
members of various nations in the EU may differ significantly.
8. Cross cultural management studies aim to
describe and compare the working behavior in various cultures.
9. Hofstede finally distinguished three cultural
dimensions: power distance, femininity
vs. masculinity and individualism vs. collectivism.
10. Power Distance refers to the extent to which
the members feel threatened by uncertainty, ambiguous or unstructured
situations.
11. According to Hofstede a feminine orientation
comprises the pursuit of financial success and a strong performance management
approach.
12. Countries with weaker uncertainty avoidance
are more likely to bring about fundamental innovations in weak processes as
they have a greater tolerance for deviant thinking.
13. Collectivist society companies have more
informal relationships between supervisors and employees.
14. The Mediterranean culture (France, Italy,
Belgium and Spain) are characterized by small power distance and high
collectivism.
15. The German speaking countries such as
Germany, Austria and Switzerland are characterized by a strong tendency of
uncertainty avoidance and relatively low power distance.
16. A criticism of Hofstede’s research is that he
equates culture to national borders.
17. The Globe study distinguishes between
practices (what should be) and values (what is).
18. The participation of 17 scholars from around
the world helps to avoid a one-sided, Western focus to the research project.
19. The Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner study
presents three aspects to culture:
relationships between people, concept of time and the concept of nature.
20. Cultural convergence relates to assuming a
long-term stability in cultural differences.
MULTIPLE
CHOICE
1. Cross-cultural management research is based
on the assumption that:
a.
|
There
are no real differences in management practices in various countries and the
respective environments do not matter.
|
b.
|
There
are differences in management practices in various countries but the
respective environments do not explain these differences.
|
c.
|
There
are differences in management practices in various countries and the
respective environment explains these differences.
|
d.
|
There
are differences in management practices in various countries and these
differences are explained by company strategy alone.
|
2. A major criticism of cross-cultural
management studies is:
a.
|
The
construct of “culture” is undefined or inadequately defined and/or
operationalized at the start of the study.
|
b.
|
The
construct of “culture” is defined too specifically for use across nations.
|
c.
|
Research
is done almost exclusively from a North American perspective.
|
d.
|
There
have been too few cross cultural research studies completed to assess the
research.
|
3. Schein’s concept of culture consists of:
a.
|
Ways
of thinking, feeling and reacting
|
b.
|
Customs,
practices and standardization
|
c.
|
Research
containing dense infinitive descriptions
|
d.
|
Artefacts,
values and assumptions
|
4. Hofstede’s cultural dimensions are:
a.
|
Universality,
uncertainty avoidance, individualism vs. collectivism, aspiration vs.
resignation and referentism.
|
b.
|
Power
distance, uncertainty avoidance, femininity vs. masculinity, individualism
vs. collectivism dynamics.
|
c.
|
Power
distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism vs. collectivism and contextualism
vs. universalism.
|
d.
|
Universalism
vs. contextualism Confucian dynamics, individualism vs. collectivism and
consumerism vs. theft
|
5. Individualism vs. collectivism refers to:
a.
|
How
government agencies act towards citizens
|
b.
|
The
extent to which individual initiative and responsibility to close family is
valued in society as contrasted to group initiative and responsibility to an
extended definition of family as socially valued
|
c.
|
The
extent to which individuals relate to the government as opposed to
individuals being alienated from their government
|
d.
|
The
extent to which individual achievements are socially recognized and rewarded
as opposed to recognition of wider social collectives – groups,
organizations, etc.
|
6. Under Confucianism dynamics, orientations can
be either:
a.
|
Long-term
or short-term
|
c.
|
Adaptable
or subordinate
|
b.
|
Paternal
or individualistic
|
d.
|
Political
or idealistic
|
7. According to the results of the Hofstede
study:
a.
|
U.S.
culture is characterized more by collectivity behavior, unlike Anglo Saxon
countries such as Australia or the United Kingdom
|
b.
|
U.S.
culture is characterized more by collectivity behavior, like Anglo Saxon countries such Australia or the United
Kingdom
|
c.
|
U.S.
culture is characterized more by individualist behavior, unlike Anglo Saxon
countries such as Australia or the United Kingdom.
|
d.
