CH 4
CH 4
CH 4
Name___________________________________
TRUE/FALSE. Write 'T' if the statement is true and 'F' if the statement is false.
1)
1)
_______
Answer
True
False
2)
2)
_______
Answer
True
False
3)
Managers with an ethnocentric attitude would not trust foreign employees with key decisions or technology.
3)
_______
Answer
True
False
4)
Managers with a polycentric attitude would view every foreign operation as difficult and hard to understand.
4)
_______
Answer
True
False
5)
The polycentric attitude is a world-oriented view focusing on using the best approaches and people from around the
globe.
5)
_______
Answer
True
False
6)
The primary motivation for the creation of the EU was to allow Europeans to reassert their position against the industrial
strength of the United States and Japan.
6)
_______
Answer
True
False
7)
7)
_______
Answer
True
False
8)
The European Union (EU) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) created regional trading and
cooperative agreements.
8)
_______
Answer
True
False
9)
The Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU) was established by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman in 1972.
9)
_______
Answer
True
False
10)
The three original partners of NAFTA are the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
10)
______
Answer
True
False
11)
11)
______
Answer
True
False
12)
12)
______
Answer
True
False
13)
13)
______
Answer
True
False
14)
______
Answer
True
False
15)
Multinational corporations maintain significant operations in two or more countries simultaneously, but are based in one
home country.
15)
______
Answer
True
False
16)
The transnational corporation characterizes the ethnocentric attitude toward the management of an organization's global
business.
16)
______
Answer
True
False
17)
17)
______
Answer
True
False
18)
When organizations first go international, they often start with global sourcing.
18)
______
Answer
True
False
19)
The process of exporting involves acquiring products made abroad and selling them domestically.
19)
______
Answer
True
False
20)
In the early stages of doing business internationally, managers may license or franchise to another firm the right to use
their organization's brand name, technology, or product specifications.
20)
______
Answer
True
False
21)
21)
______
Answer
True
False
22)
In a strategic alliance, both partners share the risks and rewards of the alliance.
22)
______
Answer
True
False
23)
23)
______
Answer
True
False
24)
24)
______
Answer
True
False
25)
Research indicates that organizational culture has a stronger impact on employees than does national culture.
25)
______
Answer
True
False
26)
26)
______
Answer
True
False
27)
27)
______
Answer
True
False
28)
28)
______
Answer
True
False
29)
Hofstede found that the Italian culture is well above average on uncertainty avoidance measures of culture.
29)
______
Answer
True
False
30)
30)
______
Answer
True
False
31)
The GLOBE framework for assessing cultures is similar to Hofstede's framework, but measures fewer dimensions.
31)
______
Answer
True
False
32)
An increased level of anxiety among its people characterizes a society with high uncertainty avoidance.
32)
______
Answer
True
False
33)
One challenge that arises out of the openness of globalization is the threat of terrorism.
33)
______
Answer
True
False
MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
34)
One reason for parochialism in the United States is that Americans tend to study ________ in school.
34)
______
A)
only English
C)
D)
35)
Which of the following describes the use of language in the Arab World?
35)
______
A)
Besides Arabic, French and English are widely spoken in many Arab countries.
C)
Besides Arabic, the Armenian language is the second spoken language in Lebanon.
Answer
36)
36)
______
A)
world orientation
B)
host country
C)
racial orientation
D)
home country
Answer
37)
Parochialism is ________.
37)
______
A)
38)
Which of the following is the least favorable attitude for a manager who wishes to be successful in international business?
38)
______
A)
multicentric
B)
multicultural
C)
ethnocentric
D)
polycentric
Answer
39)
Managers with a(n) ________ attitude view every foreign operation as different and hard to understand.
39)
______
A)
ethnocentric
B)
geocentric
C)
transnational
D)
polycentric
Answer
40)
40)
______
A)
parochial
B)
polycentric
C)
geocentric
D)
ethnocentric
Answer
41)
41)
______
A)
geocentric
B)
polylinguistic
C)
ethnocentric
D)
acculturated
Answer
42)
A(n) ________ attitude is the view that host-country managers know the best practices for running their operations.
42)
______
A)
geocentric
B)
international
C)
polycentric
D)
ethnocentric
Answer
43)
43)
______
A)
franchise-based
B)
world-oriented
C)
culture-bound
D)
nationalistic
Answer
44)
44)
______
A)
B)
European Union
Answer
45)
The principle reason for the formation of a regional trading alliance in Europe was to reassert members' economic
positions against the strength of the United States and ________.
45)
______
A)
Russia
B)
Mexico
C)
Japan
D)
Canada
Answer
46)
46)
______
A)
B)
47)
47)
______
A)
pound
B)
franc
C)
franc-mark
D)
euro
Answer
48)
48)
______
A)
Iceland
B)
Cyprus
C)
Ireland
D)
Slovenia
Answer
49)
49)
______
A)
50)
50)
______
A)
1947
B)
1957
C)
1977
D)
1967
Answer
51)
51)
______
A)
B)
D)
52)
52)
______
A)
B)
D)
53)
Among the member countries of the North American Free Trade Agreement, trade has ________ since the treaty was
signed.
