Chapter 6: The Europeanization of business management

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following concepts is defined as the “differences between individuals on any attribute that might lead to the perception that another person is different from self”?

a. homogeneity

b. diversity

c. collegiality

d. convergence

2. Which of the following economic systems is featured by stock market focused business systems and a liberal market economy?

a. Germanic states

b. Nordic economies

c. Anglo-Saxon cluster

d. Southern European/Mediterranean

3. Which of the following attributes are associated with the so-called Rhineland model of HR in Europe?

a. low degrees of flexibility of labour markets (dismissal complex)

b. generalist management training (business school type)

c. short-term benefits (e.g. contracts; recruitment based on technical or experience match)

d. high degree of specialization of staff

4. What cross-border organisational structure is well adapted to a relatively homogeneous range of products that require a fast and efficient distribution channel?

a. functional

b. product

c. geographical

d. international division

5. Which of the following is best described as “our way of thinking and behaving in a particular situation”?

a. values

b. character

c. attitudes

d. mindset

6. When thinking about time, which of the following describes a belief that it is important to deal with one issue at a time, along deadlines, with a high focus on the job, short-term relationships, low degrees of relational contexts yet a great need for information input to enable this promptness.

a. monochronic commitments

b. polychronic commitments

c. dichronic commitments

d. none of these

7. Which ONE of Hofstede’s cultural values dimensions is being discussed when a national culture is described as being featured by significant degrees of hierarchy and well defined societal roles?

a. power distance

b. individualism/collectivism (IDV)

c. masculinity/femininity (MAS)

d. uncertainty avoidance (UAI)

8. Under what conditions is the human resources management function likely to be seen as a business partner serving a much broader and development focused function?

a. when managers are typically promoted from specialists functions

b. when managers originate from management training and education

c. when managers are confronted by specific operational challenges

d. when managers need to recruit new employees

9. Which of the following BEST describes the characteristics we would expect for a European business leader?

a. cultural intelligence, localized identity and active management to reduce cultural diversity

b. cultural intelligence, global identity and limited awareness of cultural diversity

c. cultural intelligence, localized identity and openness to cultural diversity

d. cultural intelligence, global identity and openness to cultural diversity

10. Which of the following dimensions of cross-border knowledge transfer are positively affected by high degrees of trust?

a. access and legitimacy, in marketing and internationalization

b. learning and effectiveness, in knowledge management

c. discrimination and fairness, in HR management

d. all of these