Chapter Four - Differences In Culture

Front 1

cross-cultural literacy

Back 1

an understanding of how cultural differences across and within nations can affect the way in which business is practiced

Front 2

culture

Back 2

a system of values and norms that are shared among a group of people and that when taken together constitute a design for living

Front 3

values

Back 3

abstract ideas about what a group believes to be good, right, and desirable

Front 4

norms

Back 4

the social rules and guidelines that prescribe appropriate behavior in particular situations

Front 5

society

Back 5

a group of people who share a common set of values and norms

Front 6

folkways

Back 6

routine conventions of everyday life

Front 7

mores

Back 7

norms seen as central to the functioning of a society and to its social life

Front 8

social structure

Back 8

"A society's social structure is its basic social organization. Two dimensions to consider:
a) The degree to which a society is stratified into classes or castes
b) The degree to which the basic unit of social organization is the individual, as opposed to the group"

Front 9

group

Back 9

an association of two or more individuals who have a shared sense of identity and who interact with each other in structured ways on the basis of a common set of expectations about each other's behavior

Front 10

social strata

Back 10

Hierarchical social categories often based on family background, occupation, and income

Front 11

social mobility

Back 11

The extent to which individuals can move out of the social strata into which they are born.

Front 12

caste system

Back 12

A system of social stratification in which social position is determined by the family into which a person is born, and change in that position is usually not possible during an individuals lifetime.

Front 13

class system

Back 13

A system of social stratification in which social status is determined by the family into which a person is born and by subsequent socioeconomic achievements.

Front 14

class consciousness

Back 14

A tendency for individuals to perceive themselves in terms of their class background.

Front 15

religion

Back 15

A system of shared beliefs and rituals concerned with the realm of the sacred.

Front 16

ethical systems

Back 16

Cultural beliefs about what is proper behavior and conduct.

Front 17

power distance

Back 17

Theory of how a society deals with the fact that people are unequal in physical and intellectual capabilities. High power distance cultures are found in countries that let inequalities grow over time into inequalities of power and wealth. Low power distance cultures are found in societies that try to play down such inequalities as much as possible.

Front 18

individualism versus collectivism

Back 18

Theory focusing on the relationship between the individual and his or her fellows. In individualistic societies, the ties between individuals are loose and individual achievement is highly valued. In societies where collectivism is emphasized, ties between individuals are tight, people are born into collectives, such as extended families, and everyone is supposed to look after the interests of his or her collective.

Front 19

uncertainty avoidance

Back 19

Extent to which cultures socialize members to accept ambiguous situations and to tolerate uncertainty.

Front 20

masculinity versus femininity

Back 20

Theory of the relationship between gender and work roles. In masculine cultures, sex roles are sharply differentiated and traditional masculine values such as achievement and the effective exercise of power determine cultural ideals. In feminine cultures, sex roles are less sharply distinguished, and little differentiation is made between men and women in the same job.

Front 21

Confucian dynamism

Back 21

Theory that Confucian teachings affect attitudes toward time, persistence, ordering by status, protection of face, respect for tradition, and reciprocation of gifts and favors.

Front 22

ethnocentrism

Back 22

Behavior that is based on the belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture; often shows disregard or contempt for the culture of other countries.