|
U.S.
culture is characterized more by individualist behavior, like Anglo Saxon
countries such as Australia or the United Kingdom.
|
8. According to Hofstede, some Asian cultures
such as Singapore and Hong Kong:
a.
|
Score
low on uncertainty avoidance and low on power distance
|
b.
|
Score
low on uncertainty avoidance and high on power distance
|
c.
|
Score
high on uncertainty avoidance and low on power distance
|
d.
|
Score
high on uncertainty avoidance and low on power distance
|
9. The cultural context impacts HRM practices:
a.
|
Not
at all
|
b.
|
Only
in the HR practice areas of Compensational Task Distribution
|
c.
|
In
the HR practice areas of Recruitment, Selection, Training and Development,
Compensation and Task Distribution
|
d.
|
Only
in the HR practice areas of Training and Development and Task Distribution
|
10. Hofstede identifies a strong tendency or
masculinity with a high tendency for uncertainty avoidance in:
a.
|
The
Scandinavian cluster
|
c.
|
The
German speaking cluster
|
b.
|
The
Asian Tigers clusters
|
d.
|
The
Gallic cluster
|
11. Hofstede’s approach to cross cultural
management research:
a.
|
Has
been the subject of ongoing debate and criticism.
|
b.
|
Has
been largely ignored by other researches
|
c.
|
Has
been almost universally accepted
|
d.
|
Has
not been integrated into a wide range of alternative cross cultural research
projects
|
12. Hofstede’s study is classified or based on:
a.
|
Cultures
|
c.
|
Countries
|
b.
|
Ethnic
subgroup
|
d.
|
Common
cultural regions
|
13. The GLOBE research tries to study the complex
relationships between:
a.
|
Culture,
leadership behavior, organizational effectiveness, social co-habitation
conditions and the economic success of societies.
|
b.
|
Culture,
leadership behavior, political institutions, social legislations, corporate
strategies and the economic success of societies.
|
c.
|
Culture,
economic development, social progress, and multinational dynamism.
|
d.
|
Culture,
leadership behavior, organizational effectiveness, employee commitments and
satisfaction, social dynamics and the economic success of societies.
|
14. The GLOBE study survey contains:
a.
|
Contains
exactly the same dimensions as Hofstede’s surveys
|
b.
|
Contains
far fewer dimensions than the Hofstede surveys
|
c.
|
Distinguish
between practices (as is) and values (should be).
|
d.
|
Contains
only questions on values (should be).
|
15. Results from the GLOBE study were used to
distinguish ______”cultural regions.”
a.
|
Five
|
c.
|
Ten
|
b.
|
Seven
|
d.
|
Twelve
|
16. One criticism of the GLOBE study is:
a.
|
That
the research team is too much weighted to North American researchers
|
b.
|
The
dimensions are less refined and detailed than Hofstede’s dimensions of
culture
|
c.
|
The
research focuses too much on very small firms
|
d.
|
The
focus of the study is only in three industries – finance, food and
telecommunications
|
17. The GLOBE study:
a.
|
Distinguishes
between organizational cultures and national cultures.
|
b.
|
Does
not distinguish between organizational cultures and national cultures
|
c.
|
Never
distinguishes between subcultures in some nations for which data was
collected
|
d.
|
Distinguishes
between subcultures in all 62 nations for which data was collected
|
18. The Trompenaars and Hamplen-Turner study
distinguishes three overarching aspects of culture, namely:
a.
|
Artefacts,
values and assumptions
|
b.
|
Relationships
between people, the concept of time and the concept of nature
|
c.
|
Reality,
time and space
|
d.
|
Descriptive
values, aspirational values and critical values
|
19. Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner’s cultural
dimensions is Ascription vs. :
a.
|
Description
|
c.
|
Achievements
|
b.
|
Conscription
|
d.
|
Acclimation
|
20. According to Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner,
societies that attempt to control nature to a very high degree are described as
having:
a.
|
External
control
|
c.
|
Distinct
control
|
b.
|
Internal
control
|
d.
|
General
control
|
21. As applied research, the Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner
study:
a.
|
Is
backed up by extensive duplicate studies in a variety of countries and
industries
|
b.
