BSAD 560 Intercultural
Business
Relations
Final Examination Study Guide
The
final examination
will be based on the concepts contained in the following questions /
study
guide. The examination will be a mixture of short answer
questions which
may be answered in several sentences or a short paragraph and at least
one longer
essay type question. While the study guide is intended to cover
broadly
the key concepts of the course, students are still responsible for
major
concepts covered in class lectures as well as the assigned textbook
readings,
even if not specifically mentioned in the questions below. Sample
questions are given in a few sections below.
- Discuss
the changes in the political, economic, and commercial systems during
the last several decades which make an intercultural approach to
business essential. In particular, consider the changes in a
global work force, the need for global management, as well as the "convergence"
and "divergence" concepts of globalization.
- What
is culture? Define and explain the various components that may be
used to construct a "culture." Using your own culture as a
reference, explain and illustrate the following brief statements often
used to describe the basic components of culture:
- culture
is learned
- culture
is transmitted
- culture
is symbolic
- culture
is changeable
- culture
is integrated
- culture
is ethnocentric
- culture
is adaptive
- What
is communication? Define the term and also identify and explain
the basic facets of the communication paradigm (Sender, Receiver,
Barriers, etc). Focus especially on the layers
of culture which surround every "Sender" and every "Receiver" and
explain how these layers impact effective intercultural
communication. Also explain the differences between high and low
context communication that impact the communication process.
- Define
non-verbal communication. Why is a clear understanding of
non-verbal communication modes especially significant in a
cross-cultural setting? Illustrate cultural differences in
non-verbal communication in the following areas: body movement,
posture, gestures, facial expressions, eye-contact, touch, smell, and
personal space. Discuss the implications of these cultural
differences on typical business practices.
- What
traits exemplify a culturally-aware manager? How does one become
a culturally-aware manager?
- What
are common barriers to communication? In particular, identify
those barriers that are largely cultural determined. What steps
can a culturally-aware manager take to reduce such barriers to
communication?
- Illustrate
how beliefs, values, and norms are the basis of cultural
differences. Define these terms (beliefs, values, and norms) and
be able to discuss their relationship to cultural universals.
Illustrate with both your culture and that of any other you have
studied during this course.
- Identify
and discuss the 10 basic value types developed from the research of
Shalom Schwartz. In particularly, indicate their relevance to
business situations.
- Identify
and discuss the basic American values. What impact do these
values have on American business dealings? To what extent is it
important for non-Americans to be aware of American values?
Illustrate this from the movie, Moscow on the Hudson.
Where possible, contrast these values with those of your own culture
noting both strong similarities as well as significant differences.
- Explain
and illustrate the major taxonomies listed below which can be used to
identify / describe cultural patterns. Briefly discuss the value
such taxonomies have in developing appropriate business relations with
other cultures.
- Kluckhohn
and Strodtbeck — Cultural Orientations (activity, group relations,
human nature, world view, time)
- Hall
— Low / High Context
- Hofstede's
Cultural Dimensions — (Individualism / Collectivism, Uncertainity
Avoidance, Power Distance, Masculinity / Femininity, Long-Term / Short
Term)
Sample
Questions
a.
What
does
Geert Hofstede mean by individualism / collectivism and how is this
reflected
in typical behavior in the U.S.? Compare these U.S. norms with a
culture
that is significantly more collectivistic.
b.
Does
the
U.S. use a high or low context communication style? Illustrate
with
examples and situations.
c.
How
is
time perceived in the U.S.? Illustrate the U.S. view and compare
it with
that of another culture.
- Identify
and explain four major types of corporate culture.
Illustrate how these are often culturally determined. What forces
help determine the specifics of any given culture? Illustrate
with references to both your own culture and that of any other with
which you have become familiar as part of this course.
- Compare
and contrast negotiation styles and tactics from a cross-cultural
perspective. You may wish to refer to American, Arabic, Russian,
and Japanese perspectives and may also refer to the movies, Moscow
on the Hudson and Gung Ho, to illustrate some of these
differences.
- Identify
the typical responses to contact with another culture (dominance,
avoidance, compromise, accommodation, and synergy). To what
extent should a manager use or avoid to these strategies? In
other words, when is each strategy appropriate?
- What
is cultural synergy and what strategies should a manger use in seeking
to promote synergy? As part of your answer, identify and discuss
the primary barriers to cultural synergy (ethnocentrism, stereotyping,
racism).
- Discuss
and explain the issues of culture shock / acculturation.
Sample
Questions.
a.
Define culture shock and
explain the typical progress that acculturation takes.
b.
What are the typical causes
and symptoms of culture shock?
c.
Outline the corporate
approach to acculturation which allows a business to manage
successfully a relocation
experience (see recommendations by Moran, Harris and Moran).
- Illustrate
the differences in business protocol (appointments, greetings, and
gift-giving) from the perspective of at least two cultures.
- Identify
and discuss the ethical dilemmas associated with intercultural contacts.
- Identify
and discuss the cultural communication issues as well as the cultural
management issues portrayed in Gung Ho.
- Discuss
the need for intercultural communication skills in today's business
world using concepts studied in the class and illustrating as
appropriate with incidents from the movie, Gung Ho.
BSAD560 Intercultural Business Relations