Chapter 8
Business and Social Equee
Quesons
1. Introducons in the U.S. tend to be rather informal. First names are used almost
2. Business cards are usually exchanged in the U.S. only when there is a reason to contact
3. The U.S. is not a naon of classes, but subtle class disncons exist based on wealth,
4. In the U.S. a relaonship exists between gender and age and posion and status.
5. Good telephone manners include answering the phone promptly ($rst or second ring),
6. Flaming means sending vicious, insulng messages; shoung is typing the message in all
7. E-mail has the advantage of having a low preparaon and fast delivery me as well as
8. Cultural di=erences in dining pracces involve mes of day meals are eaten, number of
9. The manner of eang in the U.S. is the zigzag style, which involves switching the fork
from the leA to the right hand aAer cu7ng the meat. In most other countries the
10. A general guideline for pping in U.S. restaurants is to p 15 to 20 percent of the bill. In
11. The primary guideline for business giA giving in the U.S. is that the giA must be modest
12. GiA-giving pracces are not the same in all cultures. In Japan, for example, giA giving is
very much a part of conducng business. Presentaon is important; giAs are beaufully
13. Cultural taboos related to Iowers involve color, variety, and number. Red roses are
associated with romance in some cultures. In China, white is the color of mourning, and
14. Dressing professionally sends the message that you care about the impression you
make. People who wear a suit or execuve casual when traveling oAen get be8er service
15. Internaonal businesswomen should follow these safety guidelines: take a taxi rather
Case 1
GiA giving is an important aspect of nonverbal communicaon with the Japanese.
However, Mark’s ideas present several problems. The clock is an acceptable giA but
would be more appropriate without the company logo; if it has the company logo, the
Case 2
Lan American people are far less me conscious than the people of the U.S. Although
the invitaon was for 9 p.m., the U.S. American was not expected to arrive right on me
Case 3
The best opon is to eat them by swallowing whole if small enough or cu7ng into bites
where you do not have to chew but can simply swallow without tasng the food. You
Case 4
If there are open seats on the Iight, she can ask the Iight a8endant to change her seat.
If there is not a seat available, she can ask if either of the people seated beside her are
Case 5
Research by the visitor from Singapore would have determined that the United States is
Acvies
1. Students may volunteer to act as persons from the various cultures listed; others will
make the introducons.
a. Dr. John Giovanni
2. Divide the class into small groups for this acvity. Ask students to evaluate others in the
3. To assure that students do not duplicate the cultural faux pas incident, assign certain
4. Since students may not have ready access to informaon on dining pracces in
5. Suggest to students that a good reference would be a recognized book of eque8e, such
6. Suggest students consult books on global eque8e for giA-giving pracces. Dresser’s