Business Communication NOW 4Th Canadian Edition By Findlay - Test Bank

Business Communication NOW 4Th Canadian Edition By Findlay – Test Bank

 

Instant Download – Complete Test Bank With Answers

 

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

Chapter 05

Communicating Across Cultures

 

 

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Some Europeans see North American business people as overly time-conscious. Why?
   A.North Americans tend to schedule multiple people in the same appointment time.
   B. North Americans usually show up about five minutes late for appointments.
   C. North Americans expect others to show up at about the scheduled time for appointments.
   D. North Americans schedule more events in a period of time than Europeans do.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-08 Distinguishing Monochronic and Polychronic Cultures

2. Which of the following is NOT a good strategy for communicating with international audiences?
   A.Realize that organizational patterns in Canadian messages may not work elsewhere.
   B. Make sure requests are direct, so that even people who aren’t entirely fluent in your language will recognize them.
   C. Make a special effort to avoid phrases that could seem uncaring.
   D. Pay even more attention to written than oral messages, since written cultural mistakes are permanent.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-06 Explain how to adapt writing for international audiences.
Topic: 05-19 Writing to International Audiences

 

 

3. What should you do to appear more authoritative in a speaking situation?
   A.Lower the pitch of your voice.
   B. Raise the pitch of your voice.
   C. Use a sing-song pattern.
   D. Avoid stressing syllables.

 

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Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-18 Voice Qualities

4. You are speaking to a group of 20 people for 20 minutes. Which of the following strategies will improve the effectiveness of your voice quality?
   A.Avoid changing pitch, volume, and tone throughout the presentation in order to sound consistent.
   B. Vary pitch, volume, and tone throughout the presentation in order to sound alert and intelligent.
   C. Speak loudly enough to be heard by all, and with as high a pitch as possible so that your voice will carry through the room.
   D. Speak as softly as possible so that the audience will be forced to concentrate on what you say.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-18 Voice Qualities

5. John has noticed that Cindy tends to frequently punctuate her conversations with nods, “yes’s,” and “mm hmms.” Which of the following explanations should he adopt for her behaviour?
   A.She has a debating conversational style, and is trying to interrupt him.
   B. She is impatient.
   C. She is signaling that she’s listening.
   D. She is signaling agreement with his statements.

 

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Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-16 Conversational Style

 

 

6. You are in a meeting with an international executive at his office. A colleague comes in to talk to him during your appointment, and he accepts two phone calls. Which of the following is most likely true?
   A.He thinks you are less important than the other callers.
   B. He is disorganized.
   C. His culture is monochronic.
   D. His culture is polychronic.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-08 Distinguishing Monochronic and Polychronic Cultures

7. Which of the following strategies is it NOT a good idea to adopt in a multicultural, Canadian workplace?
   A.Attempt to memorize the nonverbal characteristics of your co-workers’ cultures.
   B. Assume that co-workers will adhere to the nonverbal characteristics of their ancestors’ cultures.
   C. State interpretations of co-workers’ nonverbal behaviour, in order to check if the interpretations are correct.
   D. State observations of co-workers’ nonverbal behaviour, in order to elicit an explanation of the behaviour.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-12 Body Language

8. Which approach is best if a business associate refuses to look you in the eye while you and he are speaking?
   A.Ask why he won’t look you in the eye.
   B. Realize that he’s probably not telling you the truth.
   C. Keep moving until you force him to look you in the eye.
   D. Realize that he may have learned that constant eye contact is not appropriate in a business situation.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-12 Body Language

 

 

9. Which of the following is NOT generally true of Canadian businesses?
   A.Increasing shares of profits come from outside Canada.
   B. The majority of businesses have some kind of stake in international business.
   C. They are extremely accomplished at leveraging international experience and cross-cultural training.
   D. Exports are often viewed as essential.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-01 Explain the importance of cultural competence.
Topic: 05-02 Diversity in the Workplace

10. Which of the following is a common misconception about the Middle East?
    A.The majority of people are Muslim.
    B. Over half of the population is under 15 years old.
    C. There is great economic opportunity in the region.
    D. Women are successful entrepreneurs in the region.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-02 Define culture and explain how culture affects communications.
Topic: 05-06 Understanding the Middle East

11. Which of the following is most true of the multigenerational workplace?
    A.Generation Y has yet to truly grow up.
    B. There are more similarities than differences between age groups.
    C. It is unusual for different generations to work well together.
    D. Age is often the most important predictor of how an employee will behave.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-01 Explain the importance of cultural competence.
Topic: 05-02 Diversity in the Workplace

