Student Resource
Scandura, Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2022
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Sample Answers to In–Text Questions
Note: Answers to Case Questions are available in the Case Notes. Answers to Toolkit Activities
are personal to the student therefore there are no sample answers.
Chapter 13: Diversity and Cross-Cultural Adjustments
Critical Thinking Questions
1. Give an example of an assumption about another culture that may influence your
working relationship with a person from that culture. What questions could you ask them
to determine whether the person fits your assumption?
Question Location: What Is Culture?
Ans: I know a young man who was born in Guatemala and was adopted by an American family
when he was a few months old. When he was a college freshman, one of his teachers would
2. Do you think that cultures around the world are becoming more “westernized” (in other
words, like the United States)? Why or why not?
Question Location: Hofstede’s Cultural Values
Ans: I think this has been true in the past as America was the forerunner in many business and
cultural issues. As I have traveled and worked internationally, I have seen many examples of
American cultural influences—young people wearing T-shirts sporting American college or
3. What are the advantages of knowing cultural values that generalize across cultures? Is it
more useful to learn about cultural values that are unique to a culture? Why or why not?
Question Location: GLOBE Studies of Cross-Cultural Leadership
Ans: It can help to know how other cultures operate and how they view my culture.
Generalizations can be useful to know that there are certain things that all cultures value, and we
Student Resource
Scandura, Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2022
2
4. Explain whether or not you believe the global mindset can be learned. Which aspect of
the global mindset do you feel is most important for a leader to exhibit? Why?
Question Location: The Global Mindset
Ans: I do not think a global mindset can be learned if it is not experienced by an individual.
5. Give an example of when you found something troubling about a different culture. What
did you do?
Question Location: Culture Shock
Ans: When traveling in parts of India, I learned that it was not good to use my left hand in
greeting someone or when eating in a public setting. I learned that indoor plumbing and toilet
6. Have you been on a study abroad experience (or an expatriate assignment)? Describe
your process of cultural adjustment and repatriation. If you have not been on a study
abroad experience (or expatriate assignment), explain why.
Question Location: Repatriation
Ans: I have had a study abroad experience, and the process of cultural adjustment was similar to
what is described in the text. It was important for me to learn as much as I could about the
Student Resource
Scandura, Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2022
3
What’s #Trending in OB?
Managing Someone Older Than Yourself
1. How would you feel about managing an employee who is the same age as your parents?
Ans: I would feel weird about it. That being said, I can see how focusing on and embracing the
expertise of an older individual in a specific line of business would be acceptable. I don’t need to
2. Give examples of how to best motivate
(a) traditionalists, (b) baby boomers, (c) Gen X, (d) millennials, and (e) Gen Z. What is
important to each cohort?
Ans: (a) the best ways to support traditionalists include the promise of longevity in a career, and
security after a career, (b) the best way to support baby boomers would be through a variety of
3. Describe ways that organizations can support cross-generational collaboration.
Ans: Organizations can support cross-generational collaboration by first forcing the collaboration
Research in Action
When in Rome . . . Cultural Retooling
1. Explain why the instrumental approach is more effective in adapting to another culture.
Question Location: Research in Action
Ans: In the instrumental approach, the person actually adapts to the new behavior recognizing it
2. Provide an example of a time when you experienced a conflict due to interaction with a
person from another culture. Reflect on this experience. What did you learn from this?
Student Resource
Scandura, Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2022
4
Question Location: Research in Action
Ans: Actually, I experienced cultural conflicts as the newcomer. I grew up in a culture where
etiquette demanded that “a gentleman always opens the door for a lady and always stands when a
3. How can you use knowledge of cultural retooling phases to help you adapt to another
culture?
Question Location: Research in Action
Ans: Before traveling to another country, I need to read and learn about the host country’s
culture. Alternatively, if here at home I am to meet and/or work with people from another