53)
______
A)
decreased
B)
increased
Answer
54)
54)
______
A)
Yemen
B)
Saudi Arabia
C)
The UAE
D)
Kuwait
Answer
A
55)
The North American Free Trade Agreement eliminated all of the following except ________.
55)
______
A)
B)
D)
56)
56)
______
A)
57)
______
A)
Laos
B)
Japan
C)
Singapore
D)
Brunei
Answer
58)
58)
______
A)
53
B)
67
C)
46
D)
62
Answer
59)
______
A)
AU
B)
ASEAN
C)
SAARC
D)
EU
Answer
60)
60)
______
A)
GATT
B)
Marshall Plan
C)
UNIDIR
D)
Mercosur
Answer
61)
______
A)
economic sanctions
B)
peace treaties
C)
trade agreements
D)
public protests
Answer
62)
62)
______
A)
B)
D)
63)
Multinational corporations (MNCs) have only become commonplace since approximately what date?
63)
______
A)
1945
B)
mid-1970s
C)
mid-1960s
D)
mid-1980s
Answer
64)
64)
______
A)
ethnocentric attitudes
B)
polycentric attitudes
C)
D)
multicentric attitudes
Answer
65)
Which of the following is an MNC that tailors marketing strategies to the host country's unique characteristics?
65)
______
A)
multidomestic corporation
B)
global company
C)
borderless organization
D)
transnational organization
Answer
66)
66)
______
A)
maintain operations in multiple counties, but do not allow managers in each country to make their own decisions
D)
utilize ethnocentric attitudes in financial decisions, but favor polycentric views in human resources issues
Answer
67)
When an organization drops its structure based on countries and reorganizes according to industries, it is pursuing a
global organizational operation known as ________.
67)
______
A)
multinational organization
B)
polycentrism
C)
borderless organization
D)
ethnocentrism
Answer
68)
68)
______
A)
borderless organizations
B)
polycentric organizations
C)
multidomestic organization
D)
ethnocentric organizations
Answer
69)
69)
______
A)
increasing efficiency
C)
developing INVs
D)
70)
70)
______
A)
71)
Which of the following is the basic difference between multidomestic corporations and global companies?
71)
______
A)
Multidomestic corporations decentralize management to the local country, while global companies centralize
management in the home country.
B)
Multidomestic corporations typically do business with more countries than global companies do.
D)
Multidomestic corporations are run by global companies but must be owned by a local, national company.
Answer
72)
72)
______
A)
73)
Which of the following types of global organizations reflects the geocentric attitude?
73)
______
A)
regional organization
B)
global company
C)
transnational organization
D)
multidomestic corporation
Answer
74)
Importing and exporting represent a more significant global investment than which of the following?
74)
______
A)
strategic alliance
B)
licensing
C)
franchising
D)
global sourcing
Answer
75)
In an attempt to be more aggressive, a company might export and import more. These steps usually require ________.
75)
______
A)
76)
76)
______
A)
service organizations
B)
legal organizations
C)
manufacturing organizations
D)
political organizations
Answer
77)
In the later stages of doing business globally, if an organization is ready to make a more direct investment, it might utilize
________.
77)
______
A)
joint ventures
B)
strategic alliances
C)
foreign subsidiaries
D)
78)
78)
______
A)
B)
D)
79)
The process of making products domestically and selling them abroad is known as ________.
79)
______
A)
importing
B)
franchising
C)
joint ventures
D)
exporting
Answer
80)
Which of the following is usually found in the final stage of an organization's global evolution?
80)
______
A)
81)
81)
______
A)
license
B)
foreign subsidiary
C)
strategic alliance
D)
franchise
Answer
C
82)
82)
______
A)
B)
D)
83)
A domestic firm and a foreign firm sharing the cost of developing new products or building production facilities in a
foreign country is called a ________.
83)
______
A)
brokering agreement
B)
joint venture
C)
franchising agreement
D)
foreign subsidiary
Answer
B
84)
Which of the following would most likely occur last in an organization's global evolution?
84)
______
A)
85)
85)
______
A)
Joint ventures
B)
Strategic alliances
C)
Foreign subsidiaries
D)
Licensing
Answer
86)
Which of the following is not considered to be one of the three major areas of significant challenge for an American
manager working in a foreign country?
86)
______
A)
economic environment
B)
religious environment
C)
legal environment
D)
cultural environment
Answer
87)
According to an assessment carried out by Aon Corporation, businesses faced the highest level of political risk in
________.
87)
______
A)
B)
D)
88)
From an economic standpoint, a threat to the global manager is ________.
88)
______
A)
89)
An example of an Arab country that has traditionally been a planned economy but is moving toward being more free
market is ________.
89)
______
A)
Yemen
B)
Lebanon
C)
Egypt
D)
Algeria
Answer
90)
The reason that a nation's cultural differences are the most difficult to gain information about is because ________.
90)
______
A)
"natives" are least capable of explaining the unique characteristics of their own culture
B)
91)
According to the textbook, Americans most value ________, Arabs ________, and the Japanese ________.
91)
______
A)
92)
Which of the following developed a valuable framework to help managers better understand differences between national
cultures?
92)
______
A)
Geert Hofstede
B)
Milton Friedman
C)
Michael Porter
D)
Abraham Maslow
Answer
93)
Organizations in which of the following cultures are likely to have formal rules and little tolerance for unusual ideas and
behaviors?
