Management 490 Chapter 8 Part 2

Collectivism refers to a cultural value that emphasizes the importance of group harmony and cooperation over individual goals and achievements. In a collectivist society, people prioritize the needs and goals of the group over their own personal interests. This is in contrast to individualism, which focuses on personal freedom and individual achievements. Power Distance (High) refers to a cultural value that accepts and expects unequal distribution of power and authority within a society. While the given options do not provide enough context, the answer "Collectivism" seems to be the most suitable based on the provided information.

This answer suggests that in a society where achievement, heroism, and material success are valued, the cultural orientation is more towards masculinity. This means that the society places a higher importance on competition, assertiveness, and the pursuit of goals. It is likely that individuals in this society are encouraged to be ambitious, independent, and dominant in order to achieve success.

This answer suggests that in cultures with a feminine orientation, there is a greater emphasis on relationships and quality of life. This means that individuals in these cultures prioritize cooperation, empathy, and nurturing behaviors. They value work-life balance and prioritize the well-being of individuals over competition and achievement. This is in contrast to cultures with a masculine orientation, where there is a greater emphasis on assertiveness, competition, and achievement. Power distance, which refers to the extent to which power is distributed unequally in a society, is not directly related to the given answer.

Feed-Forward Control helps managers anticipate changes in the external and internal environments based on analysis of inputs from stakeholders and the broad environment. This type of control focuses on identifying potential issues or problems before they occur and taking proactive measures to prevent or mitigate them. It involves gathering information from various sources, such as customers, suppliers, competitors, and industry trends, to make informed decisions and adjustments to the organization's strategies and processes. By using feed-forward control, managers can stay ahead of changes in the business environment and make necessary adjustments to ensure the organization's success.

Premise control refers to the practice of periodically evaluating and monitoring the assumptions or premises that form the basis of strategic choices. This involves critically analyzing the underlying beliefs and factors that influence decision-making in order to ensure that they are still valid and relevant. By regularly assessing these assumptions, organizations can identify any potential gaps or flaws in their strategic choices and make necessary adjustments to improve their overall effectiveness. This helps in maintaining alignment between the organization's strategy and the changing business environment, ultimately leading to better decision-making and performance.

Clan controls refer to the socialization processes through which an individual comes to appreciate the values, abilities, and expected behaviors of an organization. This means that clan controls involve the informal and social aspects of an organization, where individuals learn and internalize the norms, values, and expectations of the organization through interactions with their peers and superiors. This type of control relies on trust, shared values, and a sense of belonging to guide individuals' behaviors and align them with the organization's goals and culture.

Uncertainty avoidance refers to the degree to which members of a society are comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty. It measures the extent to which individuals in a society prefer structured and predictable situations over uncertain and ambiguous ones. A high uncertainty avoidance score indicates that the society has a low tolerance for uncertainty and prefers strict rules and regulations to minimize ambiguity. On the other hand, a low uncertainty avoidance score suggests that the society is more open to change, risk-taking, and ambiguity.

Bureaucratic controls refer to the rules, procedures, and policies that guide the behavior of organizational members. These controls are typically implemented in hierarchical organizations to ensure consistency, efficiency, and compliance with established norms and regulations. Bureaucratic controls help maintain order and standardize operations within an organization by providing clear guidelines and expectations for employees to follow. They often involve strict adherence to formalized processes, documentation, and reporting structures. By enforcing these controls, organizations can minimize risks, maintain accountability, and ensure that tasks are carried out in a consistent and predictable manner.

A policy is a general guide to action that provides a framework for decisions that are made routinely. It helps in setting guidelines and standards for consistent decision-making and behavior within an organization. Policies provide a sense of direction and ensure that actions are aligned with the overall objectives and values of the organization. They help in maintaining consistency and efficiency in decision-making processes by providing a clear set of rules and procedures to follow.

