WEEK 3 Flashcards
(64 cards)
What is cross-cultural literacy?
Understanding how cultural differences affect international business
Why is cross-cultural literacy important?
Because business customs and expectations vary widely between cultures.
What is culture?
A shared system of values and norms among a group of people.
What did Edward Tylor say about culture?
Culture includes knowledge, beliefs, art, law, morals, and customs
How did Geert Hofstede define culture?
“The collective programming of the mind.”
What was Namenwirth & Weber’s view of culture?
A system of shared ideas that creates a “design for living.”
What are values in a culture?
Deep beliefs about what is good, right, and desirable (e.g., freedom, family, democracy).
Why are values important?
They shape how people think and act, and often feel emotionally strong about them.
What are folkways?
Everyday customs like dress codes or table manners — not serious if broken, just rude or strange.
What are norms?
Social rules that guide acceptable behavior in specific situations
What are mores?
Strong moral rules like laws against theft or incest — breaking them has serious consequences.
What’s the difference between a society and a nation-state?
A society shares a culture
A nation-state is a political country, and may contain many cultures.
Can one culture exist across several countries?
Yes — like Scandinavian culture
What are the six key factors that shape cultural values and norms?
Religion
Political philosophy
Economic philosophy
Education
Language
Social structure
Can one country have many cultures?
Yes — like the U.S., which has a multicultural society
How do these factors affect people and business?
They shape how people think, behave, and interact — especially in business environments.
Give an example of how religion can shape business culture
Countries with strong religious values may have stricter rules on ethics or gender roles in business.
What is social structure?
How a society is organized, including its values, norms, roles, and relationships
What are the two key dimensions of social structure?
Whether individuals or groups are the core unit of society
Whether society is socially stratified
How do Western cultures view the individual?
As the most important unit in society — focusing on personal achievement.
How do Eastern cultures (like Japan) view the group?
The group (family, company, etc.) is more important than the individual.
How can a group affect someone’s status in group-based cultures?
A person’s identity and status may depend on their group membership.
What is social stratification?
The division of society into layers (strata) based on things like wealth, education, or job.
What are the four principles of social stratification?
It’s a trait of society, not individuals
It’s passed from one generation to the next
It exists everywhere, but in different ways
It involves both inequality and cultural beliefs