93)
______
A)
B)
D)
94)
In a society with a highly ________ culture, strong value is placed on relationships and concern for others.
94)
______
A)
achievement-oriented
B)
uncertainty avoidant
C)
nurturing
D)
collectivist
Answer
95)
________ is a national culture attribute describing the extent to which societal values are characterized by assertiveness
and materialism.
95)
______
A)
Uncertainty avoidance
B)
Power distance
C)
Achievement orientation
D)
Long-term orientation
Answer
96)
________ is a national culture attribute that places a high value on future occurrences.
96)
______
A)
Long-term orientation
B)
Leisure orientation
C)
Power distance
D)
Uncertainty avoidance
Answer
97)
Which of the following are most alike in terms of individualism, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance?
97)
______
A)
B)
D)
98)
98)
______
A)
6
B)
C)
12
D)
5
Answer
99)
________ is a cultural measure of the degree to which people will tolerate risk and unconventional behavior.
99)
______
A)
Nurturing
B)
Achievement
C)
Uncertainty avoidance
D)
Power distance
Answer
100)
________ is a cultural dimension in which people expect others in their group to look after them and protect them when
they are in trouble.
100)
_____
A)
Power distance
B)
Uncertainty avoidance
C)
Collectivism
D)
Achievement
Answer
101)
Which of the following would you find in a country with a high power distance?
101)
_____
A)
102)
102)
_____
A)
low on collectivism
B)
high on achievement
D)
103)
For businesses to have successful global management, which of the following statements provides the best advice?
103)
_____
A)
Try your best to only deal with foreign businesspeople who know your culture.
B)
104)
Successful ________ management requires enhanced sensitivity to differences in national customs and practices.
104)
_____
A)
polycentric
B)
global
C)
ethnocentric
D)
parochial
Answer
Bashir is excited about his first European business trip. He is confident about the trip, but is somewhat concerned about
the strange habits and foreign languages he will encounter. "If only they would just speak Arabic like everyone else I
know!" Bashir thinks.
105)
Bashir's tendency to view the world only through his Arab-based perspective is an international business problem known
as which of the following?
105)
_____
A)
parochialism
B)
nondiversity
C)
discrimination
D)
monolingualism
Answer
106)
106)
_____
A)
Jihan wants to expand her career opportunities in the international operations of a company. She is 19 years old and
currently attends a university. She has only lived in her current country and has never traveled to foreign countries.
107)
In talking with her advisor at the university, Jihan decides she probably has a(n) ________ attitude, as she has never
traveled abroad and only relates well to people from her home country.
107)
_____
A)
polycentric
B)
ethnocentric
C)
geocentric
D)
culturally focused
Answer
108)
Jihan becomes involved with an international student association to give her experiences that will allow her to understand
the views of students from other countries. She is trying to become more ________ in her attitude.
108)
_____
A)
ethnocentric
B)
parochialistic
C)
geocentric
D)
polycentric
Answer
As manager of the international department for your company, you have been asked by the local Chamber of Commerce
to deliver a speech on foreign trade. The chamber president even goes so far as to say "and be sure to include the EU,
NAFTA, CAEU, GAFTA and all that stuff because we're afraid the economists are right all the good jobs will have to go
elsewhere." As you pour over your notes, you try to choose the best information to present in the allotted half hour.
109)
You plan to explain during your talk that the acronyms EU, NAFTA, FTAA, GAFTA and ASEAN refer to ________.
109)
_____
A)
B)
D)
foreign airlines
Answer
110)
An important topic in your talk will be GAFTA. You want to explain that a key aim of the GAFTA agreement is to
________.
110)
_____
A)
create one economic bloc against other regional agreement such as those in the European Union
B)
negotiate collectively with China, the US, and other economic powers to improve trade terms for Arab countries.
C)
achieve complete economic integration among member states by the year 2020.
Answer
111)
Another hot topic will be NAFTA. One of the points that you emphasize is that ________.
111)
_____
A)
U.S. high-tech companies, such as computer manufacturers, have been hit hard by the NAFTA provisions
B)
the United States has definitely come out the worst of the three nations
C)
the expansion of NAFTA has benefited North America's competitiveness and economic power
Answer
As a business expansion director, Salma's goal is to scout out potential locations and basically provide input on how her
company should proceed with its planned expansion into Europe. There are many options, including maintaining the
businesses head office in Egypt and sending over company representatives when necessary or establishing separate
operations facilities abroad and hiring locals as managers.
112)
If Salma's company decides to open another company in France but maintain its management in Egypt, it would be
considered a ________.
112)
_____
A)
B)
transnational corporation
C)
global company
D)
multidomestic corporation
Answer
113)
If Salma's company decides to open a completely new operation in the UK, tailoring the company to local customs and
marketing strategies and hiring local managers, they would be considered a ________.
113)
_____
A)
multidomestic corporation
B)
transnational corporation
C)
D)
global company
Answer
A
114)
If Salma's company eliminates country-designated locations and reorganizes based on industry groups, it would best be
considered a ________.
114)
_____
A)
multidomestic corporation
B)
strategic partnership
C)
D)
borderless organization
Answer
115)
One section of Salma's company's business plan involves strategic alliances and joint ventures. This section is most likely
focused on the ________ phase of the company's global business expansion.
