76.
The degree to which people in a society accept the idea that inequalities in the well-being
of its citizens are due to differences in people’s intellectual capabilities is known as
________.
A.
referent power
B.
absolute power
C.
free-market power
D.
power distance
Power distance is the degree to which societies accept the idea that inequalities in the
power and well-being of their citizens are due to differences in individuals’ physical and
intellectual capabilities and heritage.
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 04-05 Discuss why national cultures differ and why it is important that managers be sensitive to the
effects of falling trade barriers and regional trade associations on the political and social systems of nations around the
world.
Topic: Power Distance
77.
When workers in a society become wealthy and pass their wealth to their children, thereby
increasing the gap between the rich and the poor in that society, the society is said to
have high ________.
A.
power distance
B.
individualism
C.
achievement orientation
D.
short-term orientation
Power distance is the degree to which societies accept the idea that inequalities in the
power and well-being of their citizens are due to differences in individuals’ physical and
intellectual capabilities and heritage. In high-power-distance societies, workers who are
professionally successful amass wealth and pass it on to their children, and, as a result,
inequalities may grow over time.
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 04-05 Discuss why national cultures differ and why it is important that managers be sensitive to the
effects of falling trade barriers and regional trade associations on the political and social systems of nations around the
world.
Topic: Power Distance
78.
The government uses taxation and social welfare programs to reduce inequality and
improve the welfare of the least fortunate in ________ countries.
A.
low-power-distance
B.
high-power-distance
C.
long-term-orientation
D.
short-term-orientation
Power distance is the degree to which societies accept the idea that inequalities in the
power and well-being of their citizens are due to differences in individuals’ physical and
intellectual capabilities and heritage. In societies with low power distance, large
inequalities between citizens are not allowed to develop.
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 04-05 Discuss why national cultures differ and why it is important that managers be sensitive to the
effects of falling trade barriers and regional trade associations on the political and social systems of nations around the
world.
Topic: Power Distance
79.
Val comes from a culture that values equality works for the improvement of the welfare of
the less fortunate and values warm personal relationships more than goal achievement.
Val’s culture has ________.
A.
high collectivism and short-term orientation
B.
low power distance and strong nurturing orientation
C.
high power distance and nurturing orientation
D.
low uncertainty avoidance and high individualism
In low-power-distance countries, the government uses taxation and social welfare
programs to reduce inequality and improve the welfare of the least fortunate. Societies
that have a nurturing orientation value the quality of life, warm personal relationships, and
services and care for the weak.
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 04-05 Discuss why national cultures differ and why it is important that managers be sensitive to the
effects of falling trade barriers and regional trade associations on the political and social systems of nations around the
world.
Topic: Power Distance
80.
Which of the following statements best defines uncertainty avoidance?
A.
It is the belief that inequalities are due to differences in physical and intellectual
capabilities.
B.
It is a worldview that subordinates the individual to the goals of the group.
C.
It is behavior considered important by most members of a group or an organization.
D.
It is the degree to which societies tolerate differences in personal beliefs and actions.
Uncertainty avoidance is the degree to which societies are willing to tolerate uncertainty
and risk.
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 04-05 Discuss why national cultures differ and why it is important that managers be sensitive to the
effects of falling trade barriers and regional trade associations on the political and social systems of nations around the
world.
Topic: Uncertainty Avoidance
81.
A society that highly values persistence in attempting to achieve goals is said to have
________.
A.
low power distance
B.
high power distance
C.
long-term orientation
D.
short-term orientation
A national culture with a long-term orientation rests on values such as thrift (saving) and
persistence in achieving goals.
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 04-05 Discuss why national cultures differ and why it is important that managers be sensitive to the
effects of falling trade barriers and regional trade associations on the political and social systems of nations around the
world.
Topic: Culture
82.
A society that emphasizes “living for the moment” is said to have ________.
A.
high power avoidance
B.
low power avoidance
C.
long-term orientation
D.
short-term orientation
A national culture with a short-term orientation is concerned with maintaining personal
stability or happiness and living for the present.
