Intercultural Dimensions Test

ICC Course TEST

2014/15 KEY (150 points total)

Name:_______________________________________

Group:______________

Date:_________

1. Choose one correct answer to complete the sentences:

1) Culture consists of __________________ and beliefs. a) values

b) volumes

c) costs

d) rates

2) Individualism is one of the cultural ___________________. a) proportions

b) sizes

c) dimensions

d) limits

3) Companies in Denmark have________ power-distance index, so employees take part in making decisions. a) high

b) low

c) slow

d) great

4) Corporate culture influences the form of ______________ senior staff use with subordinates. a) name

b) address

c) talking

d) calling

5) If __________ distance is high, bosses and senior managers are distant and remote. a) power

b) force

c) influence

d) potential

6) Senior managers in Dutch companies are so ______________ that employees can always come up to them with different questions. a) close

b) appropriate

c) approachable

d) comfortable

7) ____________ language and gestures are all important part of corporate culture. a) body

b) face

c) bones

d) mini

8) The idea that all men are macho is a stupid _________________________. a) controversy

b) sophistication

c) stereotype

d) creation

9) Employees usually show great _____________ to bosses in high power distance cultures. a) defeatedness

b) tolerant

c) disrespect

d) deference

10) Companies with developed _____________ culture motivate employees to join training courses and personality development programmes. a) learning

b) sales

c) macho

d) listening

11) Our manager is very approachable. He sees us as a team of ____________________. a) equals

b) equivalents

c) equity

d) evens

12) In companies where sense of inequality is usual employees _________ decisions made by their bosses. a) forget

b) follow

c) question

d) challenge

13) The company used to be more __________________ with top managers far remote from the workforce. a) hierarchy

b) high

c) bossy

d) hierarchical

14) In ___________ power distance cultures senior managers and bosses are remote. a) low

b) height

c) high

d) distant

15) I like to work in companies where everyone can take part in _____________ making process. a) discussion

b) agreement

c) decision

d) communication

16) In a ___________ hours culture people are expected to stay at work longer than normal working day. a) long

b) length

c) short

d) distant

ICC Course TEST

2014/15 KEY (150 points total)

17) In companies with strong hierarchical structure senior managers and bosses are usually _____________. a) remote

b) removed

c) approachable

d) retired

18) In Indian culture, the ______________________ family is still very important. a) extensive

b) connected

c) extended

d) collective

19) In _____________ societies, such as the United States, the connections between people are loose. a) collectivist

b) individualist

c) individual

d) collective

20) Parents, children, brothers, sisters and grand-parents are called ____________ family. a) immediate

b) intermediate

c) individual

d) personal

21) In _____________ societies, such as China, group members protect each other and never think of doing harm to a person or his family. a) collectivist

b) individualist

c) individual

d) collective

22) In cultures like Japan people of one family or group show ____________ to each other. a) loyality

b) loyalty

c) collectivist

d) liberty

23) Her __________________ is terrible. She is always late. a) learning culture

b) punctuality

c) solidarity

d) individualism

24) Culture of ______________ regulates working hours in a company and means that employees stay at work even if they do not have to or need to. a) presence

b) absence

c) attendance

d) presenteeism

25) It is important to set ______________ between work and private life. a) bonds

b) fences

c) distant

d) boundaries

26) The lunch _____________ is important and a lot of business is done over restaurant lunches. a) stoppage

b) beach

c) breaks

d) breakage

27) Long _________ contact is not acceptable in some cultures. a) eye

b) ear

c) look

d) eyebrow

28) Gestures, greetings, physical contact, role of silence are important in cross-cultural ________________. a) communication

b) misunderstanding

c) entertainment

d) talkings

29) A ___________business is a commercial organization in which decision-making is influenced by generations of family members. a) mafia

b) family-owned

c) collectivist

d) relatives

30) In __________ power distance cultures boss is responsible for making decisions. a) individualist

b) collectivist

c) high

d) low

31) ___________ employee is the part of intermediate management of a hierarchical organization, being subordinate to the senior management but above the lowest levels of operational staff. a) middle-class

b) middle-management

c) middle-layered

d) intermediate

32) It’s OK to phone people at home about ______________ issues until about 9.30 pm. a) work-related

b) work-relative

c) job-relevance

d) job-interfere

ICC Course TEST

2014/15 KEY (150 points total)