 

 

12. When were the members of Generation Y born?
    A.1945-1964
    B. 1965-1980
    C. 1981-1999
    D. 2000-present

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-01 Explain the importance of cultural competence.
Topic: 05-02 Diversity in the Workplace

13. When you are speaking to one of your subordinates, she always drops her eyes. Which of the following is probably true?
    A.She has vision problems.
    B. She does not understand the instructions.
    C. She is embarrassed.
    D. She is deferring to a superior.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-12 Body Language

14. According to Ray Birdwhistell’s research, how many gestures or body motions have the same meaning in all societies?
    A.None
    B. Two: “yes” and “no”
    C. Five
    D. Twenty-three

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-12 Body Language

 

 

15. Which of the following is NOT generally a North American preference when conducting business online?
    A.An expectation of immediate or rapid feedback
    B. A priority given to reading and responding to e-mail
    C. A relationship-oriented style
    D. A clear, concise, and direct style of writing

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-11 Nonverbal Communication

16. Which of the following statements is a correct description of ethnocentrism?
    A.It is a means of resisting stereotyping
    B. It refers to natural pride in one’s culture
    C. It is a useful tool for successful decision-making
    D. It is a tendency to judge others based on one’s own cultural norms

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-02 Define culture and explain how culture affects communications.
Topic: 05-04 Understanding Cultures

17. Business communication practices in Canada place the importance on the written words. What does this indicate?
    A.Canada has low-context preferences.
    B. Canada has high-context preferences.
    C. Canada is polychronic.
    D. Canada is monochronic.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-03 Discuss the classification of high-context and low-context cultures.
Topic: 05-07 Classifying High-Context and Low-Context Cultures

 

 

18. Which of the following is NOT a good strategy for communicating with aboriginal peoples?
    A.Follow the lead and instructions of the aboriginal peoples involved in the exchange
    B. Focus on the importance of the written word, in order to overcome any language barriers
    C. Be sensitive to the importance of trust and relationship building
    D. Understand that the aboriginal peoples involved may favor a leisurely approach to negotiations

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-09 Communicating with Aboriginal Peoples

19. Which of the following would normally NOT be a mindset that would make an employee a good candidate for an overseas position?
    A.Knows her values are influenced by her culture
    B. Knows the host culture should be more competitive to succeed in business
    C. Knows she needs to be aware of religious practices in the host culture
    D. Knows she needs to be flexible

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-10 Values, Beliefs, and Practices

20. You ask a friend at work at your firm’s Greek office if she will send you a copy of a confidential memo. She says nothing. You are surprised it never comes. Which of the following is the BEST explanation of your friend’s reaction?
    A.She enjoys making you wait.
    B. She is disorganized.
    C. She intended her silence to mean “No.”
    D. She intended her silence to mean “Yes, when I get permission.”

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-17 Silence

 

 

21. Which of the following statements about personal space is correct?
    A.People within the same culture may have different preferences about personal space.
    B. North Americans tend to prefer less personal space than Italians and Arabs.
    C. Women tend to prefer more personal space than men do.
    D. In many cultures, people who are of the same age and sex will take more personal space than people in mixed-age or mixed-sex groups do.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-13 Space

22. Which of the following statements about diversity in the workplace is NOT true?
    A.Employees who are visual minorities face “unconscious bias” in the workplace.
    B. Employees who are visual minorities complain of being asked to explain the behaviour of anyone else who belongs to their racial and/or cultural group.
    C. Employees with disabilities feel they need to educate their colleagues, while “keeping it light” with humor.
    D. The glass ceiling is no longer a problem for female employees.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-01 Explain the importance of cultural competence.
Topic: 05-01 Understanding Diversity in Canada

23. Which of the following statements about Asia is NOT correct?
    A.Talking about “Asian culture” is flawed because it obscures the diversity of cultures in Asia
    B. Japanese workplace behaviour is far less influenced by economic and organizational factors than workplace behaviour in North America
    C. Culture alone does not explain Asian economic success
    D. Geographic factors and previous disasters play a role in Japan’s cultural characteristics

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-02 Define culture and explain how culture affects communications.
Topic: 05-05 Understanding Asia

 

 

