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Chapter 3 Solutions to Activities
3.1 Minding One’s Intercultural Social Media Manners (Objs. 1–3)
a. Predictably, the response to such shameless promotion was negative and forced the company
d. The airline lamely tweeted in the wake of the complaints: “At this rate our #QantasLuxury
competition is going to take years to judge.” Lesson: Acknowledge bad news; time
3.2 Analyzing Intercultural Gaffes (Objs. 1−3)
a. Japanese are reluctant to express negativity. Apparently, it was difficult for them to tell a
manufacturer that its product had flaws. Alert Driving should have tested its product in the
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3.3 Mastering International Time (Objs. 1–3)
a. Students will find a number of definitions. UTC stands for “Coordinated Universal Time.” It
represents the international time standard and replaces GMT (Greenwich Mean Time or
3.4 Twitter Opening up Countries and Cultures (Obj. 1, 3)
To benefit fully from the follow function, students and instructors should open a Twitter account.
The account can be set up allowing varying degrees of privacy. The short training video is
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3.5 Learning About the Global Economy (Obj. 1)
3.6 Intercultural Divide at Resort Hotel in Thailand (Objs. 1–3)
Managers and employees alike would benefit from a training course centered on intercultural
issues. Foreign managers should be taught about Thai culture so that they better understand their
3.7 Trek Bicycle Goes Global (Objs. 1, 3, and 5)
What broad lessons can other entrepreneurs learn from Trek’s international experiences?
a. Understand that large markets are available outside the U.S.
3.8 Interpreting Intercultural Proverbs (Objs. 2, 3)
Here are some interpretations and values associated with the following proverbs:
North American Proverbs
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Japanese Proverbs
A wise man hears one and understands ten. (Context and experience expand the meaning of one
German Proverbs
• What is bravely ventured is almost won. (Individualism, action orientation)
Other proverbs that students might mention or that you might mention to students:
• Time is money.
• Between the beginning and the end there is always a middle. (Brazilian)
• An ant may well destroy a whole dam. (Chinese)
• A book holds a house of gold. (Chinese)
• Of all the stratagems, to know when to quit is the best. (Chinese)
• When the sun rises, it rises for everyone. (Cuban)
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3.9 Negotiating Traps (Objs. 2, 3)
a. Since Americans are so legalistic, they are usually more concerned about the letter of the law
rather than the spirit of the law. Therefore, they assume that contracts are inviolate. Other
cultures, such as the Japanese, consider contracts as a good starting point for discussion and
3.10 Learning About Other Countries (Objs. 2, 4)
a. Australia: With a handshake standing an arm’s length apart.
India: With the namaste, which is formed by pressing the palms together below the chin and
nodding the head. To show respect, a slight bow is added.
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b. Australia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom
3.11 Learn to Speak a Foreign Language or Just a Few Phrases With Livemocha or Busuu
(Objs. 2, 3)
Both social networks resemble Facebook in that users register and create profiles. Livemocha is
3.12 Checking in With Facebook (Objs. 1, 3)
Keeping up with Facebook’s staggering growth is a challenge. The latest numbers cited here
were collected in 2012 by several tracking websites mentioned in the activity, Inside Facebook,
Socialbakers, and Internet World Stats. The recent Facebook use statistics show a mixed picture
in Asia, where despite healthy gains in Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and South Korea, the
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3.13 Iceland and Norway: The Most Connected Countries in the World?
For example, in China 38.4 percent of the people have Internet access up from 22.4 percent
two years earlier. Consider these or similar questions: Is this figure likely to increase in the
future? How can you explain the low Internet penetration for Asia as a whole?
The potential for the growth of Internet access in China and Asia as a whole is huge. Only about
grow.
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) runs a website that is a treasure trove of
intercultural information. It gives you access to country comparisons and profiles as well as
important statistics. For example, you can learn about economies, governments, ethnic
groups, or telecommunications around the world. Likewise, BBC News in the United
Kingdom compiles reliable facts about various nations. Using your favorite browser, locate
CIA World Factbook Iceland (Norway) or BBC News Country Profiles. Try to find answers
explaining why North European nations are so Internet friendly.
The Scandinavians, with Iceland and Norway at the top, are the world’s most avid Internet users
Which regions have experienced the strongest growth in two years? What conclusions can
you draw about Internet use worldwide?
In percentage terms, Africa as a whole has enjoyed the biggest growth (in two years its Internet
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View Figure 3.9 or visit Internet World Stats and weigh population figures against Internet
usage; for example, compare Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia. Study user growth
between 2000 and today. By clicking the links for the continents, you can view individual
countries. How could businesses use this statistical information? Which types of business
could benefit the most?
The individual country statistics are revealing. The small but highly developed and population-
3.14 Rotation Curation: Cultural Networking at Its Best?
This assignment should lead to a lively discussion and could be approached from multiple
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3.15 Examining Cultural Stereotypes (Objs. 2, 3)
This activity drives home the limiting nature of stereotypes, even the positive ones. Very few of
us are comfortable representing our entire culture, although others may perceive and designate us
3.16 Exploring Negative Stereotypes and Prejudice (Obj. 3)
This topic is potentially incendiary and should be handled with tact. Nevertheless, some of the
most engaging subjects are those that incite passions. They prove that discomfort with “the
3.17 Analyzing a Problem International E-Mail (Obj. 3)
The e-mail is poorly organized, poorly written, and overly casual; but let’s just focus on the
difficulty it might cause readers unfamiliar with our language.
a. Slang: “royally turned off,” “put down our customers”
3.18 Make Yourself at Home: Ambiguous Expressions Invite New Friends (Obj. 3)
Idioms: by leaps and bounds, crossing bridges before coming to them, grin and bear it, with
flying colors, putting the cart before the horse, getting lost in the shuffle
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3.19 Greasing Palms Abroad: Baksheesh, Mordida, and Kumshah (Obj. 4)
a. Your company would be prohibited from making cash payments to government officials
involved in making decisions regarding a contract for your firm. This is a bribe and could be
prosecuted. The most prominent case of this kind occurred in 1995. Lockheed Martin
pleaded guilty to making a corrupt $1 million payment to an Egyptian legislator in return for
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3.20 Investigating Gifts, Gratuities, and Entertainment Limits (Obj. 4)
Students will find many interesting restrictions. For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
3.21 Investigating Gender Talk (Obj. 5)
Students are asked to discuss whether men and women do indeed have different communication
styles. You might wish to ask your students to conduct their own studies on this question by
3.22 Encouraging Gender Diversity in Corporations (Obj. 5)
Answers will vary. Most students will probably consider the European approach too harsh, an
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The students could start by reading the studies mentioned here: McKinsey’s Women Matter
reports, Alliance for Board Diversity studies, and Center for Talent Innovation (formerly Center
3.23 What Makes a “Best” Company for Minorities? (Obj. 7)
A quick online search will lead students to the Fortune article at http://money.cnn.com/