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 04-05 Discuss why national cultures differ and why it is important that managers be sensitive to the
effects of falling trade barriers and regional trade associations on the political and social systems of nations around the
world.
Topic: Culture
83.
In a fast-developing country the government uses taxation and programs to improve the
welfare of the least fortunate. This country is an example of low power distance because
________.
A.
large inequalities between citizens are not allowed to develop
B.
individuals are treated as being superior to the group
C.
people whose behaviors differ from the norm are respected
D.
happiness and living for the present are valued
In societies with low power distance, large inequalities between citizens are not allowed to
develop. In low-power-distance countries, the government uses taxation and social
welfare programs to reduce inequality and improve the welfare of the least fortunate.
These societies are more attuned to preventing a large gap between rich and poor and
minimizing discord between different classes of citizens.
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Objective: 04-05 Discuss why national cultures differ and why it is important that managers be sensitive to the
effects of falling trade barriers and regional trade associations on the political and social systems of nations around the
world.
Topic: Power Distance
84.
In countries that are rooted in a culture of collectivism it is easy to spot ________.
A.
admiration for personal success
B.
conformity to group norms
C.
high regard for individual entrepreneurs
D.
belief in individual rights
Collectivism is a worldview that values subordination of the individual to the goals of the
group and adherence to the principle that people should be judged by their contribution to
the group. Strong identification with the group is said to create pressures for collective
action, as well as strong pressure for conformity to group norms and a relative lack of
individualism.
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 04-05 Discuss why national cultures differ and why it is important that managers be sensitive to the
effects of falling trade barriers and regional trade associations on the political and social systems of nations around the
world.
Topic: Individualism
85.
Which two countries generally tend to act as achievement-oriented nations and less as
nurturing-oriented?
A.
Japan and Netherlands
B.
The U.S. and Japan
C.
The U.S. and Sweden
D.
Sweden and Denmark
Japan and the United States tend to be achievement-oriented; the Netherlands, Sweden,
and Denmark are more nurturing-oriented.
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 04-05 Discuss why national cultures differ and why it is important that managers be sensitive to the
effects of falling trade barriers and regional trade associations on the political and social systems of nations around the
world.
Topic: Culture
Essay Questions
86.
Explain briefly a task environment. What effect does it have on managers?
An organization’s task environment is the set of forces and conditions that originate with
global suppliers, distributors, customers, and competitors; these forces and conditions
affect an organization’s ability to obtain inputs and dispose of its outputs.
The task environment contains the forces that have the most immediate and direct effect
on managers because they pressure and influence managers daily. When managers turn
on the radio or television, arrive at their offices in the morning, open their mail, or look at
their computer screens, they are likely to learn about problems facing them because of
changing conditions in their organization’s task environment.
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 2 Medium
Learning Objective: 04-01 Explain why the ability to perceive, interpret, and respond appropriately to the global
environment is crucial for managerial success.
Topic: Globalization
87.
An organization’s suppliers can have an important impact on the success of the
organization. Discuss the various types of suppliers for Dell Computers and explain why
these suppliers are important to success.
Dell’s suppliers include microprocessors (Intel, AMD), disk drives (Quantum, Seagate
Technologies), preinstalled software (Microsoft and Google), capital (banks and financial
institutions), and labor (educational institutions, trade unions).
Changes in the nature, number, or type of suppliers result in forces that produce
opportunities and threats to which managers must respond if their organizations are to
prosper. A supplier’s bargaining position is especially strong when (1) the supplier is the
sole source of an input and (2) the input is vital to the organization.
In contrast, when an organization has many suppliers for a particular input, it is in a
relatively strong bargaining position with those suppliers and can demand low–cost, high-
quality inputs from them.
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Blooms: Apply
Difficulty: 3 Hard
Learning Objective: 04-03 Identify the main forces in the global task and general environments, and describe the
challenges that each force presents to managers.
Topic: Competitive Environment