WGU D080 Module 9 Study Guide | Verified study Questions and
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Module 9: Culture and Communications
1. Define what is culture. Then, describe each of Hofstede’s six cultural dimensions with respect to
global business. (See Lesson 33)
Culture is the beliefs, values, mind-sets, and practices of a group of people. Behavior pattern and
norms of that group- rules, the assumptions, the perceptions, and the logic and reasoning that
are specific to a group. Culture is not inherited it is rather learned. It is nearly impossible to
change an entire country’s culture; culture is relatively static and not easily modified- especially
by external forces. It is the responsibility of the global firm to ascertain the level of importance of
various aspects of culture in the foreign markets. Companies need to recognize and adjust to the
cultural environment. Language, religion, customs and manners, education, values and attitudes,
social institutions, aesthetics, material elements.
a) Define Power distance, explain the differences between high and low power distance
cultures and provide examples. Power distance is the degree to which power is
distributed throughout a society or culture. We can look at it like the difference between
subordinates and superiors. Respect is given to Hierarchy. Low power distance means that
there is equal distribution of power between individuals and society. This means they are not
concerned with rank, title & authority. In these cultures, because we consider ourselves
equals, we are not going to be concerned with who is of rank or has authority. We think that
people just have different roles in the company. No matter what, everyone gets the same
exact respect. In high power distance countries, we are going to be very concerned with
showing respect for rank, title, authority, giving a lot of respect to hierarchy. So, in contrast to
our low power countries, in high power distance countries, we are going to have some groups
of people who might be higher ranking, have a larger amount of power in that culture. And
we are going to make sure to show those individuals who hold respect. You would not go up
to someone in a high-power country who holds power and call them by their name like you
would in a low-powered country.
b) Explain the differences between individualistic and collectivist cultures and provide
examples of each. Individualistic verses collective is looking at our framework for society.
Where are we putting our emphasis. Are we putting our own individual emphasis on “I”?
Or “we”? So that’s what individual verses collective is all about. Collective cultures are
going to have very tightly knit social framework. People in these cultures are going to see
themselves as part of a team with others in society. And they are going to expect society
, members to look after each other. It is the responsibility of our community to solve
problems and look for one another. So, this is going to lead us to prefer groups, because
that’s how people in those collective cultures are already seeing the world. They already
see themselves as part of a group.
Individualistic cultures are going to have more of a loosely knit social framework. We are
going to look at things from the “I” perspective. Expect individuals to only look out for
themselves and immediate families. They prefer to work alone. If there is a problem, they
will solve it on their own.
c) Explain the differences between masculine and feminine cultures and provide examples
of each. Masculine verses feminine, as a culture dimension, can also be thought of as
tough verse tender cultures. It’s not looking at a value placed on men verses women in
society. What we are looking at is cultural attributes that we might associate with
masculine comic book characters verses feminine book characters.
Masculine cultures are going to be looking at those heroes in our comic books, all these
characteristics are things both men and woman in a masculine culture may have. Those
stereotypical, over-the-top cultural attributes that we might look at. Preference in society
for achievement, heroism, assertiveness, and material rewards for success. They have
clearly defined gender roles. Men should fill one role in society and women should fulfill
another role. Men are the breadwinners and should be going to work providing for the
family and the women’s role is to stay at home and take care of the children. Some
cultures that are considered masculine may have the reverse where women are the
breadwinners, and the men stay at home and take care of the children. It’s more about
having clearly defined gender roles for what people do in society.
Feminine cultures are going to have those characteristics of the female kind of “damsel in
distress” like characters in out comic book. They are going to have a preference in society
for cooperation, modesty, caring for the weak, quality of life. They are going to be
concerned with family. They are going to be concerned with feelings rather than the
attributes that we have associated with masculine cultures. In our feminine cultures
gender roles are not going to be defined. Any gender can take on any role in society and
in those roles feminine cultures that will mesh with their social norms. It will be
acceptable by society for people to take on any role in society. It will be acceptable by
society for people to take on any role in society.
d) Define uncertainty avoidance, explain the differences between high and low uncertainty
avoidance cultures and provide examples of each. Uncertainty avoidance can be looked at
as risk loving verse risk fearing. To what degree are members of society comfortable with
taking on uncertainty and ambiguity, with taking on risk?
In low uncertainty avoidance countries, we can refer to that as risk loving. We don’t mind
taking gambles in this society. In fact, if we have low levels of uncertainty avoidance, we
are going to love taking on risk. Even if there is only a small percentage of success, we are
going to encourage taking those gambles. And so in these low uncertainty avoidance
countries and cultures, we are going to encourage creativity and new, unorthodox
approaches.
