81.
According to Geert Hofstede’s study, which of the following cultural
dimensions would be characterized by a greater readiness to take risks and
less emotional resistance to change?
A.
High power distance cultures
B.
Low uncertainty avoidance
C.
High collectivism
D.
Low power distance cultures
Hofstede’s uncertainty avoidance dimension measured the extent to which
different cultures socialized their members into accepting ambiguous
situations and tolerating uncertainty. Lower uncertainty avoidance cultures
were characterized by a greater readiness to take risks and less emotional
resistance to change.
82.
Hofstede’s dimension of Confucian dynamism:
A.
captures attitudes toward time, persistence, ordering by status,
protection of face, respect for tradition, and reciprocation of gifts and
favors.
B.
focuses on how a society deals with the fact that people are unequal in
physical and intellectual capabilities.
C.
explores the relationship between the individual and his/her fellows.
D.
looks at the relationship between gender and the ability to accept
ambiguous situations.
According to Hofstede, Confucian dynamism captures attitudes toward
time, persistence, ordering by status, protection of face, respect for
tradition, and reciprocation of gifts and favors.
83.
Which of the following is an example of ethnocentrism?
A.
A manager in India looks down upon his subordinates because they are
from a lower caste, compared to him.
B.
An upper-middle-class woman talks rudely to a sales person, because
she looks down upon individuals belonging to the working-class.
C.
An American manager criticizes the cultural practices of Saudi Arabia,
when he is sent there on business, because it differs from his own
cultural norms.
D.
A French business owner, who plans to expand his market to China,
conducts a detailed cultural study of China to customize his marketing
campaign.
Ethnocentrism is a belief in the superiority of one’s own ethnic group or
culture. Hand in hand with ethnocentrism goes a disregard or contempt for
the culture of other countries.
84.
Compare and contrast folkways and mores.
Folkways are the routine conventions of everyday life. Generally, folkways
are actions of little moral significance. Folkways include rituals and
symbolic behavior. In contrast, mores are norms that are seen as central to
the functioning of a society and to its social life. Mores have much greater
significance than folkways. Accordingly, violating mores can bring serious
retribution.
85.
Discuss the relationship between society and the nation-state.
A society is a group of people that share a common set of values and
norms, that is, people who are bound together by a common culture. There
is not a strict one-to-one correspondence between a society and a nation-
state. Nation-states are political creations that may contain a single culture
or several cultures. While it is possible to talk about cultures at different
levels, for example, an “American society,” and “American culture,” it is
important to recognize there are several societies within America, each with
its own culture. The relationship between culture and country is often
ambiguous. Even if a country can be characterized as having a single
homogenous culture, often that national culture is a mosaic of subcultures.
86.
What are the determinants of culture?
The values and norms of a culture do not emerge fully formed. They are the
evolutionary product of political philosophy, economic philosophy,
education, language, social structure, and religion. The chain of causation
runs both ways. While factors such as social structure and religion clearly
influence the values and norms of a society, the values and norms of a
society can influence social structure and religion.
87.
Explain the concept of social stratification.
All societies are stratified on a hierarchical basis into social categories or
social strata. Social strata are typically defined on the basis of
characteristics such as family background, occupation, and income.
Individuals born into the top of a social hierarchy tend to have better life
chances than individuals born into a lower stratum. While all societies are
stratified to some degree they differ from each other with regard to the
degree of mobility between social strata and with regard to the significance
attached to social strata in business contexts.
88.
Discuss why the stratification of a society is important to business.
The stratification of a society is significant if it affects the operation of
business organizations. In a country like Great Britain for example, the
relative lack of class mobility and the differences between classes has
resulted in hostility between middle-class managers and their working-class
employees. An antagonistic relationship between management and labor
classes, and the resulting lack of cooperation and high level of industrial
disruption, tends to raise the costs of production in countries characterized
by significant class divisions. In turn, this can make it more difficult for
companies based in such countries to establish a competitive advantage in
the global economy.
89.
What is the connection between religion and ethical systems? Do they have
any implications for business?
Ethical systems are a set of moral principles, or values, that are used to
guide and shape behavior. Most of the world’s ethical systems are the
product of religions. Therefore, there are Christian ethics and Islamic ethics.
There are four dominant religions in the world: Christianity, Islam,
Hinduism, and Buddhism. The relationship among religion, ethics, and
society is subtle and complex. Some scholars have argued that the most
important business implications of religion center on the extent to which
different religions shape attitudes toward work and entrepreneurship and
the degree to which the religious ethics affect the costs of doing business in
a country.
The authors point out that it is hazardous to make sweeping generalizations
about the nature of the relationship between religion and ethical systems
and business practice. The proposed relationships may exist, but their
impact may be small compared to the impact of economic policy.
90.
Discuss the ideas of Max Weber. What is the Protestant work ethic? Why is
it important to the world economy?
Max Weber was a German sociologist who, in 1904, made the connection
between Protestant ethics and “the spirit of capitalism.” According to
Weber, there was a relationship between Protestantism and the emergence
of modern capitalism. Weber suggested that the Protestant value system
that emphasized the importance of hard work, wealth creation, and frugality
was needed to facilitate the development of capitalism.
Thus, Weber coined the term “Protestant work ethic” to denote the
tendency on the part of Protestants to work hard and accumulate wealth,
which are the underpinnings of capitalism.
91.
Explain how the Koran views business.
The Koran establishes some explicit economic principles, many of which are
pro-free enterprise. The Koran supports free enterprise and earning a
legitimate profit through trade and commerce, as well as the protection of
the right to private property. However, Islam is critical of those who earn
profit through the exploitation of others. Islam stresses the importance of
living up to contractual obligations, of keeping one’s word, and of abstaining
from deception. One economic principle of Islam prohibits the payment or
receipt of interest, which is considered usury. This is not just a matter of
theology; in several Islamic states, it is also a matter of law.
92.
What are the economic implications of the caste system supported by
Hinduism?
Historically, Hinduism supported India’s caste system. The concept of
mobility between castes within an individual’s lifetime makes no sense to
traditional Hindus. Hindus see mobility between castes as something that is
achieved through spiritual progression and reincarnation. Insofar as the
caste system limits individuals’ opportunities to adopt positions of
responsibility and influence in society, the economic consequences of this
religious belief are somewhat negative. For example, within a business
organization, the most able individuals may find their route to the higher
levels of the organization blocked simply because they come from a lower
caste. By the same token, individuals may get promoted to higher positions
within a firm as much because of their caste background as because of
their ability.