24. Which of the following is NOT a good guideline to follow when writing to international audiences?
    A.Write in the reader’s language if you have any knowledge of the language at all; doing so greatly increases goodwill, even if you make mistakes.
    B. Write using familiar terms (e.g. “agree” instead of “concur”).
    C. Avoid slang, contractions, and sports metaphors.
    D. Make requests more indirect, unless you know that your reader understands North American behaviour.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-06 Explain how to adapt writing for international audiences.
Topic: 05-19 Writing to International Audiences

25. Which of the following statements about women in the Middle East is NOT correct?
    A.In some countries, more women than men are enrolling in university
    B. Women were among the leaders in recent protests in the region
    C. Female entrepreneurs in the region still employ a high proportion of male managers and professionals
    D. There is little difference between male- and female-owned businesses in the region

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-02 Define culture and explain how culture affects communications.
Topic: 05-06 Understanding the Middle East

26. It can be helpful for managers working overseas to have a basic understanding of the religion observed by workers in that company. Why?
    A.Then the manager knows when to buy gifts for his or her employees.
    B. A superior should always seem knowledgeable to his or her employees.
    C. Ordinary business days in Canada may not be the same in another country.
    D. Most international companies insist that managers adopt all the customs of the host country.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-10 Values, Beliefs, and Practices

 

 

27. Which of the following is an open body position?
    A.Leaning back with hands behind the head
    B. Keeping arms close to the body
    C. Leaning forward
    D. Keeping hands in pockets

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-12 Body Language

28. Why may Americans negotiating with Chinese make costly concessions?
    A.It is very difficult for them to overcome language barriers.
    B. Americans tend to use holistic thinking, which leads them to overlook important details.
    C. Chinese tend to be inflexible.
    D. Chinese are in less of a hurry, while Americans get nervous at delays.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-10 Values, Beliefs, and Practices

29. Which of the following is NOT a trait of our cultures?
    A.They are logical and learned.
    B. They are complex and contested.
    C. Cultures are inherently decorative, masking universal human behaviour.
    D. Cultures are often the source of our priorities, and our values.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-01 Explain the importance of cultural competence.
Topic: 05-01 Understanding Diversity in Canada

 

 

30. Would the sentence “Time is Money!” be a good opening line for a letter urging a group of international business executives to come to an immediate decision about an investment opportunity?
    A.Yes, because then they would realize that a delay could hurt them financially.
    B. Yes, because it shows that you have a reason for pushing them on their decision.
    C. No, because it emphasizes that you are asking the group to spend money in the first place, and their reluctance to do so could be the cause of the delay.
    D. No, because people in other countries often take a much more leisurely approach to negotiations.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-08 Distinguishing Monochronic and Polychronic Cultures

31. Why can colour be important in international business?
    A.People in other cultures tend to be more fashion-conscious than those in Canada.
    B. Business executives in other countries may prefer working with quite conservative or quite extroverted people, depending on culture, and colour is a good sign of these personality traits.
    C. People usually take pride in the colours on their national flags.
    D. Individual colours carry meaning in a culture.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-14 Other Nonverbal Symbols

32. Which of the following is a characteristic of communication in high-context cultures?
    A.Written agreements are binding.
    B. High-context cultures rely on non-verbal signs to communicate.
    C. Oral agreements are not binding.
    D. They prefer direct communication.

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-03 Discuss the classification of high-context and low-context cultures.
Topic: 05-07 Classifying High-Context and Low-Context Cultures

 

 

 

True / False Questions

33. The Confucian work ethic alone explains East Asian economic success.
    FALSE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-02 Define culture and explain how culture affects communications.
Topic: 05-05 Understanding Asia

34. High context cultures are likely to view indirectness as dishonest or manipulative.
    FALSE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-03 Discuss the classification of high-context and low-context cultures.
Topic: 05-07 Classifying High-Context and Low-Context Cultures

35. Non-verbal communication is a universal language that people from all cultures can understand.
    FALSE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-11 Nonverbal Communication

36. Women and youth play very insignificant roles in Middle Eastern cultures.
    FALSE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-02 Define culture and explain how culture affects communications.
Topic: 05-06 Understanding the Middle East

 

37. Where you place stress in a sentence profoundly influences the meaning of that sentence.
    TRUE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-18 Voice Qualities

38. Learning to communicate with people from different backgrounds requires learning each culture’s rules.
    FALSE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-06 Explain how to adapt writing for international audiences.
Topic: 05-19 Writing to International Audiences