115)
_____
A)
final
B)
legal
C)
preliminary
D)
middle
Answer
A
A Company Expansion (Scenario)
You have been hired by a company to look at the best ways to move the company into the Arab market, but you have to
first determine what kind of company you are dealing with.
116)
If the company that has hired you is primarily used by manufacturing organizations, it is a ________.
116)
_____
A)
franchising company
B)
licensing company
C)
strategic alliance
D)
joint venture
Answer
117)
If the company that has hired you is really a partnership between an organization and a foreign company, in which both
share resources and knowledge in developing new products, then it is a ________.
117)
_____
A)
joint venture
B)
strategic alliance
C)
licensing company
D)
franchising company
Answer
Talal and Jibran have formed an entrepreneurial venture to develop software for banks and other financial institutions.
Their company is growing, but in looking for opportunities in the future, they decide to explore international operations.
118)
The international operations in their firm continue to grow. Talal and Jibran have come to see that decentralized
management using foreign nationals to run operations in the host countries works well. Their firm has developed into
a(n) ________ organization.
118)
_____
A)
borderless
B)
multidomestic
C)
franchise
D)
transnational
Answer
119)
119)
_____
A)
licensing agreement
B)
foreign subsidiary
C)
franchise
D)
strategic alliance
Answer
Mariam was given a new assignment to head up the European division of a multinational organization. Before leaving her country to
take up her new assignment she needed training to manage and understand the European division.
120)
Mariam found that wealthier nations, such as the United States, tend to ________.
120)
_____
A)
B)
be collectivist
C)
D)
be individualistic
Answer
121)
Mariam also found out that in some countries, such as those in the Arab world, titles, rank, and status carry a lot of
weight. These countries have high ________ .
121)
_____
A)
uncertainty avoidance
B)
nurturing
C)
power distance
D)
collectivist
Answer
122)
Mariam learned that generally, European cultures did not have high anxiety, nervousness, and stress. This meant they
had low ________.
122)
_____
A)
uncertainty avoidance
B)
future orientation
C)
power distance
D)
achievement orientation
Answer
123)
European multinational firms commonly use a ________ approach because they are operating in multiple
countries with different institutional environments.
123)
_____
A)
multidomestic approach
B)
global approach
C)
transnational
D)
supply chain
Answer
124)
Mariam needed to learn about each country's values and the attitudes shared by its individuals. This would be learning
about ________.
124)
_____
A)
national culture
B)
diverse culture
C)
global culture
D)
high-context culture
Answer
125)
Mariam also needed to learn about regional trading alliances and the impact on her division. The alliance that had a direct
impact on her division was ________
125)
_____
A)
EU
B)
WTO
C)
SAARC
D)
NAFTA
Answer
Khalil has a degree in business administration and has worked for a major corporation for 5 years. He is offered a chance
to work in another country.
126)
Through research on the Internet, Khalil finds that in this country's social framework, people are expected to look after
others in their family (or organization) and protect them when they are in trouble. This society tends to support ________.
126)
_____
A)
monotheism
B)
individualism
C)
collectivism
D)
parochialism
Answer
127)
This new country's people are favorably influenced by Khalil's job title and the status given by his experience of having
worked in the home office for 5 years. This country has a high ________.
127)
_____
A)
uncertainty avoidance
B)
D)
power distance
Answer
128)
Through talking to executives in the international division, Khalil realizes that his home country has the highest
individualism, low power distance and uncertainty avoidance, and a strong achievement orientation. He probably lives in
________.
128)
_____
A)
the UK
B)
Japan
D)
Saudi Arabia
Answer
ESSAY. Write your answer in the space provided or on a separate sheet of paper.
129)
In a short essay, define parochialism. Next, discuss why parochialism is a problem for some managers and discuss
reasons why it is important to overcome parochialism in today's business environment.
Answer
Parochialism is the process of viewing the world solely through one's own eyes and perspectives. People with a parochial
attitude do not recognize that others have different ways of living and working. Parochialism is a significant obstacle for
managers working in a global business world. If managers fall into the trap of ignoring others' values and customs and
rigidly applying an attitude of "ours is better than theirs" to foreign cultures, they'll find it difficult to compete with other
organizations around the world that are seeking to understand foreign customs and market differences.
130)
In a short essay, list and discuss the three attitudes managers might have toward international business.
Answer
a. Ethnocentric attitudethe parochialistic belief that the best work approaches and practices are those of the home
country. Managers with an ethnocentric attitude believe that people in foreign countries do not have the needed skills,
expertise, knowledge, or experience to make the best business decisions as people in the home country do. They wouldn't
trust foreign employees with key decisions.
b. Polycentric attitudethe view that managers in the host country know the best work approaches and practices for
running their business. Managers with a polycentric attitude view every foreign operation as different and hard to
understand. Thus, these managers are likely to leave their foreign facilities alone and let foreign employees figure out
how best to do things.
c. Geocentric attitudethis is a world-oriented view that focuses on using the best approaches and people from around
the globe. Managers with this type of attitude believe that it's important to have a global view both at the organization's
headquarters in the home country and in the various foreign work facilities. Major issues and decisions are viewed
globally by looking for the best approaches and people regardless of origin.
