What characteristics of a country are generally considered to contribute to high levels of
corruption?
1. Low level of economic development
2. Large government role in economy
3. Low discretionary authority of government officials in making decisions
4. Prevailing national culture of high individualism and egalitarianism
5. Low level of economic, political and social change in the country
How many options can we select? I believe 1 and 2 to be correct and 3 and 4 to be false, but
would the low level of economical, political, and social change in the country contribute to
corruption? Perhaps little change in politics could lead to corruption?
Which of the following is NOT considered a major source of risk when companies outsource
global logistics services to a third-party logistics provider (3PL)?
a. Lack of transparency concerning the “chain of custody”
b. Slow-steaming by shipping lines to save fuel resulting in delays
c. Cargo theft by road carriers that subcontract jobs to third parties (“double brokering”)
d. Insufficient technical expertise by 3PL providers
e. Use of mega-container ships that have operational complexities
I believe all to be true except the last one as the outsourcing opens up holes to
communication/transparency/competency/theft issues.
Companies do NOT frequently cite the following as a reason for offshoring:
a. Lower costs
b. Talent shortage at home
c. Faster delivery time
d. Focus on areas of core competence
e. Shift capital costs off balance sheet
a-d seem logical as to reasons for offshoring, however with capital costs such as buildings, land,
construction, and equipment, why wouldn’t companies want to purchase those items where
they may theoretically be cheaper offshore?
The most important consideration for companies that off-shore SERVICES (as opposed to
manufacturing) in selecting locations is:
a. Low cost
b. People and skills c. Local business environment
d. Good weather
e. Geographic proximity
I am stuck between answer choice b and c as being the “most” important consideration. Both
options seem crucial for services to excel abroad.
In Egypt, the ubiquitous presence of antiquities like the pyramids provides a constant
reinforcement to the following aspect of Egyptian culture:
a. Egalitarianism
b. Long-term orientation
c. Achievement
d. Task orientation
I am stuck between answer choice b and c. While the pyramids certainly reinforce a long-term
orientation and were built to last hundreds of years, they also showcase substantial
achievement and are monuments for the Egyptian Kings.
A high importance of “face” in certain cultures reflects the following cultural value orientation:
a. Individualist
b. Diffuse
c. Specific
d. High power distance
I believe it to be answer choice D, but doesn’t it relate more to a respect for tradition and
conservation of “face” and fulfilling social obligations?
In countries with a high level of power distance, employees expect effective leaders to:
a. Consult them before making decisions
b. Delegate decisions to people involved in implementation
c. Make and announce decisions
d. Create teams to formulate decisions
I am between answer choice b and c with more leading on c. I know that a high level of power
distance will create a country that acceptance hierarchical order and the idea that “everyone
has their place”, however would employees expect their leaders to formally make and
announce decisions or delegate those decisions to people involved in implementation. The
distinction is hard for me to decipher.
Which of the following cultural values would you expect to find clustered together?
1. Individualism
2.High context 3. Mastery
4. Ascription
5.Egalitarianism
This is the question I believe you said you would reword in class.
In An American in Paris, John Williams would be congruent with cultural expectations of his
French marketing managers if he adopted this leadership style:
a. Consult managers individually before deciding
b. Do brainstorming with managers to elicit ideas
c. Make decisions and announce them with clear instructions
d. Ask managers to vote on decisions
e. Delegate decisions to managers
I believe C to be the best option, but am torn between C and E as delegating decisions seems to
be congruent to the leadership style as well.
In terms of Victor Vroom’s “Expectancy Theory of Motivation,” how did the Canadian partners’
efforts to motivate the Russian staff fall short?
a. Expectancy: staff believe that more effort will result in better performance
b. Instrumentality: staff believe that better performance will bring more rewards
c. Valence: staff believe that offered rewards were relevant to their cultural values
I am confused on what the question is asking. Can you provide more clarification?
The performance expectations for Russian employees included:
a. Punctuality
b. Personal appearance
d. Smiling
e. Helping others
c . Following orders
I believe the answers would be a, b, and c, based upon what Russian bosses and workers would
agree upon what their performance expectations would be based off Russian culture.
However, if the viewpoint was from Western thought, I would believe all answers to be correct
as Western culture emphasizes hospitality in the service industry.
Which viewpoint is it from? The Western owners or the Russians?
Coordinated Market Economies (CMEs) have a propensity to produce the following outcome
more often than do Liberal Market Economies (LMEs):
a. Inequality of incomes
b. Radical product innovation
c. Cost controls
d. Incremental innovation
I can eliminate A as I know that LME’s will produce more inequality of incomes then CME’s. I
believe I read that CME’s will have a higher outcome than LME’s so that is what I believe to be
correct? Is it?
A high level of Uncertainty Avoidance in national culture can have the following effects on
business systems and processes:
1.Longer takeoff times for innovative new products to reach mass markets
2.Corporate financial architecture skewed towards bank loans rather than equity finance
3.Accounting systems with low levels of information disclosure (transparency)
4.High level of venture capital funding for startups
I know that #1 is correct, but I am not sure about the others. Can you provide more guidance on
whether the other options may be correct?
How did the Chinese manufacturer Haier attempt at first to motivate American workers at its
factory in South Carolina?
a. Bonuses and praise for excellent work
b. Humiliation with peers
c. Pay reductions for mistakes
d. Improved working conditions
Is it correct that this is talking about the Haier management having employees standing on the
footprints in the factory and make them state their wrongdoings and how to improve?
Which pairing of national cultural value with management practice is LEAST likely to provide the
congruence between culture and practice that is necessary for high performance?
a. High Power Distance/low employee participation
b. Individualist/rewards for performance
c. Low Uncertainty Avoidance/clear and explicit policies
d. Masculinity/monetary rewards
To me it doesn’t make sense that Masculinity/Monetary Rewards would have any congruence
for high performance, but is there something that I am missing that would negate that logic?
Which of the following communication characteristics are most culturally compatible?
a. Direct, high context, deductive, transmitter-oriented
b. Indirect, high context, inductive, recipient-oriented
c. Direct, low context, inductive, transmitter-oriented
d. Indirect, low context, inductive, recipient-oriented
When communicating across cultures it makes sense that the communication has to be direct
and low context, which narrows it down to c, but why would the best compatible
communication characteristic be inductive instead of deductive?