A few questions i've had and helpful hints associated with them:
Exam 1b:
Q: Is Hofstede a folk hero? What should we know about his national culture framework?
A: Yes, he's a folk hero, and you should be able to recognize what he means by the 5 dimensions that make up the framework: masculinity/femininity, individualism/collectivism, etc.
Exam 2b:
Q: What to we have to know about expectancy theory, and is Vroom a folk hero?
A: Vroom's not a folk hero, but you should understand what expectancy, instrumentality, and valence mean in that context and how they combine as factors in motivation.
Q: What do we need to know about the "psychological contract"?
A: Understand what it is and how it's applied--both the "traditional" psy contract and what I referred to in class and the notes as the "modern version" (the one I sometimes associate with Jack Welch), which looks at loyalty in a different way from the traditional version.
Exam 3b:
Q: What do we need to know about the group development stages? (storming, norming, etc.)
A: Just have a good idea what happens during each stage, as we discussed in class. A more detailed discussion, from Wikipedia, follows:
Hofstede's Framework for Assessing Culture
Hofstede has found five dimensions of culture in his study of national work related values. Replication studies have yielded similar results, pointing to stability of the dimensions across time. The dimensions are:
Small vs. large power distance
How much the less powerful members of institutions and organizations expect and accept that power is distributed unequally. In cultures with small power distance (e.g. Australia, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand), people expect and accept power relations that are more consultative or democratic. People relate to one another more as equals regardless of formal positions. Subordinates are more comfortable with and demand the right to contribute to and critique the decisions of those in power. In cultures with large power distance (e.g. Malaysia), the less powerful accept power relations that are autocratic or paternalistic. Subordinates acknowledge the power of others based on their formal, hierarchical positions. Thus, Small vs. Large Power Distance does not measure or attempt to measure a culture's objective, "real" power distribution, but rather the way people perceive power differences.
Individualism vs. collectivism
How much members of the culture define themselves apart from their group memberships. In individualist cultures, people are expected to develop and display their individual personalities and to choose their own affiliations. In collectivist cultures, people are defined and act mostly as a member of a long-term group, such as the family, a religious group, an age cohort, a town, or a profession, among others. This dimension was found to move towards the individualist end of the spectrum with increasing national wealth.
Masculinity vs. femininity
The value placed on traditionally male or female values (as understood in most Western cultures). In so-called 'masculine' cultures, people (whether male or female) value competitiveness, assertiveness, ambition, and the accumulation of wealth and material possessions. In so-called 'feminine' cultures, people (again whether male or female) value relationships and quality of life. This dimension is often renamed by users of Hofstede's work, e.g. to Quantity of Life vs. Quality of Life. Another reading of the same dimension holds that in 'M' cultures, the differences between gender roles are more dramatic and less fluid than in 'F' cultures; but this strongly depends on other dimensions as well.
Weak vs. strong uncertainty avoidance
How much members of a society are anxious about the unknown, and as a consequence, attempt to cope with anxiety by minimizing uncertainty. In cultures with strong uncertainty avoidance, people prefer explicit rules (e.g. about religion and food) and formally structured activities, and employees tend to remain longer with their present employer. In cultures with weak uncertainty avoidance, people prefer implicit or flexible rules or guidelines and informal activities. Employees tend to change employers more frequently.
Michael Harris Bond and his collaborators subsequently found a fifth dimension which was initially called Confucian dynamism. Hofstede later incorporated this into his framework as:
Long vs. short term orientation
A society's "time horizon," or the importance attached to the future versus the past and present. In long term oriented societies, people value actions and attitudes that affect the future: persistence/perseverance, thrift, and shame. In short term oriented societies, people value actions and attitudes that are affected by the past or the present: normative statements, immediate stability, protecting one's own face, respect for tradition, and reciprocation of greetings, favors, and gifts.
These cultural differences describe averages or tendencies and not characteristics of individuals. A Japanese person for example can have a very low 'uncertainty avoidance' compared to a Filipino person even though their 'national' cultures point strongly in a different direction. Consequently, a country's scores should not be interpreted as deterministic.
TEXT FROM TOMORROW'S FINAL EXAM COVER PAGE
B Mgt 341 – 5/5/2011 - Finals 1b, 2b, 3b
REMOVING ANY QUESTION SHEET FROM THE EXAMINATION ROOM WILL RESULT IN A FAILING COURSE GRADE AND JUDICIAL ACTION!!!
1. Pick up answer sheets as you exchange your picture id for this question sheet packet. ALL FINAL EXAMS IN THIS PACKET ARE VERSION 3!!!. [YOUR VERSION# MAY VARY]
3. Write one of the following six section identification lines across the top of side one of each answer sheet you use:
Section 4779 (8:45)
4779 Exam 1b (8)
4779 Exam 2b (9)
4779 Exam 3b (10)
Section 3414 (10:15)
3414 Exam 1b (8)
3414 Exam 2b (9)
3414 Exam 3b (10)
4. Answer the exam questions on 1b, 2b and/or 3b in any order you like, selecting the best answer for each question.
5. When you are completely finished, stand up, put your pencils away, retrieve your belongings, and go to the back of the room.
6. Place your answer sheets in the appropriate file boxes or piles (1b, 2b, and 3b).
7. Exchange this question sheet packet for your ID card before leaving.
Please read and sign the following declaration: I understand that I may review my exam by appointment until noon on Tuesday, May 10, and I may initiate an appeal of final exam questions through Thursday, May 12. Outside of normal class and online materials, I obtained no advance knowledge of any questions. Missing or incorrect entries for (1) my ID number, (2) my name, or (3) the exam version number may cause that exam grade to be reduced by 3 points. _____________________________________ Signed
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