131)
In a short essay, describe three regional trade alliances in the Arab world.
Answer
(1) The Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU) CAEU was established by Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania,
Palestine, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen in June 1957. It became effective May 30,
1964, with the ultimate goal of achieving complete economic unity among its member states. The organization aims to
achieve economic integration, promoting an environment of free movement of labor, capital, and services.
(2) The Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) GAFTA is a pact made by the Arab League to achieve a complete Arab
economic bloc that can compete internationally. The project was adopted in the Arab League Summit of Amman in 1997,
with 17 Arab League members signing the pact. The agreement aims at reaching full liberalization of trade among
member states and facilitating commercial activities.
(3) The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Created on May 25, 1981, the GCC comprises the Arabian Gulf states of Bahrain,
Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, covering 630 million acres (2,500,000 km 2 ). The
agreement was signed on November 11, 1981 in Riyadh. The objectives of the GCC are to "effect coordination,
integration and inter- connection between Member States in all fields, strengthening ties between their peoples,
formulating similar regulations in various fields such as economy, finance, trade, customs, tourism, legislation, and
administration, as well as fostering scientific and technical progress in industry, mining, agriculture, water and animal
resources, establishing scientific research centers, setting up joint ventures, and encouraging cooperation of the private
sector."
132)
In a short essay, explain the differences among a multidomestic corporation, a global company, and a borderless
organization. Include examples of companies for each of the types of organizations discussed.
Answer
a. A multidomestic corporation is a multinational corporation that decentralizes management and other decisions
to the local country. This type of organization doesn't attempt to replicate its domestic successes by managing foreign
operations from its home country. Instead, local employees typically are hired to manage the business, and marketing
strategies are tailored to that country's unique characteristics. This type of globalization reflects the polycentric attitude.
For example, Switzerland-based Nestle can be described as a multidomestic corporation. With operations in almost every
country on the globe, its managers match the company's products to its consumers. In parts of Europe, Nestle sells
products that are not available in the United States or Latin America. Another example of a multidomestic is Frito-Lay, a
division of PepsiCo, which markets a Dorito chip in the British market that differs in both taste and texture from the U.S.
and Canadian version. Many consumer companies manage their global businesses using this approach because they must
adapt their products and services to meet the needs of the local markets.
b. A second type of MNC, called a global company centralizes its management and other decisions in the home
country. These companies treat the world market as an integrated whole and focus on the need for global efficiency.
Although these companies may have considerable global holdings, management decisions with company-wide
implications are made from headquarters in the home country. This approach to globalization reflects the ethnocentric
attitude. Some examples of companies that can be considered global companies include Sony, Deutsche Bank AG, and
Merrill Lynch.
c. Other companies are going international by eliminating structural divisions that impose artificial geographical
barriers. This type of MNC is often called a transnational or borderless organization, and reflects a geocentric attitude.
For example, IBM dropped its organizational structure based on country and reorganized into industry groups. And
Spain's Telefonica eliminated the geographic divisions between Madrid headquarters and its widespread phone
companies. The company will be organized, instead, along business lines such as Internet services, cellular phones, and
media operations. Managers choose this form of international organization to increase efficiency and effectiveness in a
competitive global marketplace.
133)
In a short essay discuss the methods firms can use to enter new global markets.
Answer
Firms can enter new foreign markets in the following ways exporting products to the new market, licensing products to
local firms, acquiring or creating strategic alliances with local firms, or establishing operations within the new market.
Exporting involves manufacturing products in a firm's home country and shipping them to a foreign market. Licensing
arrangements allow a local firm in the new market to manufacture and distribute a foreign firm's products. Strategic
alliances are cooperative arrangements between two firms in which they agree to share resources to accomplish a
mutually desirable goal. Acquisitions of local firms made by foreign firms to enter a new international market are called
cross-border acquisitions. When a company creates a wholly owned subsidiary in a foreign country, it makes a direct
investment to establish a business that it solely owns and controls there.
134)
In a short essay, explain what a 'strategic alliance' is, and how organizations can benefit from using them. Provide an
example to support your answer.
Answer
When an organization has been doing business internationally for a while and has gained experience in international
markets, managers may decide to make more of a direct investment. One way to do this is through a strategic alliance ,
which is a partnership between an organization and a foreign company partner or partners in which both share resources
and knowledge in developing new products or building production facilities. For example, Honda Motor Company and
General Electric teamed up to produce a new jet engine. A specific type of strategic alliance in which the partners form a
separate, independent organization for some business purpose is called a joint venture . For example, Kalo Holdings
Corporation had great success in Kuwait after it established a joint venture corporation with internationally renowned
construction and de-mining Italian conglomerates, Societe Appalti Bonifichi. These partnerships provide a relatively easy
way for companies to compete globally.
135)
In a short essay, describe how managers are affected by the global economic environment, highlighting four factors that
affect management and explaining why each is important.
Answer
A global manager must be aware of economic issues when doing business in other countries.
First, it's important to understand a country's type of economic system. The two major types are a free market economy
and a planned economy. A free market economy is one in which resources are primarily owned and controlled by the
private sector. A planned economy is one in which economic decisions are planned by a central government. Actually, no
economy is purely free market or planned. For instance, the United States and United Kingdom are at the free market end
of the spectrum but do have some governmental controls. Why would managers need to know about a country's
economic system? Because it has the potential to constrain decisions. Other economic issues that managers need to
understand include currency exchange rates, inflation rates, and diverse tax policies.
