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Cultural Context in International HRM

This document contains 20 multiple choice questions assessing cultural dimensions related to international human resource management. It covers topics like time orientation, context culture, spatial orientation, cultural measurements from various studies, characteristics of individualism vs. collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, short-term vs. long-term orientation, and cultural dimensions related to gender egalitarianism. The questions assess understanding of cultural factors that influence areas like compensation preferences, performance management, and status within organizations.

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Khánh Hảo
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
295 views3 pages

Cultural Context in International HRM

This document contains 20 multiple choice questions assessing cultural dimensions related to international human resource management. It covers topics like time orientation, context culture, spatial orientation, cultural measurements from various studies, characteristics of individualism vs. collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, short-term vs. long-term orientation, and cultural dimensions related to gender egalitarianism. The questions assess understanding of cultural factors that influence areas like compensation preferences, performance management, and status within organizations.

Uploaded by

Khánh Hảo
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • The Cultural Context of HRM
  • Cultural Dimensions' Impact

Chapter 2 THE CULTURAL CONTEXT OF IHRM

1. When a culture treats time as one thing after another


a) time dimension
b) monochrome time
c) polychrome time
d) time concept

2. Which of these countries does NOT have a high context culture?


a) Germany
b) France
c) Japan
d) China

3. Spatial orientation is a cultural measurement of ____ during speaking


a) room awareness
b) space needed for gestures
c) where eyes look
d) distance between people

4. Which of these Trompenaar dimensions distinguishes between cultures that believe more in absolute or
relative truths?
a) specific vs. diffuse
b) emotional vs. neutral
c) individualism vs. communitarianism
d) universalism vs. particularism

5. Which of these GLOBE study dimensions explains why high-performance might not be rewarded much in
certain cultures?
a) gender egalitarianism
b) assertiveness
c) performance orientation
d) humane orientation

6. In-group collectivism is the degree to which individuals express pride, loyalty, and cohesiveness in their
a) individual work
b) organizations or families
c) donations to charity
d) none of the above
7. Which of these is NOT a criticism of the Hofstede study?
a) could not be replicated
b) mixed practice with values
c) sex and classes ignored
d) interaction between variables ignored

8. In societies high on gender egalitarianism


a) roles are highly gender-defined
b) women and men advance equally
c) women advance more
d) men advance more

9. In countries with this cultural context, employees tend to prefer fixed compensation packages.
a) high uncertainty avoidance
b) low uncertainty avoidance
c) high collectivism
d) high individualism

10. Short term cultures are characterized by


a) high savings rates
b) persistence in pursuing goals
c) ranking based on status
d) expectations of quick profit

11. Which researcher(s) labeled culture as ‘Software of the Mind’?


a) Kluckhohn and Kroeber
b) Hosftede
c) Schein
d) Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner

12. Which researcher(s) defined three levels of culture: artefacts, values, and underlying assumptions?
a) Kluckhohn and Kroeber
b) Hosftede
c) Schein
d) Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner
13. The goals of cross-cultural management studies include each of these EXCEPT:
a) determining how to cause organizational behavior to become the same across countries and cultures
b) description of organizational behavior within countries and cultures
c) comparison of organizational behavior within countries and cultures
d) explanation and improvement of employee, customer, suppliers, or business partner interactions in
different countries and cultures

14. ________ is the degree to which members of a collective expect power to be distributed equally.
a) Uncertainty Avoidance
b) Power Distance
c) Assertiveness
d) Performance Orientation

15. ________ is the degree to which a collective encourages and rewards group members for performance
improvement and excellence.
a) Uncertainty Avoidance
b) Power Distance
c) Assertiveness
d) Performance Orientation

16. According to Gerhart, most of the variance in cross-cultural management studies results come from
a) individual manager-specific differences
b) organization-specific differences
c) country-specific differences
d) cultural differences

17. Publicly rewarding a specific employee’s performance might be seen poorly by the employee and others
because of which cultural dimension?
a) power distance
b) uncertainty avoidance
c) femininity vs. masculinity
d) individualism vs. collectivism

18. A long-term culture is characterized by each of the following EXCEPT:


a) low savings rates
b) respect for social and status obligations within certain limits
c) high investment activity
d) readiness to subordinate oneself to a purpose
(a)
See p. 30

19. According to the Hofstede study, which of these countries did NOT exhibit a small power distance?
a) New Zealand
b) Phillipines
c) Great Britain
d) USA

20. Female managers are rare where which of these cultural dimensions is lowest?
a) in-group collectivism
b) uncertainty avoidance
c) gender egalitarianism
d) individualism

Common questions

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The Trompenaar dimension of 'universalism vs. particularism' distinguishes between cultures that believe in absolute truths (universalism) and those that see truths as relative and contingent on specific circumstances (particularism). In cultures with high universalism, consistent application of rules and standards is expected, emphasizing fairness and equality. Conversely, particularistic cultures value relationships and the context of the situation when determining actions, which can result in varied rule applications. This distinction impacts cross-cultural communication as it influences expectations and interpretations of behaviors, highlighting potential areas of conflict or misunderstanding when individuals from different cultural dimensions interact.

