Chapter Questions
Define culture.
Describe cultural complexity. How does cultural complexity affect the management of international business?
Why do MNC managers find it more difficult to work in a culturally heterogeneous country?
List Hofstede's six dimensions of culture.
There are differences between the American and Japanese concepts of the "individual." How could such a difference affect the management of a business firm in either country?
According to Kurt Lewin, Americans form friendships more quickly and easily. Why?
Why are Americans more informal than other nations? How could this informality cause difficulties for American managers abroad?
How could Americans' penchant for informality create problems when doing business abroad?
Both Americans and Japanese value hard work, but for different reasons. Explain.
Explain why a monochronic manager would have difficulty with polychronic workers.
What problems would an American female manager face in foreign assignments?
What is corporate culture? Elaborate on the relationship between corporate culture and national culture.
Use the explanation of corporate culture provided by Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner and elaborate on the relationship between national culture and corporate culture.
How different is the family corporate culture from the Eiffel Tower type?
What factors differentiate between monolithic, plural, and multicultural organizations? Describe the differences between multicultural and monolithic firms.
Explain the benefits of cultural diversity. How can MNCs gain a competitive advantage through cultural diversity?