Second, an MNC's profits can vary dramatically, depending on the strength of its home currency and the currencies of the
countries in which it operates. Currency exchange revaluations can affect managers' decisions and the level of a
company's profits.
Third, inflation means that prices for products and services are increasing. But it also affects interest rates, exchange rates,
the cost of living, and the general confidence in a country's political and economic system. Country inflation rates can,
and do, vary widely. Managers need to monitor inflation trends so they can anticipate possible changes in a country's
monetary policies and make good decisions.
Finally, tax policies can be a major economic worry. Some countries' tax laws are more restrictive than those in an MNC's
home country. Others are more lenient. About the only certainty is that they differ from country to country. Managers
need exact information on tax rules in countries in which they operate in order to minimize a business's overall tax
obligation.
136)
In a short essay, list and explain Hofstede's five dimensions of national culture.
Answer
a. Individualism versus collectivismindividualism refers to a loosely knit social framework in which people are
supposed to look after their own interests and those of their immediate family. They can do so because of the large
amount of freedom that an individualistic society allows its citizens. The opposite is collectivism, which is characterized
by a tight social framework in which people expect others in groups of which they are a part to look after them and to
protect them when they are in trouble. In exchange, they feel they owe absolute loyalty to the group.
b. Power distanceHofstede used the term power distance as a measure of the extent to which a society accepts the fact
that power in institutions and organizations is distributed unequally. A large power distance society accepts wide
differences in power in organizations. Employees show a great deal of respect for those in authority. Titles, rank, and
status carry a lot of weight. When negotiating in large power distance countries, companies find that it helps to send
representatives with titles at least as impressive as those with whom they are bargaining do. In contrast, a low power
distance society plays down inequalities as much as possible. Superiors still have authority, but employees are not afraid
of or in awe of the boss.
c. Uncertainty avoidanceuncertainty avoidance is a cultural measure of the degree to which people tolerate risk and
unconventional behavior. A society that's high in uncertainty avoidance is characterized by a high level of anxiety among
its people, which manifests itself in nervousness, high stress, and aggressiveness. Because people in these cultures feel
threatened by uncertainty and ambiguity, political and social mechanisms are created to provide security and to reduce
risk. Organizations in these cultures are likely to have formal rules and little tolerance for unusual ideas and behaviors.
d. Achievement and nurturingthe fourth cultural dimension, like individualism and collectivism, is a dichotomy.
Achievement is the degree to which values such as assertiveness, the acquisition of money and material goods, and
competition prevail. Nurturing is a national cultural attribute that emphasizes relationships and concern for others.
e. Long-term and short-term orientationpeople in long-term orientation cultures look to the future and value thrift and
persistence.A short-term orientation values the past and present and emphasizes respect for tradition and fulfilling social
obligations.
137)
In a short essay, discuss the dimensions of the GLOBE framework. Describe how each dimension compares to Hofstede's
five dimensions of national culture.
Answer
The GLOBE (Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness) research program, which began in 1993,
continues to investigate cross-cultural leadership behaviors. Using data from over 18,000 middle managers in 62
countries, the GLOBE research team identified 9 dimensions on which national cultures differ
a. Assertiveness The extent to which a society encourages people to be tough, confrontational, assertive, and competitive
versus modest and tender. This is essentially equivalent to Hofstede's achievement dimension.
b. Future orientation The extent to which a society encourages and rewards future-oriented behaviors such as planning,
investing in the future, and delaying gratification. This is essentially equivalent to Hofstede's long-term/short-term
orientation.
c. Gender differentiation The extent to which a society maximizes gender role differences as measured by how much
status and decision-making responsibilities women have. This dimension has no equivalent in Hofstede's framework.
d. Uncertainty avoidance Similar to Hofstede's description, the GLOBE team defined this dimension as a society's reliance
on social norms and procedures to alleviate the unpredictability of future events.
e. Power distance As did Hofstede, the GLOBE team defined this as the degree to which members of a society expect
power to be unequally shared.
f. Individualism/collectivism Again, this term was defined, as Hofstede did, as the degree to which individuals are
encouraged by societal institutions to be integrated into groups within organizations and society.
g. In-group collectivism In contrast to focusing on societal institutions, this dimension encompasses the extent to which
members of a society take pride in membership in small groups, such as their family and circle of close friends, and the
organizations in which they're employed. This dimension has no equivalent in Hofstede's framework.
h. Performance orientation This refers to the degree to which a society encourages and rewards group members for
performance improvement and excellence. This dimension is similar to Hofstede's achievement orientation.
i. Humane orientation This is defined as the degree to which a society encourages and rewards individuals for being fair,
altruistic, generous, caring, and kind to others. This is similar to Hofstede's nurturing dimension.
1)
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FALSE
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TRUE
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FALSE
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TRUE
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TRUE
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FALSE
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TRUE
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B
129)
Parochialism is the process of viewing the world solely through one's own eyes and perspectives. People with a parochial
attitude do not recognize that others have different ways of living and working. Parochialism is a significant obstacle for
managers working in a global business world. If managers fall into the trap of ignoring others' values and customs and
rigidly applying an attitude of "ours is better than theirs" to foreign cultures, they'll find it difficult to compete with other
organizations around the world that are seeking to understand foreign customs and market differences.