33) High level of presenteeism does not allow employees have a lot of days ____________. a) away

b) out

c) off

d) aside

34) Cultural _________ can arise when people from different cultures work together or do business together. a) deferences

b) differences

c) stupidities

d) validity

35) ____________ is the distance between managers and the people who work for them, and how this influences company culture. a) hierarchical

b) hierarchy

c) remoteness

d) distance

36) In companies where __________ ceiling is common women cannot get promotion to senior positions. a) glass

b) grass

c) concrete

d) remote

37) If an employee wants to be a good team player he needs to be sensitive to ____________ and try not to interrupt a person who he is talking to. a) decision-making

b) discussion-breaking

c) turn-taking

d) turn-talking

38) ____________ employees are usually focused on the task at hand rather than on relationship with colleagues. a) relative-oriented

b) relationship-oriented

c) task-based

d) task-oriented

39) ____________ employees are usually focused on the people that they are working with rather than on fulfilling the task. a) relative-oriented

b) relationship-oriented

c) task-based

d) task-oriented

40) It important to maintain work-life balance so that you devote enough time to _______ and entertainment. a) leisure

b) lecture

c) pleasant

d) lazy

c) doing

d) make

c) shaping / sizing

d) culture / distance

2. Choose one correct answer to match collocations:

41) decision - _____________ process a) making

b) taking

42) body ___________ and eye____________ a) contact / phrases

b) language / contact

43) confrontational ___________ in management style a) appraisal

b) approach

c) deference

d) differences

c) engagement

d) proposal

c) force

d) potential

44) detailed business __________________ a) punctuality

b) preposition

45) high or low _____________ distance culture a) power

b) influence

46) formal forms of ____________ are not typical for _____________ managers a) relationship / remote

b) contact / distant

c) address / approachable

d) culture / hierarchical

47) cultural _____________ of different cultural _______________ a) understanding / size

b) learning / distance

c) wisdom / hierarchy

d) awareness / dimensions

48) _____________-oriented and ____________-oriented cultures a) relationship / task

b) body / eye

c) stereotype / reality

d) chat / job

ICC Course TEST

2014/15 KEY (150 points total)

49) ____________ family of _____________ societies a) hierarchical / collective

b) extended / collectivist

c) intensive / individual

d) remote / team

50) _______________ culture and ________________ culture a) learning / macho

b) knowledge / male

c) studying / men

d) subject / bull

51) ______________ ceiling is typical for _______________ cultures a) glass / hierarchical

b) grass / hierarchy

c) equals / collective

d) metal / remote

c) remote

d) challenge

c) leisure / work

d) office / hierarchy

c) office

d) working

c) conversation / silence

d) chat / chatter

52) show ____________ to senior staff a) difference

b) deference

53) ___________ time and _______-life balance a) pleasure / job

b) life / business

54) fixed and flexible ___________-hours a) job

b) work

55) rules of _____________ and role of _____________ a) conservation / muteness

b) talkings / silent

3. Each of the following sentences has one incorrect word (underlined). Choose one correct answer to replace the underlined word:

56) Corporate culture is associated with companies that provide services for foreign language study. a) course

b) learning

c) business

d) studying

57) In low power distance cultures senior managers are distant and remote. a) hierarchical power

b) equals power

c) collectivist power

d) high power

58) Individualist culture means that a group is part of extended family where members are loyal to each other. a) collectivist culture

b) macho culture

c) hierarchy culture

d) approachable culture

59) Cultures with serious attitude to time pay special attention to work-life balance. a) punctual

b) presenteeism

c) eye contact

d) learning culture

60) Swedish companies are usually not very hierarchical, with only a few forms of address. a) hierarchy levels

b) power slices

c) management layers

d) management lawyers

61) Hierarchy is the learning culture between managers and the people who work for them. a) macho culture

b) distance

c) form of address

d) remote

62) Macho culture shows a level of seniority in organizations beyond which women seldom go and rarely get promotion. a) form of address

b) eye contact

c) power distance

d) a glass ceiling

63) Presenteeism regulates how close to each other people can stand during communication process. a) distance

b) glass ceiling

c) proximity

d) forms of address

64) If you are sensitive to power distance it means you know when to interrupt or when to let a person finish. a) turn-taking

b) pause-making

c) company culture

d) forms of address

ICC Course TEST

2014/15 KEY (150 points total)

65) Relationship-oriented cultures focus on the tasks at hand, whereas task-oriented cultures focus on relationship with people they are working with. a) relatives- / job-

b) task- / relationship-

c) power- / friendship d) hierarchy- / family

66) Proactive employee is able and ready to work on several tasks / projects at once. a) multitasking

b) macho culture

c) accessible

d) acerbic

4. Choose one word or phrase which would typically reflect a culture style described in the sentence:

67) When a senior manager is talking, junior colleagues do not interrupt and show deference. a) turn-taking

b) eye-contact

c) learning culture

d) macho culture

68) Managers and employees all have lunch in the same restaurant and discuss business matters over a meal. a) hierarchical power

b) low power distance

c) collectivist power

d) high power distance

69) Meetings and other business events always start and finish on time. a) sense of equality

b) task-oriented

c) punctuality

d) glass ceiling

70) Women almost never get promotion or join the board of directors. a) relationship-oriented

b) presenteeism

c) high power distance d) glass ceiling

71) The office closes in August and everyone goes on holiday. a) attitude to leisure time

b) relationship-oriented

c) deference

d) loyalty

72) When someone wants to make a point in a meeting, they might bang on the table. a) macho culture

b) high power distance

c) use of gestures

d) loyalty

73) Among some managers there is a culture being at work when you don’t really need to be. a) form of address

b) eye contact

c) presenteeism

d) a glass ceiling

74) Employees tend to focus on relationship with people they are working with, rather than focus on the tasks at hand. a) relationship-oriented

b) task-oriented

c) job-oriented

d) hierarchical

75) Employee in this company is able and ready to work on several tasks / projects at once. a) multitasking

b) turn-taking

c) accessible

d) acerbic.

76) Employees tend to focus on the tasks at hand, rather than focus on relationship with people they are working with. a) relationship-oriented

b) task-oriented

c) job-oriented

d) hierarchical

5. Choose if the following statements are а) True, b) False, c) Depend on company culture:

77) People finish work earlier each day in summer in order to benefit from the long summer evenings — this is part of a culture of work-life balance. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

78) It’s OK to phone people at home about work-related issues until about 9.30 pm.. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

79) For an American doing business with the Chinese, it is essential that you find out who maintains the most power in the organization and deal directly with him.

ICC Course TEST

2014/15 KEY (150 points total)

a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

80) The lunch break is important and a lot of business is done over restaurant lunches. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

81) Among some managers there is a culture of presenteeism — being at work when you don’t really need to be. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

82) When someone wants to make a point in a meeting, they might bang on the table. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

83) In high power distance cultures managers are approachable and acceptable. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

84) Individualist cultures tend to focus on relationship with people they are working with, rather than focus on the tasks at hand. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

85) Top-down approach to management style is usual in high power distance cultures. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

86) Collectivist cultures tend to focus on relationship with people they are working with, rather than focus on the tasks at hand. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

87) All employees in a company can take part in decision making process and everyone is equal. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

