MGT 400 Cross Cultural Mgmt ASU Zhang –
Midterm Exam Latest Update
Culture - ANSWER acquired knowledge people use to interpret experience and
actions. This knowledge then influences values, attitudes, and behaviors.
Giri - ANSWER "the right way to behave"; often refers directly to the rather
formalized system of gift giving and exchange relations in Japanese society
(when gifts are given, to whom, and how much they should cost)
-If a manager is given a gift by an employee, protocol dictates that the manager
should give a gift that is at least slightly higher in value that what they received.
-Failing to understand and act appropriately on giri is a serious social offense
that carries the stiffest of Japanese penalties: shame and exclusion from the
group.
Face - ANSWER respect of a person's peers; avoiding embarrassment
-In East Asia, such confrontation causes the person who is confronted to lose
face, the result of such confrontation is that the person confronted may leave
the organization. Confronting the person privately so that they can keep the
respect of others is very important
Low Context Cultures - ANSWER most countries of the developed west such as
the US, the UK, and Europe
-The primary interest is the information and the context is less important
-The listener wants to get lots of information
-Lack of clarity or ambiguity is generally regarded as negative
-Interpretation should be unequivocal
-Direct and embarrassing questions are often asked; face-saving is not very
important
High Context Cultures - ANSWER East Asia, India, and Africa
-Communication is less direct
-Speech is hurried and drawn out
-Greater emphasis is placed on the context or nonverbal cues and less emphasis
is placed on the actual information
-Interpretation is looser, which sometimes can be problematic for the listener
because answers may be indirect and it takes experience on part of the listener
to interpret what was really said
-Face is very important: direct, embarrassing questions or statements are to be
avoided, or asked in a very discreet way, sometimes via an intermediary
, Parochialism - ANSWER belief that there is no other way of doing things except
what is done in one's own culture
Ethnocentrism - ANSWER holds an individual or a firm to believe that their own
way of doing things is the best, and it will not seek to adapt to local cultural
practices.
Polycentric - ANSWER holds that multinational enterprises (MNE) should treat
each international subsidiary largely as a separate national entity. This means
that the subsidiary should do things in a local manner, and the MNE subsidiaries
may come to differ from each other
Sociology Framework - ANSWER 1. Time orientation
2. Space Orientation
3. Activity Orientation
4. Relationships among people
5. Relations to nature
6. Basic human nature
Time orientation - ANSWER (past, present, or future)
-US is less oriented toward history and tradition compared with countries in Asia
or the Middle East. Americans are typically willing to throw out old ideas and try
new things, limited emphasis on historical events. If asked to be there at a
certain time, one is expected to be there on time (US and Germany)
-Saudi Arabia, tradition is paramount, they wrestle with change.
-South America, people may be 1-2 hours late
Space orientation - ANSWER (private, mixed, or public)
-Japan & Hong Kong - space is viewed as a public good
-Australia and US - space is private
-Middle East - considered rude to take a step back during conversation
Activity Orientation - ANSWER (being, thinking, or doing)
-Russia - not proactive;
-Canada - focused on doing
Relationships among people - ANSWER (group, hierarchical, or individualistic)
-Japan & China - focus is on the group
Power Distance - ANSWER >extent to which less-powerful members of
institutions and organizations accept the unequal distribution of power and
submit to authority
-High power distance - people are more likely to obey orders of their superiors
and often do not value being "empowered"; Latin America, South Korea, China,
and India
Midterm Exam Latest Update
Culture - ANSWER acquired knowledge people use to interpret experience and
actions. This knowledge then influences values, attitudes, and behaviors.
Giri - ANSWER "the right way to behave"; often refers directly to the rather
formalized system of gift giving and exchange relations in Japanese society
(when gifts are given, to whom, and how much they should cost)
-If a manager is given a gift by an employee, protocol dictates that the manager
should give a gift that is at least slightly higher in value that what they received.
-Failing to understand and act appropriately on giri is a serious social offense
that carries the stiffest of Japanese penalties: shame and exclusion from the
group.
Face - ANSWER respect of a person's peers; avoiding embarrassment
-In East Asia, such confrontation causes the person who is confronted to lose
face, the result of such confrontation is that the person confronted may leave
the organization. Confronting the person privately so that they can keep the
respect of others is very important
Low Context Cultures - ANSWER most countries of the developed west such as
the US, the UK, and Europe
-The primary interest is the information and the context is less important
-The listener wants to get lots of information
-Lack of clarity or ambiguity is generally regarded as negative
-Interpretation should be unequivocal
-Direct and embarrassing questions are often asked; face-saving is not very
important
High Context Cultures - ANSWER East Asia, India, and Africa
-Communication is less direct
-Speech is hurried and drawn out
-Greater emphasis is placed on the context or nonverbal cues and less emphasis
is placed on the actual information
-Interpretation is looser, which sometimes can be problematic for the listener
because answers may be indirect and it takes experience on part of the listener
to interpret what was really said
-Face is very important: direct, embarrassing questions or statements are to be
avoided, or asked in a very discreet way, sometimes via an intermediary
, Parochialism - ANSWER belief that there is no other way of doing things except
what is done in one's own culture
Ethnocentrism - ANSWER holds an individual or a firm to believe that their own
way of doing things is the best, and it will not seek to adapt to local cultural
practices.
Polycentric - ANSWER holds that multinational enterprises (MNE) should treat
each international subsidiary largely as a separate national entity. This means
that the subsidiary should do things in a local manner, and the MNE subsidiaries
may come to differ from each other
Sociology Framework - ANSWER 1. Time orientation
2. Space Orientation
3. Activity Orientation
4. Relationships among people
5. Relations to nature
6. Basic human nature
Time orientation - ANSWER (past, present, or future)
-US is less oriented toward history and tradition compared with countries in Asia
or the Middle East. Americans are typically willing to throw out old ideas and try
new things, limited emphasis on historical events. If asked to be there at a
certain time, one is expected to be there on time (US and Germany)
-Saudi Arabia, tradition is paramount, they wrestle with change.
-South America, people may be 1-2 hours late
Space orientation - ANSWER (private, mixed, or public)
-Japan & Hong Kong - space is viewed as a public good
-Australia and US - space is private
-Middle East - considered rude to take a step back during conversation
Activity Orientation - ANSWER (being, thinking, or doing)
-Russia - not proactive;
-Canada - focused on doing
Relationships among people - ANSWER (group, hierarchical, or individualistic)
-Japan & China - focus is on the group
Power Distance - ANSWER >extent to which less-powerful members of
institutions and organizations accept the unequal distribution of power and
submit to authority
-High power distance - people are more likely to obey orders of their superiors
and often do not value being "empowered"; Latin America, South Korea, China,
and India