39. The differences between high-and low-context cultures are rigid.
    FALSE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-03 Discuss the classification of high-context and low-context cultures.
Topic: 05-07 Classifying High-Context and Low-Context Cultures

40. Confirmation bias is a useful phenomenon that consists of being open to confirming the positive qualities in others.
    FALSE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-02 Define culture and explain how culture affects communications.
Topic: 05-04 Understanding Cultures

41. Latin American countries are usually good examples of monochronic cultures.
    FALSE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-08 Distinguishing Monochronic and Polychronic Cultures

 

 

42. Residents of small towns and rural areas have different notions of friendliness than do people from big cities.
    TRUE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-01 Explain the importance of cultural competence.
Topic: 05-01 Understanding Diversity in Canada

43. When tone of voice and content of speech (the words spoken) conflict, people believe the content.
    FALSE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-18 Voice Qualities

44. Low-pitched voices are usually considered more authoritative than high-pitched voices.
    TRUE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-18 Voice Qualities

45. Canada is arguably the most culturally diverse country in the world.
    TRUE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-01 Explain the importance of cultural competence.
Topic: 05-01 Understanding Diversity in Canada

 

 

46. In North America, speaking in a monotone makes a person seem engaged and focused on business.
    FALSE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-18 Voice Qualities

47. In international business correspondence, list the month before the day.
    FALSE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-06 Explain how to adapt writing for international audiences.
Topic: 05-19 Writing to International Audiences

48. The circle and the medicine wheel tend to reinforce social hierarchies in aboriginal cultures in Canada.
    FALSE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-09 Communicating with Aboriginal Peoples

49. Research shows that trustworthy people maintain eye contact throughout a conversation.
    FALSE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-12 Body Language

 

 

50. It’s often best to write in English to other countries and cultures, unless you’re completely fluent in that group’s language.
    TRUE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-06 Explain how to adapt writing for international audiences.
Topic: 05-19 Writing to International Audiences

51. Effective oral communication abroad requires an understanding of the host culture.
    TRUE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-15 Oral Communication

52. In many cultures, people of the same sex stand closer together than do people of the opposite sex.
    TRUE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-13 Space

53. The colour black signifies death in all cultures.
    FALSE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-14 Other Nonverbal Symbols

 

 

54. Most cultures are more formal than Canada, and this should be taken into account when writing to international audiences.
    TRUE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-06 Explain how to adapt writing for international audiences.
Topic: 05-19 Writing to International Audiences

55. Diversity is important only for businesses dealing with people outside of Canada.
    FALSE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-01 Explain the importance of cultural competence.
Topic: 05-01 Understanding Diversity in Canada

56. Loud voices are problematic in all cultures.
    FALSE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-18 Voice Qualities

57. The Canadian workplace can be less welcoming of diversity than Canada’s multicultural reputation suggests.
    TRUE

 

Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Learning Objective: 05-02 Define culture and explain how culture affects communications.
Topic: 05-04 Understanding Cultures

 

 

 

Fill in the Blank Questions

58. _____ is the emphasis given to one or more words in a sentence.
    Stress

 

Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-18 Voice Qualities

59. _____ is the judgment of others by norms specific to one’s own culture.
    Ethnocentrism

 

Learning Objective: 05-02 Define culture and explain how culture affects communications.
Topic: 05-04 Understanding Cultures

60. Our value, priorities, and practices are shaped by the ____________ in which we grow up.
    culture

 

Learning Objective: 05-01 Explain the importance of cultural competence.
Topic: 05-01 Understanding Diversity in Canada

61. ______-context cultures infer information from the context of communication, whereas _____-context cultures see context as less important and focus on information that is explicitly conveyed.
    High; low

 

Learning Objective: 05-03 Discuss the classification of high-context and low-context cultures.
Topic: 05-07 Classifying High-Context and Low-Context Cultures

 

 

62. _____ space is the distance someone wants between him-or herself and other people in ordinary, non-intimate interchanges.
    Personal

 

Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-13 Space

63. A(n) _____ chronic culture focuses on relationships, rather than clock time.
    poly

 

Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-08 Distinguishing Monochronic and Polychronic Cultures

64. Imposing unfair generalizations and labeling people with unjust images is called _____.
    stereotyping

 

Learning Objective: 05-02 Define culture and explain how culture affects communications.
Topic: 05-04 Understanding Cultures

65. _____ refers to the rising or falling inflection that tells you whether a group of words is a question or a statement, whether the speaker is uncertain or confident, whether a statement is sincere or sarcastic.
    Tone of voice