|
Has
repeatedly demonstrated validity and reliability
|
c.
|
Has
not demonstrated validity nor reliability
|
d.
|
Provides
an explicit rationale for the origins and operationalization of the seven
cultures/dimensions
|
22. According to Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner,
members of specified cultures:
a.
|
See
business relationship more personally
|
b.
|
Take
subjective and contextual variables into consideration when making a decision
|
c.
|
Demand
precise, unobjective analysis of circumstances and presentation of results
|
d.
|
Emphasize
intentions and emotions in making a decision
|
23. Hall and Hall’s research emphasizes four
cultural dimensions:
a.
|
Context
of communications, spatial orientation, the concept of time and information
speed
|
b.
|
Context
of communications, precision of communications, objectivity in communication
and information speed
|
c.
|
Context
of communication, privacy of communication, the concept of time and
information speed
|
d.
|
Context
of communications, spatial orientation, distribution of communication and
feedback mechanisms
|
24. Hall and Hall’s research:
a.
|
Focuses
on the relationship between geography and culture
|
b.
|
Focuses
on the relationship between regional resource bases on culture
|
c.
|
Focuses
on the relationship between communication and culture
|
d.
|
Focuses
on the relationship between faith and culture
|
25. Hall and Hall, Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner
all:
a.
|
Provide
academically valid, rigorous and reliable research bases for their models
|
b.
|
Largely
agree on the underlying dimensions of culture
|
c.
|
Have
large, geographically diverse data sets to draw on to support their models
|
d.
|
Focus
on offering a practical template allowing individuals to perceive and handle
cultural differences
|
26. According to researchers like Barry Gerhart:
a.
|
Cross-cultural
research or emphasizes the influence of culture and business practices
|
b.
|
Cross-cultural
research actually understates the influences of culture on business practices
|
c.
|
Cross
cultural research as yet to show any influence of culture on business
practices
|
d.
|
Cross
cultural research is insufficient in quantity or quality of findings to make
any judgment of how culture may or may not influence business practices
|
27. Cultures develop over time:
a.
|
So
quickly and so unpredictable that studies become almost immediately obsolete
|
b.
|
In a
very slow and predictable manner
|
c.
|
Such
that surface level artefacts may change relatively quickly, but deeper
behaviors and assumptions may take much longer to change
|
d.
|
Inevitably
toward a convergent, single “superculture”
|
28. One study by Child, reviewing research on the
development of cultures concluded:
a.
|
Studies
on the macro level (organizations structure) found evidence for divergence or
growing differences in cultures
|
b.
|
Studies
on the micro level (behaviors by employees) found enhance for convergence or
the lessening of differences in cultures
|
c.
|
Studies
on the macro level (organizational structure) found evidence for convergence,
or the lessening of differences in cultures
|
d.
|
Studies
on both the macro and micro level found evidence for convergence or the
lessening of differences in cultures
|
29. Due to growing interdependence and a high
flow of migration:
a.
|
Culture
is not confined to a territorially limited area
|
b.
|
Culture
is still largely confined to a territorially limited area
|
c.
|
Cross-cultural
issues are not nearly as important as they were on the past
|
d.
|
HR
will largely be unaffected
|
30. Generational changes in world societies:
a.
|
Create
no real changes in the demand for professional relationship and employee
retention
|
b.
|
Result
in potential employees who have been brought up with computers and are fast
self-organized learners as in Generation Y
|
c.
|
Result
in potential employees who have been brought up with computers and who are
therefore inflexible as to work routine and multitasking as in Generation Y
|
d.
|
Result
in potential employees who are willing to sacrifice their personal lives for
their careers as in Generation Y.
|
SHORT
ANSWER
1. Present
the general definition of the concept of culture as presented in the text.
2. Discuss
the five cultural dimensions as presented in Hofstede’s cross-culture
management study.
3. Outline
and discuss the ways in which cultural context can impact HRM policies of
recruitment and selection, training and development, compensation and task
distribution.
4. In
what significant ways is the GLOBE study (a) similar to Hofstede’s research,
(b) different from Hofstede’s research?
5. What
does the discussion on “the development of cultures” lead you to conclude about
the issues of convergence and divergence?
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