Understanding Cross-Cultural Differences

What is culture often described as?

• The way we do things around here

• The way we think about business

• The way we communicate with others

• The way we perceive time

Which countries consider punctuality important?

• South America and the Middle East

• Germany, Switzerland, China, and Japan

• North America and Anglo cultures

• Latin, Arab, Asian, and African cultures

Which cultures rely more on nonverbal signs and indirectness?

• Northern Europeans, North Americans, and Anglo cultures

• Latin, Arab, Asian, and African cultures

• Germany, Switzerland, China, and Japan

• South America and the Middle East

What is the main focus of direct cultures in communication?

• Nonverbal signs and indirectness

• Preserving the relationship

• Content rather than context

• Strict adherence to rules

Which cultures may bend the rules to suit the situation?

• Northern Europeans, North Americans, and Anglo cultures

• Germany, Switzerland, China, and Japan

• South America and the Middle East

• Latin, Arab, Asian, and African cultures

What should we do to work more productively together?

• Denigrate other cultures

• Ignore cross-cultural differences

• Help people understand the relationship between their own culture and the dominant culture

• Lose our own culture

What does the author say about understanding another culture or language?

• It means losing our own culture

• It is not necessary in the workplace

• It helps us work more productively together

• It is only important for international travel