 

Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-18 Voice Qualities

66. _______-pitched voices are usually perceived as being more authoritative, sexier, and more pleasant to listen to than voices with other pitches.
    Low

 

Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-18 Voice Qualities

 

 

67. When writing for international audiences, use __________ instead of first names.
    titles

 

Learning Objective: 05-06 Explain how to adapt writing for international audiences.
Topic: 05-19 Writing to International Audiences

68. _____ is what occurs when people see what they expect to see, and are blinded to the positive attributes of others.
    Confirmation bias

 

Learning Objective: 05-02 Define culture and explain how culture affects communications.
Topic: 05-04 Understanding Cultures

69. The term _________________________ denotes our conversational patterns and the meaning we give to them (for instance, the way we show interest, politeness, or appropriateness).
    conversational style

 

Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-16 Conversational Style

70. Seeing questions as a way to keep a conversation flowing is an example of a(n) ____________ conversational style.
    relating

 

Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-16 Conversational Style

71. In North America, people like to be touched if the person who does the touching is _____ powerful than the person who is being touched.
    more

 

Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-13 Space

 

 

72. ______ body positions suggest that a person is accepting and welcoming of new ideas, whereas ___________ body positions suggest that a person is uncomfortable or shutting another person out.
    Open; closed

 

Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-11 Nonverbal Communication

73. Offering advice and solutions to someone who shares a problem with you is an example of a(n) ______________ conversational style.
    debating

 

Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-16 Conversational Style

74. In Aboriginal cultures, the _______________ emphasizes interdependence and the mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional, and may be followed in consensus decision making.
    medicine wheel

 

Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-09 Communicating with Aboriginal Peoples

75. ___________ communication is communication that doesn’t use words, but that is often crucially important.
    Nonverbal

 

Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-11 Nonverbal Communication

 

 

 

Essay Questions

76. List five sources of workplace diversity, and explain why it is important for businesses to be aware of them.

Answers should discuss the significance of any 5 of the following sources: gender, race and ethnicity, regionally and national origin, social class, religion, age, sexual orientation, and abilities.

 

Learning Objective: 05-01 Explain the importance of cultural competence.
Topic: 05-02 Diversity in the Workplace

77. Laura’s grandfather has always been wary of making business deals with Italians, since he believes they all have ties to organized crime. When Laura confronts him on this issue, he merely points to a recent high profile arrest of an Italian member of organized crime in Montreal. Laura wants to figure out a way to explain to him how his thinking is wrong; how should she approach this topic?

Answers should discuss stereotyping and confirmation bias, with specific references to this scenario.

 

Learning Objective: 05-02 Define culture and explain how culture affects communications.
Topic: 05-04 Understanding Cultures

78. Explain how the use of eye contact can cause miscommunication.

Answers can discuss the following: Eye contact is a form of non-verbal communication. In North America, direct eye contact indicates honesty, but not in Aboriginal cultures, where it is a sign of disrespect (this can cause problems for Aboriginal people in the justice system). In many other cultures, dropped eyes show deference to a superior. Japanese are taught to look at the neck. Prolonged eye contact is considered rude in Korea. Direct eye contact is very important in Arab countries. In Muslim countries, people are not supposed to have eye contact with someone of the opposite sex.

 

Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-12 Body Language

 

 

79. Explain why we need to read Edward T. Hall’s distinctions between high-context and low-context cultures with caution.

If low-context cultures seem more logical, detailed, action oriented and more individualistic to an American anthropologist than the collectivist high-context cultures, then it may be that his cultural conditioning leads him to see what he expects to see. Perhaps it blinds him to the elaborate social rituals of his own culture, such as business golf games, and other ritualized behaviour in North American culture. Moreover, it can be dangerous to exaggerate cultural differences and ignore what we share.

 

Learning Objective: 05-03 Discuss the classification of high-context and low-context cultures.
Topic: 05-07 Classifying High-Context and Low-Context Cultures

80. Explain how immersion in local cultures can help a global business.

Answers can include the following: Immersion can help identify competitive advantages and opportunities that might otherwise be missed. Immersion can also help in working with and communicating effectively with employees, vendors, or potential clients.

 

Learning Objective: 05-01 Explain the importance of cultural competence.
Topic: 05-03 Operating In A Global Business World

81. Deborah Tannen uses the term conversational style to denote our conversational patterns and the meaning we give to them. Explain what this might include and how you can assess your own conversational style.