High uncertainty avoidance cultures, this could be like risk fearing. We are going to have a
Answers complete solutions | A+ Graded | 2026 Updates | 100%
correct
Module 9: Culture and Communications
1. Define what is culture. Then, describe each of Hofstede’s six cultural dimensions with respect to
global business. (See Lesson 33)
Culture is the beliefs, values, mind-sets, and practices of a group of people. Behavior pattern and
norms of that group- rules, the assumptions, the perceptions, and the logic and reasoning that
are specific to a group. Culture is not inherited it is rather learned. It is nearly impossible to
change an entire country’s culture; culture is relatively static and not easily modified- especially
by external forces. It is the responsibility of the global firm to ascertain the level of importance of
various aspects of culture in the foreign markets. Companies need to recognize and adjust to the
cultural environment. Language, religion, customs and manners, education, values and attitudes,
social institutions, aesthetics, material elements.
a) Define Power distance, explain the differences between high and low power distance
cultures and provide examples. Power distance is the degree to which power is
distributed throughout a society or culture. We can look at it like the difference between
subordinates and superiors. Respect is given to Hierarchy. Low power distance means that
there is equal distribution of power between individuals and society. This means they are not
concerned with rank, title & authority. In these cultures, because we consider ourselves
equals, we are not going to be concerned with who is of rank or has authority. We think that
people just have different roles in the company. No matter what, everyone gets the same
exact respect. In high power distance countries, we are going to be very concerned with
showing respect for rank, title, authority, giving a lot of respect to hierarchy. So, in contrast to
our low power countries, in high power distance countries, we are going to have some groups
of people who might be higher ranking, have a larger amount of power in that culture. And
we are going to make sure to show those individuals who hold respect. You would not go up
to someone in a high-power country who holds power and call them by their name like you
would in a low-powered country.
b) Explain the differences between individualistic and collectivist cultures and provide
examples of each. Individualistic verses collective is looking at our framework for society.
Where are we putting our emphasis. Are we putting our own individual emphasis on “I”?
Or “we”? So that’s what individual verses collective is all about. Collective cultures are
going to have very tightly knit social framework. People in these cultures are going to see
themselves as part of a team with others in society. And they are going to expect society
, members to look after each other. It is the responsibility of our community to solve
problems and look for one another. So, this is going to lead us to prefer groups, because
that’s how people in those collective cultures are already seeing the world. They already
see themselves as part of a group.
Individualistic cultures are going to have more of a loosely knit social framework. We are
going to look at things from the “I” perspective. Expect individuals to only look out for
themselves and immediate families. They prefer to work alone. If there is a problem, they
will solve it on their own.
c) Explain the differences between masculine and feminine cultures and provide examples
of each. Masculine verses feminine, as a culture dimension, can also be thought of as
tough verse tender cultures. It’s not looking at a value placed on men verses women in
society. What we are looking at is cultural attributes that we might associate with
masculine comic book characters verses feminine book characters.
Masculine cultures are going to be looking at those heroes in our comic books, all these
characteristics are things both men and woman in a masculine culture may have. Those
stereotypical, over-the-top cultural attributes that we might look at. Preference in society
for achievement, heroism, assertiveness, and material rewards for success. They have
clearly defined gender roles. Men should fill one role in society and women should fulfill
another role. Men are the breadwinners and should be going to work providing for the
family and the women’s role is to stay at home and take care of the children. Some
cultures that are considered masculine may have the reverse where women are the
breadwinners, and the men stay at home and take care of the children. It’s more about
having clearly defined gender roles for what people do in society.
Feminine cultures are going to have those characteristics of the female kind of “damsel in
distress” like characters in out comic book. They are going to have a preference in society
for cooperation, modesty, caring for the weak, quality of life. They are going to be
concerned with family. They are going to be concerned with feelings rather than the
attributes that we have associated with masculine cultures. In our feminine cultures
gender roles are not going to be defined. Any gender can take on any role in society and
in those roles feminine cultures that will mesh with their social norms. It will be
acceptable by society for people to take on any role in society. It will be acceptable by
society for people to take on any role in society.
d) Define uncertainty avoidance, explain the differences between high and low uncertainty
avoidance cultures and provide examples of each. Uncertainty avoidance can be looked at
as risk loving verse risk fearing. To what degree are members of society comfortable with
taking on uncertainty and ambiguity, with taking on risk?
In low uncertainty avoidance countries, we can refer to that as risk loving. We don’t mind
taking gambles in this society. In fact, if we have low levels of uncertainty avoidance, we
are going to love taking on risk. Even if there is only a small percentage of success, we are
going to encourage taking those gambles. And so in these low uncertainty avoidance
countries and cultures, we are going to encourage creativity and new, unorthodox
approaches.
High uncertainty avoidance cultures, this could be like risk fearing. We are going to have a