Socialization refers to the process by which individuals in an organization adopt common beliefs, values, and assumptions. Through socialization, organizational members become more inclined to see things the same way, which in turn shapes their perceptions. This process helps to create a shared understanding and culture within the organization, fostering cohesion and alignment among its members.

Power distance refers to the extent to which individuals in a society accept and expect unequal power distribution and are accepting of authority. It reflects the level of inequality that exists between people with different social statuses. In societies with high power distance, there is a greater acceptance of hierarchical structures and authority figures, while in societies with low power distance, there is a greater emphasis on equality and a questioning of authority. Therefore, power distance is the most appropriate answer to the given question as it directly relates to the acceptance of uneven power distribution and authority in society.

This answer refers to the concept of individualism/collectivism, which pertains to the degree to which a society focuses on individuals or the group. Individualistic societies prioritize individual rights, freedom, and self-interest, while collectivistic societies prioritize the needs and goals of the group and value harmony and interdependence. This answer suggests that the degree to which society focuses on individuals or the group is measured by the concept of individualism/collectivism.

The correct answer is Masculine/Feminine. This refers to the degree to which society distinguishes between gender roles. In a masculine society, there is a strong emphasis on traditional male roles such as assertiveness and competitiveness, while in a feminine society, there is a greater emphasis on nurturing and caring roles traditionally associated with females. This dimension measures the extent to which gender roles are clearly defined and differentiated in a society.

Power distance refers to the extent to which less powerful members of a society accept and expect power to be distributed unequally. In a low power distance culture, there is a belief in equality and a preference for decentralized decision-making. Adherence to the plan is more likely to be emphasized in a low power distance culture because individuals are encouraged to take ownership and responsibility for their tasks. They are expected to follow the plan closely and are less likely to deviate from it.

Individualism refers to the belief in the importance of individual rights, freedom, and self-reliance. It emphasizes the value of personal goals and achievements over collective or group interests. In contrast, collectivism emphasizes the importance of the group or community over individual needs and goals. Therefore, the correct answer "Individualism" aligns with the concept of individual rewards, as it implies that rewards and recognition are given based on individual efforts and accomplishments rather than collective achievements.

Concurrent control is a type of control that occurs while a process is ongoing. It involves monitoring and adjusting activities in real-time to ensure that they are in line with predetermined standards and objectives. This type of control is often used in production and service processes to ensure that operations are running smoothly and efficiently. It allows for immediate identification and correction of any deviations or issues that may arise, helping to prevent problems from escalating and affecting the overall quality of the output.

Statistical Process Control involves setting performance standards for specific work activities. This method uses statistical techniques to monitor and control processes, ensuring that they are within acceptable limits. By analyzing data and identifying variations, organizations can take corrective actions to improve quality and efficiency. This approach is particularly useful in manufacturing and production settings, where continuous monitoring and adjustment are necessary to maintain consistent output.

The answer is "Power Distance (High" because when a culture has a high power distance, it means that there is a significant power gap between individuals in authority and those who are not. In such cultures, decisions are often made by those in power without much input or influence from others. Therefore, focusing on outcomes of decisions may be more prevalent in cultures with high power distance, as the decision-making process is typically centralized and hierarchical.

Confucian Dynamics refers to the cultural values and beliefs influenced by Confucianism, which emphasize long-term thinking, respect for authority, and harmonious relationships. This cultural dimension focuses on the long term rather than the short term. It suggests that decisions in societies influenced by Confucianism are more likely to consider the long-term consequences and benefits, rather than immediate gains. Therefore, the degree to which decisions are focused on the long term versus the short term aligns with Confucian Dynamics.

Environmental discontinuities refer to major and unexpected changes in the social, economic, technological, and political environments that require organizations to adapt and change. These discontinuities can disrupt the existing organizational processes, strategies, and structures, forcing the organization to respond and adjust accordingly. Bureaucratic controls and premise control are not directly related to this concept and do not capture the idea of external changes that necessitate organizational change.