UB GEO 330 - MIDTERM REVIEW SHEET (4 pages)

GEO 334 MIDTERM REVIEW SHEET I What is culture a Deresky s definition of societal culture because it shows the process by which geography helps to shape culture i A set of shared values understandings assumptions and goals that are learned from earlier generations imposed by present members of a society and passed on to succeeding generations ii And because these have geographic dimensions the expression of culture can also be seen as a geographic phenomenon b Definition of corporate culture organizational culture II Chapter 3 Cultural Value Dimensions a Cultural value dimensions identified by geographers i unique sets of shared values among geographically situated people p 78 b Exception and ecological fallacies c Ethnocentrism Parochialism Convergence Self reference criterion d Important studies study design and dimensions described i Hofstede 1980 1 Basics of study methodology a Surveys respondents provide ordinal answers eg on a scale of 1 to 7 how much to you agree with the following b About how many employees were surveyed From how many companies i Major criticism of Hofstede study only one MNC surveyed IBM 2 Dimensions know what each of these mean a Individualism v collectivism b Uncertainty avoidance c Masculinity v femininity d Power distance e Long term orientation ii Trompenaars 1993 1 Basics of study methodology a 15 000 managers from multiple companies 2 Dimensions new ones added to existing Hofstede dimensions a Obligation universalistic versus particularistic b Emotional orientation neutral v affective 1 c Privacy in Relationships specific separate work from home life or diffuse home relationships spill over into work and visa versa d Source of power status Personal achievement v ascription iii GLOBE researchers 2001 1 Basics of study methodology a 18 000 managers multiple MNCs 2 Dimensions largely just a reconceptualization of previouslydiscovered dimensions a Assertiveness b Performance orientation c Future orientation d Humane orientation III Chapter 4 Communicating across cultures a Process of communication i Thoughts words and symbols interpretation of words and symbols understanding of thoughts b Factors affecting the interpretation of words symbols i Conception of time 1 Monochronic versus polychronic cultures ii Language 1 Even when speaking the same language there are colloquialisms that may be difficult to interpret 2 Off shore English removes these colloquialisms a You could just as easily think about off shore French Spanish Portuguese any language shared between multiple countries iii Non verbal communication 1 Kinesics body movements a eye contact British 2 Proxemics a High and low contact cultures iv Paralanguage 1 Definition a Paralanguage not what is said but the way in which it is said v Context high and low context cultures 1 Honne and tatemae 2 Speaking the Unspeakable in Ghana a Would you characterize Ghana s society as high context or low context given the article b Verbal indirectness c Face i The concept of face is widespread across many cultures ii What does it mean to lose face To save face To give face 2 iii According to Prof Toomey how does the interpretation of face depend on the individualism or collectivism of the culture IV Chapter 5 Cross Cultural Negotiation and Decision Making a Stages of negotiation i Be able to list those that the book has outlined b It is critical to avoid projective cognitive similarity that is the assumption that others perceive judge think and reason in the same way when in fact they do not because of differential cultural and practical influences c Relationship building phase specifically i Definition of non task sounding 1 Be able to name at least one country and or culture where non task sounding is an essential element of business relationships see slides ii Guanxi 1 Be able to loosely define the concept and be able to recognize it in a fact pattern 2 What reasons are given for the historical development of guanxi a Until relatively recently lack of legal enforceability of contracts means that businesspeople need another way to manage their relationships and assure that both parties hold up their end of the bargain d The influence of culture on international business negotiations Hurn article 2007 i Assume you are in negotiations with another person who does not speak your language s You are using an interpreter To whom should you speak the opposite party or the interpreter Why ii According to Hurn what is the protocol for business cards when dealing with Japanese businesspeople Why V Chapter 6 formulating strategy a What were some of the cultural differences between shoppers in China and the United States when it comes to buying groceries as reported in the article WalMart s China Syndrome a Symptom of International Woes VI Chapter 2 Corporate Social Responsibility and Business ethics a Difference between a corporation and most other kinds of business organization forms i Limited liability ii In the US state authorities grant corporations charters which allow them to operate as entities separate from the identity of their owners b Structure of the corporation shareholders board of directors management employees i What is the role of each ii Who owns the corporation 3 c d e f g h i iii Who makes decisions in the corporation What types of decisions do they make 1 Shareholders a Meet about annually to elect a board of directors b May hold votes on other matters but many investors in large publically traded corporations don t vote their shares and don t attend the annual shareholder s meeting in person 2 Board of Directors a Elected by the shareholders b Generally meets a few times a year eg quarterly to make major strategic level decisions c Appoints the management 3 Management a Make or are responsible for designating that other employees make most day to day decisions within the corporation Friedman s perspective on corporate social responsibility i Be sure to understand his arguments Difference between stockholder and stakeholder Corporate Social Responsibility CSR i Definitions 1 CSR beyond legal requirements to meet self perceived commitments to stakeholders beyond the corporation s owners and management 2 Milton Friedman s perspective profit ii Ways of encouraging demanding CSR 1 Customer driven customers make it good for the bottom line eg customers demand products that were made according to particular ethical codes a Certified codes of conduct international codes of conduct such as those