130)
a. Ethnocentric attitudethe parochialistic belief that the best work approaches and practices are those of the home
country. Managers with an ethnocentric attitude believe that people in foreign countries do not have the needed skills,
expertise, knowledge, or experience to make the best business decisions as people in the home country do. They wouldn't
trust foreign employees with key decisions.
b. Polycentric attitudethe view that managers in the host country know the best work approaches and practices for
running their business. Managers with a polycentric attitude view every foreign operation as different and hard to
understand. Thus, these managers are likely to leave their foreign facilities alone and let foreign employees figure out
how best to do things.
c. Geocentric attitudethis is a world-oriented view that focuses on using the best approaches and people from around
the globe. Managers with this type of attitude believe that it's important to have a global view both at the organization's
headquarters in the home country and in the various foreign work facilities. Major issues and decisions are viewed
globally by looking for the best approaches and people regardless of origin.
131)
(1) The Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU) CAEU was established by Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania,
Palestine, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen in June 1957. It became effective May 30,
1964, with the ultimate goal of achieving complete economic unity among its member states. The organization aims to
achieve economic integration, promoting an environment of free movement of labor, capital, and services.
(2) The Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) GAFTA is a pact made by the Arab League to achieve a complete Arab
economic bloc that can compete internationally. The project was adopted in the Arab League Summit of Amman in 1997,
with 17 Arab League members signing the pact. The agreement aims at reaching full liberalization of trade among
member states and facilitating commercial activities.
(3) The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Created on May 25, 1981, the GCC comprises the Arabian Gulf states of Bahrain,
Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, covering 630 million acres (2,500,000 km 2 ). The
agreement was signed on November 11, 1981 in Riyadh. The objectives of the GCC are to "effect coordination,
integration and inter- connection between Member States in all fields, strengthening ties between their peoples,
formulating similar regulations in various fields such as economy, finance, trade, customs, tourism, legislation, and
administration, as well as fostering scientific and technical progress in industry, mining, agriculture, water and animal
resources, establishing scientific research centers, setting up joint ventures, and encouraging cooperation of the private
sector."
132)
a. A multidomestic corporation is a multinational corporation that decentralizes management and other decisions
to the local country. This type of organization doesn't attempt to replicate its domestic successes by managing foreign
operations from its home country. Instead, local employees typically are hired to manage the business, and marketing
strategies are tailored to that country's unique characteristics. This type of globalization reflects the polycentric attitude.
For example, Switzerland-based Nestle can be described as a multidomestic corporation. With operations in almost every
country on the globe, its managers match the company's products to its consumers. In parts of Europe, Nestle sells
products that are not available in the United States or Latin America. Another example of a multidomestic is Frito-Lay, a
division of PepsiCo, which markets a Dorito chip in the British market that differs in both taste and texture from the U.S.
and Canadian version. Many consumer companies manage their global businesses using this approach because they must
adapt their products and services to meet the needs of the local markets.
b. A second type of MNC, called a global company centralizes its management and other decisions in the home
country. These companies treat the world market as an integrated whole and focus on the need for global efficiency.
Although these companies may have considerable global holdings, management decisions with company-wide
implications are made from headquarters in the home country. This approach to globalization reflects the ethnocentric
attitude. Some examples of companies that can be considered global companies include Sony, Deutsche Bank AG, and
Merrill Lynch.
c. Other companies are going international by eliminating structural divisions that impose artificial geographical
barriers. This type of MNC is often called a transnational or borderless organization, and reflects a geocentric attitude.
For example, IBM dropped its organizational structure based on country and reorganized into industry groups. And
Spain's Telefonica eliminated the geographic divisions between Madrid headquarters and its widespread phone
companies. The company will be organized, instead, along business lines such as Internet services, cellular phones, and
media operations. Managers choose this form of international organization to increase efficiency and effectiveness in a
competitive global marketplace.
133)
Firms can enter new foreign markets in the following ways exporting products to the new market, licensing products to
local firms, acquiring or creating strategic alliances with local firms, or establishing operations within the new market.
Exporting involves manufacturing products in a firm's home country and shipping them to a foreign market. Licensing
arrangements allow a local firm in the new market to manufacture and distribute a foreign firm's products. Strategic
alliances are cooperative arrangements between two firms in which they agree to share resources to accomplish a
mutually desirable goal. Acquisitions of local firms made by foreign firms to enter a new international market are called
cross-border acquisitions. When a company creates a wholly owned subsidiary in a foreign country, it makes a direct
investment to establish a business that it solely owns and controls there.
134)
When an organization has been doing business internationally for a while and has gained experience in international
markets, managers may decide to make more of a direct investment. One way to do this is through a strategic alliance ,
which is a partnership between an organization and a foreign company partner or partners in which both share resources
and knowledge in developing new products or building production facilities. For example, Honda Motor Company and
General Electric teamed up to produce a new jet engine. A specific type of strategic alliance in which the partners form a
separate, independent organization for some business purpose is called a joint venture . For example, Kalo Holdings
Corporation had great success in Kuwait after it established a joint venture corporation with internationally renowned
construction and de-mining Italian conglomerates, Societe Appalti Bonifichi. These partnerships provide a relatively easy
way for companies to compete globally.
