Chapter 1: Culture in Business Contexts
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Today, companies report that talent management and developing global competencies are
among their greatest challenges. Because of this:
a. Companies are even more careful when they hire people today, because failure is costly.
Cultural differences are always a potential explanation for any misunderstanding between
people of two cultures, but they are not the only explanation.
According to the “iceberg” model of intercultural communication, ______________ is what is
visible?
a. values
A cultural metaphor is an innovative method for understanding the cultural mind-set of a
nation by looking at cultural cues. But such a metaphor is actually a stereotype.
Two businessmen meeting for the first time are exchanging personal information. One asks the
other about his children and proudly receives the following reply: “I have two sons; do you
want to see pictures?” The first man answers yes and compliments the other on the good looks
of his sons. After this exchange, the second man enquires about the first man’s children. The
first man takes out a picture of his three daughters. Upon seeing the picture, the second man
exclaims: “Three daughters! Oh, I’m sorry!” What might be the reason for this response?
a. In this scenario, both businessmen are not communicating effectively.
Values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors influence us in profound ways. Match the following
concepts with the correct answer.
a. values
b. beliefs
c. attitudes
d. behaviors
Globalization deals with complexity, ambiguity, and uncertainty and involves a huge risk when
communicating across borders.
Cross-cultural adaptability is the ability to influence people who are different than you.
Culture is both visible and invisible; it is learned, shared, a powerful influence on behavior; it is
systematic and organized. It is the underlying attitudes, beliefs, and values of a group (both
accepted and expected) that are expressed through behaviors.
Culture is a force that operates deep in the shadows of our interactions; we are generally
unaware of this force unless we experience an “ill fit” in a different environment or context;
and obvious elements such as language are insufficient for understanding the true differences.
Culture is a pattern of ideas, emotions, and behaviors (we’ve also framed it as attitudes, beliefs,
values, and behaviors) that:
a. Operate on both a conscious and unconscious level.