88) All employees in a low power distance culture company can take part in decision making process and everyone is equal. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

89) Collectivist cultures, such as China, people are part of strong groups, often extended families. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

90) Managers are usually more distant and remote. Employees may feel quite distant from their managers and show a lot of deference. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

91) Russia is generally a low power-distance culture. Managers are accessible and approachable and there is a tradition of employees being involved in decision-making as part of a team of equals. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

92) French companies are on the whole more hierarchical than Swedish ones, with more management layers. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

93) Companies in all countries all over the world have bank holidays and feel very strongly about entertainment and leisure time. They all have several days off a week. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

94) How long people can be silent before they feel uncomfortable depends on company culture. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

ICC Course TEST

2014/15 KEY (150 points total)

95) Is it acceptable to interrupt when others are speaking. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

96) Remember to shake hands each time you say goodbye. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

97) Sweden is a low power-distance culture. Managers are accessible and approachable and there is a tradition of employees being involved in decision-making as part of a team of equals. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

98) In Japanese culture it is acceptable that you put away your partners’ business card without even having a look at it first . a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

99) It is not typical for a middle-management employee to take a question directly to the dominant family head. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

100) You are free to discuss such topics, as politics and religion in the course of intercultural networking, because it is easy to discuss them.. a) True

b) False

c) Depends on company culture

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Choose from the answers a word or a phrase that would match to a definition given:

101) basic rules that are established in company for different events or behaviour a) agricultural rules

b) hierarchical rules

c) ground rules

102) everyone is expected to make a contribution to the deal and buckle down to work a) everyone flies

b) no passengers

c) everyone is a pilot

103) everyone is expected to take active part, come up with ideas and share opinions a) make a full contribution

b) keep an eye contact

c) show deference

104) try to stick to a point in discussions and meetings, not to side track a) avoid digression

b) get off the point

c) stay equal

105) decide who will do what in a project or business a) make a contribution

b) allocate roles and tasks

c) advocate assignments

106) work independently, take responsibility and initiative, try not to follow decisions made by others a) stay calm

b) show deference

c) have autonomy with minimum supervision

107) team members can come in and talk when door is open (if closed, not) a) open-door policy

b) policy of deference

c) individualism

108) A person, who can upset or embarrass someone even without intending to a) tactful

b) tactless

c) boss

109) an approach to meetings when open and direct debating of all the relevant issues is accepted at the expense of personal relationships

ICC Course TEST

2014/15 KEY (150 points total)

a) confrontational approach

b) confronting approach

c) hierarchical approach

110) move on to the next stage / point, continue (work, discussion, etc.) rather than keep discussing / doing the same all over again a) keep your eye off the ball

b) keep the ball rolling

c) kick off the ball

111) idea / opinion / fact / figure, etc. that is not clear a) vague

b) vogue

c) waste

112) angry and aggressive (style, behaviour, etc.) a) hospitable

b) hostile

c) hectic

113) A system of organization in which people or things are divided into levels of importance a) power distance

b) corporate culture

c) hierarchy

114) to try not to tell jokes at all with people you don’t know a) be careful with humour

b) mind body language

c) show deference

115) show deference, try not to lose or damage / hurt or offend a) keep eye contact

b) mind body language

c) treat with care and respect

7. Choose if the behavioural pattern in each situation of cultural interaction seems а) appropriate, b) inappropriate, c) depends on culture:

116) When someone hands over their card, take it with both hands, look at it carefully and treat it with care and respect a) Appropriate

b) Inappropriate

c) Depends on culture

117) When your Asian partner hands over their card, take it with both hands, look at it carefully and treat it with care and respect a) Appropriate

b) Inappropriate

c) Depends on company culture

118) Hand over your business card in return, also with both hands a) Appropriate

b) Inappropriate

c) Depends on culture

119) Ensure that you always have a supply of business cards with you when you go on business trips or take part in meetings with foreign partners a) Appropriate

b) Inappropriate

c) Depends on culture

120) Try to use aggressive, confrontational approach in order to make other people respect you a) Appropriate

b) Inappropriate

c) Depends on culture

121) Try to look serious and focused, always try to keep the humour for some other time a) Appropriate

b) Inappropriate

c) Depends on culture

122) Set a goal before each event that will keep you focused and interested. Even if you are not a natural networker, learn how to make more meaningful connections a) Appropriate

b) Inappropriate

c) Depends on culture

123) Never agree to discuss the points that are not on the agenda – it’s a sign that you’re getting off the point a) Appropriate

b) Inappropriate

c) Depends on culture

124) Show the right degree of respect and don’t be over-familiar, use first names only when invited to

ICC Course TEST

2014/15 KEY (150 points total)

a) Appropriate

b) Inappropriate

c) Depends on culture

125) Develop a system for keeping track of the people you want to follow up with – you can carry a pen to make a quick note on the card, or just tear the corner a) Appropriate

b) Inappropriate

c) Depends on culture

126) Put people in your network in touch with each other. This creates a much stronger positive impression a) Appropriate

b) Inappropriate

c) Depends on culture

127) Find out what other people value or need most a) Appropriate

b) Inappropriate

c) Depends on culture

128) Find out the other person’s communication or thinking style and adapt your own message to it. If the person likes facts, don’t talk too much about abstract ideas; give them facts and figures a) Appropriate

b) Inappropriate

c) Depends on culture

129) Always try to come up to bosses and share your ideas; try to collar the boss if he is not approachable a) Appropriate

b) Inappropriate

c) Depends on culture

130) Treat all employees and bosses as members or extended family, as equals a) Appropriate

b) Inappropriate

c) Depends on culture

8. Choose if the described behavioural pattern have а) positive connotation, b) negative connotation, c) depends on culture. Make your choice based on typical cultural dimensions (if stated):

131) Employees need clear direction from above to do our jobs properly a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

132) Power should be distributed — everyone’s opinion is important, everyone is equal a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

133) We have a very careful attitude to time here – delay is failure a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

134) Low power distance culture - power should be distributed and everyone’s opinion is important, everyone is equal a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

135) Collectivist, low power distance culture – restrained body language, small, subtle facial expressions carry large meanings, physical contact in public or long eye contact is uncomfortable a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

136) High uncertainty avoidance culture – self-determination is important, we make free choices and control our lives a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

137) Personal fulfillment, individual initiative and achievement are highly valued a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

138) Group fulfillment, group harmony is valued — Who needs initiative when duties are fixed by tradition, leaders or team needs?

ICC Course TEST

2014/15 KEY (150 points total)

a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

139) Individualist culture – show personal fulfillment, individual initiative and achievement a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

140) Individualist culture - group fulfillment, group harmony is valued — Who needs initiative when duties are fixed by tradition, leaders or team needs? a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

141) Individualist culture – merit and respect is given to those who have earned it a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

142) High power distance culture – merit and respect is given to those with high rank / senior position / status a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

143) Collectivist culture – merit and respect is given to those with the right age / social class a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

144) Individualist culture – if we can get along well, we can do a good job a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

145) High uncertainty avoidance culture – risk is welcome, you never benefit if you try to avoid risks a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

146) High uncertainty avoidance culture – ‘better safe than sorry’, avoiding risks is better than making a loss a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

147) Linear approach to task fulfillment is preferable – people do one thing properly, then move on a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

148) Multitasking approach to task fulfillment is preferable – people handle several things at the same time a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

149) High power distance culture – show deference to senior staff even if you think their decisions are inappropriate a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture

150) Low power distance culture – try not to follow others, take active part in decision-making, be proactive and independent, treat everyone as equals regardless of position a) Positive connotation

b) Negative connotation

c) Depends on culture