135)
A global manager must be aware of economic issues when doing business in other countries.
First, it's important to understand a country's type of economic system. The two major types are a free market economy
and a planned economy. A free market economy is one in which resources are primarily owned and controlled by the
private sector. A planned economy is one in which economic decisions are planned by a central government. Actually, no
economy is purely free market or planned. For instance, the United States and United Kingdom are at the free market end
of the spectrum but do have some governmental controls. Why would managers need to know about a country's
economic system? Because it has the potential to constrain decisions. Other economic issues that managers need to
understand include currency exchange rates, inflation rates, and diverse tax policies.
Second, an MNC's profits can vary dramatically, depending on the strength of its home currency and the currencies of the
countries in which it operates. Currency exchange revaluations can affect managers' decisions and the level of a
company's profits.
Third, inflation means that prices for products and services are increasing. But it also affects interest rates, exchange rates,
the cost of living, and the general confidence in a country's political and economic system. Country inflation rates can,
and do, vary widely. Managers need to monitor inflation trends so they can anticipate possible changes in a country's
monetary policies and make good decisions.
Finally, tax policies can be a major economic worry. Some countries' tax laws are more restrictive than those in an MNC's
home country. Others are more lenient. About the only certainty is that they differ from country to country. Managers
need exact information on tax rules in countries in which they operate in order to minimize a business's overall tax
obligation.
136)
a. Individualism versus collectivismindividualism refers to a loosely knit social framework in which people are
supposed to look after their own interests and those of their immediate family. They can do so because of the large
amount of freedom that an individualistic society allows its citizens. The opposite is collectivism, which is characterized
by a tight social framework in which people expect others in groups of which they are a part to look after them and to
protect them when they are in trouble. In exchange, they feel they owe absolute loyalty to the group.
b. Power distanceHofstede used the term power distance as a measure of the extent to which a society accepts the fact
that power in institutions and organizations is distributed unequally. A large power distance society accepts wide
differences in power in organizations. Employees show a great deal of respect for those in authority. Titles, rank, and
status carry a lot of weight. When negotiating in large power distance countries, companies find that it helps to send
representatives with titles at least as impressive as those with whom they are bargaining do. In contrast, a low power
distance society plays down inequalities as much as possible. Superiors still have authority, but employees are not afraid
of or in awe of the boss.
c. Uncertainty avoidanceuncertainty avoidance is a cultural measure of the degree to which people tolerate risk and
unconventional behavior. A society that's high in uncertainty avoidance is characterized by a high level of anxiety among
its people, which manifests itself in nervousness, high stress, and aggressiveness. Because people in these cultures feel
threatened by uncertainty and ambiguity, political and social mechanisms are created to provide security and to reduce
risk. Organizations in these cultures are likely to have formal rules and little tolerance for unusual ideas and behaviors.
d. Achievement and nurturingthe fourth cultural dimension, like individualism and collectivism, is a dichotomy.
Achievement is the degree to which values such as assertiveness, the acquisition of money and material goods, and
competition prevail. Nurturing is a national cultural attribute that emphasizes relationships and concern for others.
e. Long-term and short-term orientationpeople in long-term orientation cultures look to the future and value thrift and
persistence.A short-term orientation values the past and present and emphasizes respect for tradition and fulfilling social
obligations.
137)
The GLOBE (Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness) research program, which began in 1993,
continues to investigate cross-cultural leadership behaviors. Using data from over 18,000 middle managers in 62
countries, the GLOBE research team identified 9 dimensions on which national cultures differ
a. Assertiveness The extent to which a society encourages people to be tough, confrontational, assertive, and competitive
versus modest and tender. This is essentially equivalent to Hofstede's achievement dimension.
b. Future orientation The extent to which a society encourages and rewards future-oriented behaviors such as planning,
investing in the future, and delaying gratification. This is essentially equivalent to Hofstede's long-term/short-term
orientation.
c. Gender differentiation The extent to which a society maximizes gender role differences as measured by how much
status and decision-making responsibilities women have. This dimension has no equivalent in Hofstede's framework.
d. Uncertainty avoidance Similar to Hofstede's description, the GLOBE team defined this dimension as a society's reliance
on social norms and procedures to alleviate the unpredictability of future events.
e. Power distance As did Hofstede, the GLOBE team defined this as the degree to which members of a society expect
power to be unequally shared.
f. Individualism/collectivism Again, this term was defined, as Hofstede did, as the degree to which individuals are
encouraged by societal institutions to be integrated into groups within organizations and society.
g. In-group collectivism In contrast to focusing on societal institutions, this dimension encompasses the extent to which
members of a society take pride in membership in small groups, such as their family and circle of close friends, and the
organizations in which they're employed. This dimension has no equivalent in Hofstede's framework.
h. Performance orientation This refers to the degree to which a society encourages and rewards group members for
performance improvement and excellence. This dimension is similar to Hofstede's achievement orientation.
i. Humane orientation This is defined as the degree to which a society encourages and rewards individuals for being fair,
altruistic, generous, caring, and kind to others. This is similar to Hofstede's nurturing dimension.