Answers will vary, but should include aspects of the following: conversational style is the way we show interest, politeness, and appropriateness, and can be influenced by gender. You can assess your own conversational style by asking how you interpret and use pauses, interruptions, and questions in conversation.

 

Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-16 Conversational Style

 

 

82. List three characteristics of the successful intercultural communicator, and explain why they promote success.

A successful intercultural communicator will have the following characteristics (answers could discuss any three of the following):

-Be aware that his or her preferred values and behaviours are influenced by culture and are not necessarily “right.”
-Be flexible and open to change.
-Be sensitive to verbal and non-verbal behaviour.
-Be aware of the values, beliefs, and practices in other cultures.
-Be sensitive to differences among individuals within a culture.

 

Learning Objective: 05-01 Explain the importance of cultural competence.
Topic: 05-01 Understanding Diversity in Canada

83. List four voice qualities that can affect the way oral messages are interpreted, and explain how they influence interpretations.

These voice qualities can affect the way oral messages are interpreted: tone of voice, pitch, stress, and volume.

 

Learning Objective: 05-05 Discuss conversational style.
Topic: 05-18 Voice Qualities

 

 

84. Identify three guidelines to follow when writing to international audiences, and explain why these guidelines are important.

Answers should discuss 3 of the following points:

-Since most cultures are more formal than Canada, use titles, not first names.
-Avoid contractions, slang, and sports metaphors.
-Patterns of organization that work for North American audiences may need to be changed. For example, in most cultures negative messages should be buffered and requests should be more indirect.
-Make a special effort to avoid phrases that seem cold and uncaring.
-To avoid confusion, give the day before the month and spell out the month.
-Use bias-free language and visuals.

 

Learning Objective: 05-06 Explain how to adapt writing for international audiences.
Topic: 05-19 Writing to International Audiences

85. Shayna is going to pitch her insurance brokerage to the band leaders of a local Aboriginal community. What kind of business advice would you give her in order to help her succeed?

Answers should discuss the importance of establishing trust and relationships, of following protocol (which the local community will identify), of understanding conventions like the circle and the medicine wheel, and of communicating with Aboriginal seniors by means of plain language and newsletters.

 

Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-09 Communicating with Aboriginal Peoples

86. What advantages might women have when conducting business with people from China or Japan?

Answers may discuss the following: The typical North American male bottom-line, straight-to-the point approach can be offensive and impede business. Women’s readiness to look out for other people’s welfare and a negotiating style that emphasizes interpersonal warmth and a willingness to listen are highly valued by many international business people.

 

Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-08 Distinguishing Monochronic and Polychronic Cultures

 

 

87. List three things that can be classified as non-verbal communication, and explain how they send messages to others.

Answers will vary, but correct responses should discuss three of the following: body language, space, time, clothing, colours, conversational style, use of silence, and voice qualities.

 

Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-11 Nonverbal Communication

88. How should smart business communicators approach online communication with international audiences?

Answers should discuss the following: preferences vary for media choices (e.g. Canadians prioritize reading and responding to email, whereas Japanese and Italians prefer text messaging and cell phones), internet penetration varies across regions (e.g. the Caribbean has low penetration, but social media are taking hold), direct structures may confuse some cultures, and cultures that prefer relationship-oriented communication styles may see direct emails signs of upset or distance on the part of the sender).

 

Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-10 Values, Beliefs, and Practices

89. Why can gestures be a source of miscommunication?

Answers should discuss how researchers have found no universal commonalities in gestures, and how acceptable gestures in one culture may be offensive in others.

 

Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-12 Body Language

 

 

90. Why is it a bad idea to memorize a list of cultural characteristics and then use that list to interpret everything done by a person from that culture?

Answers should discuss how organizational and personal cultures can be just as important (sometimes even more so) than other kinds of culture, depending on context, and how individuals within cultures differ. Generalizations should always be tested against experience.

 

Learning Objective: 05-01 Explain the importance of cultural competence.
Learning Objective: 05-03 Discuss the classification of high-context and low-context cultures.
Topic: 05-01 Understanding Diversity in Canada
Topic: 05-07 Classifying High-Context and Low-Context Cultures

91. How can religion influence people’s values and beliefs? Why is it important to recognize this influence?

Answers should discuss how the value placed on ideas such as individualism, promising actions by set dates, wealth, and simplicity differ based on religion.

 

Learning Objective: 05-04 Explain monochronic and polychronic cultures.
Topic: 05-10 Values, Beliefs, and Practices