In-group collectivism is the degree to which individuals in a society express pride, loyalty, and cohesion within their organizations or families. In organizational settings, this might manifest as strong teamwork, high employee retention, and collaborative rather than competitive environments. Employees in such cultures might place greater emphasis on company loyalty and stability over individual ambition. This influences behavior to prioritize collective goals, making decision-making processes slower but more inclusive, potentially increasing workplace harmony and job satisfaction.

In collectivist cultures, publicly rewarding an employee’s performance might be perceived negatively because it can disrupt group harmony, highlight individual achievement over collective efforts, and create envy or resentment among team members. These cultures prioritize group cohesion and team success, so alternatives such as group-based rewards, private acknowledgment, or team celebrations may be considered more culturally appropriate. These methods align better with the values of collectivism, enhancing motivation while maintaining harmonious workplace dynamics.

Monochrome time refers to cultures that perceive time as linear, where tasks are handled one after another, and schedules are adhered to strictly. Cultures with this view, such as Germany, tend to prioritize punctuality. Polychrome time, in contrast, is found in cultures that are more flexible about time, handling multiple tasks simultaneously and valuing relationships over schedules. This cultural distinction highlights how time management practices can differ based on cultural backgrounds, revealing deeper attitudes towards efficiency, order, and prioritization in personal and professional settings.

High-performance might not be rewarded as prominently in cultures with low 'performance orientation' according to the GLOBE study. In such cultures, emphasizing harmony, modesty, and group cohesion over individual achievement is prioritized, leading to less public recognition of high-performing individuals. This cultural dimension affects organizational dynamics by potentially de-emphasizing competitive strategies and individual advancement, promoting instead a focus on collective achievements and long-term relational goals.

In cultures high on gender egalitarianism, career progression opportunities for women are more likely to be equal to those of men, as roles are not significantly defined by gender. This results in more women advancing into managerial and leadership positions. Conversely, in cultures with low gender egalitarianism, traditional gender roles are upheld, which can lead to fewer opportunities and barriers for women's advancement, as societal expectations and structural policies may impede gender equity in professional environments.

A long-term orientation in cultural economics is characterized by high savings rates, investment in future developments, and sustained effort towards achieving long-term goals. Societies with long-term orientation approach business ventures with a focus on future returns and stability, often prioritizing research and development and innovation. For international businesses, recognizing this orientation is crucial for forming partnerships and making strategic investments. Understanding a partner's cultural perspective on planning and perseverance can significantly influence negotiations, project timeframes, and expectations, fostering more effective multinational collaborations.

'Power distance' is the degree to which members of a society expect and accept that power is distributed unequally. In high power distance societies, organizational hierarchies are often steep, with clear distinctions between different levels of authority, leading to top-down leadership styles and centralized decision-making. In contrast, low power distance cultures favor flatter hierarchies and more collaborative approaches to leadership, where subordinates are encouraged to participate in decision-making processes. This concept affects leadership styles, with potential implications for employee morale, innovation, and the efficiency of organizational operations.

The Hofstede study faces criticism for several reasons: it could not be replicated easily across different contexts, it mixed values with practices which might not reflect true cultural conditions, it ignored differences based on sex and social classes, and it did not account for interactions between multiple variables. These criticisms suggest challenges in its methodology and the interpretation of its results, where oversimplification and lack of comprehensive insight into cultural nuances might impact its applicability and accuracy across varying cultural settings.

Short-term cultural orientations focus on immediate outcomes, quick profit realization, and less emphasis on long-term planning. This orientation can lead businesses to prioritize short-term financial performance over sustainable growth strategies, influencing decisions such as aggressive marketing campaigns, rapid product launches, and temporary cost-cutting measures. However, this approach might sacrifice long-term benefits, research, and development, or environmental considerations. Companies operating within or across cultures with different orientations must carefully tailor their economic strategies, aligning them to meet both immediate market demands and future stability goals.

Chapter 2 THE CULTURAL CONTEXT OF IHRM
1.
When a culture treats time as one thing after another
a) time dimension
b) monochro
7.
Which of these is NOT a criticism of the Hofstede study?
a) could not be replicated
b) mixed practice with values
c) sex a
13. The goals of cross-cultural management studies include each of these EXCEPT:
a) determining how to cause organizational b

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