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Cultural Self-Analysis Questionnaire

For the first 16 questions you are asked to rate yourself on a 5-point scale between two extreme statements. If you agree with the extreme statement, choose 1 or 5; if you are leaning in one direction, choose the 2 or the 4; if you are evenly split between the two extremes, choose 3.
For the remaining brief-answer questions simply follow directions.

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* 1. Power Distance (Hofstede):
How comfortable are you with deferring to greater authority, hierarchical or social? Rate yourself between 1 and 5.

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* 2. Individualism vs. Collectivism (Hofstede/Trompenaars):
Which do you believe in more: conforming to community values or being personally responsible for your own success and achievements? Rate yourself on a 1-5 scale.

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* 3. Uncertainty Avoidance (Hofstede):
Do you feel a strong need to have every part of your life organized and planned, or do you feel more at home in free-wheeling, spontaneous, even chaotic situations? Are you comfortable with disorder and surprises, or do you insist on meticulous organization and hate accidents? Rate yourself on a 1-5 scale.

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* 4. Tough vs. Soft (Hofstede, also Masculinity/Femininity):
Do you feel that an adult should be assertive and energetic so as to acquire a maximum of material comfort, social status and prestige, or do you think on the contrary the most important thing in life is to be a part of community and an extended family and that the best way to achieve this sense of community is to be tolerant, relaxed, loving and non-aggressive?

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* 5. Time Orientation (Edward Hall):
Is your conception of time "monochronic" (M-time), in which time is perceived as linear and it is best to do just one thing at a time, or is your conception of time more "polychronic" (P_time), in which time is perceived naturalistically and people are comfortable doing several things at the same time, and in which people and human relationships are more important than clocks and schedules?

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* 6. Universalist vs. Particularist (Trompenaars):
You are responsible for awarding your business unit's contract for stationery and office supplies (the contract is worth approximately $25,000 per year). Two companies meet all your criteria for quality and service, but one of them is offering prices 2% lower than the other. You decide to award the contract to the cheaper firm, but just before you do, you receive a phone call from the president of the other company. It is your old friend Guillermo from your student days at ISM. You and Guillermo were very good friends throughout your studies (you used to swap jokes about Peter Horn and Jack Forget). Now, Guillermo begs you for the contract. How do you feel?

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* 7. Neutral vs. Emotional (Trompenaars):
How do you feel about displaying emotion or anger while at work?

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* 8. Achievement vs Ascription (Trompenaars):
What do you think is the most appropriate way of understanding professional and financial success - purely a matter of individual effort, or largely a matter of inherited social privileges and luck? Rate yourself on a 1-5 scale.

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* 9. Leadership (Psychology v culture; power distance):
How do you rate yourself as a leader?:

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* 10. Energy level (biology vs. culture)
How do you rate your energy level? High energy or low energy?

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* 11. Universalism v Particularism - Specific/Diffuse (Trompenaars / evo psych)
How would you feel if you found out that one of your close colleagues was carrying on an extra-marital affair?

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* 12. Leadership / Organizational Culture (Type X vs. Type Y):
What kind of leader/manager is the most effective in a business organization in your experience?

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* 13. Religion / Uncertainty Avoidance:
What is your general attitude toward religion?

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* 14. Cultural Evolution (Universalism v Particularism / Uncertainty Avoidance):
To what extent do you agree with the following statement: " Although all cultures must be respected, it is nonetheless true that some cultures are more highly evolved than others. In advanced cultures, people tend to be honest, industrious, disciplined, organized, tolerant, law-abiding. In less-advanced cultures, people are less rigorous, more superstitious, more intolerant, less disciplined and less respectful of the law. The less-evolved cultures should imitate the advanced cultures, even if this means abandoning some of their old traditions. There is clearly some validity in the concept of 'cultural superiority'."

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* 15. Humor
How do you feel about jokes that are slightly or very racist, sexist, homophobic or nationalist?

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* 16. Masculinity/femininity
Do you have a preference for working either with men or women as superiors and colleagues, or are you completely indifferent?

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* 17. Cultural Gaffes
In an international or intercultural situation, have you ever observed a memorable cultural gaffe (mistake) that you can share with us? Don't share if it will get you arrested! Or, pretend that this is something that you"witnessed" or "heard about", not something that happened to you. Try to be brief and we can expand on the details in class

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* 18. Corporate/organizational culture
Have you ever observed a corporate or organizational culture that you found extremely unhealthy or unproductive? What was the main problem? Do you have any suggestions for dealing with such cultures?

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* 19. Have you ever worked with or observed a corporate or organizational culture that you found to be extremely impressive, effective or enjoyable? What was the key to their success?

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* 20. Are there any cultural groups (nationality, religion, gender, age, profession) that you have more difficulty working with?

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* 21. Cultural perceptions/stereotypes:
What are the first 3 to 5 words (especially adjectives) that come to mind when you think of the U.S.A.?

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* 22. Cultural perceptions/stereotypes:
What are the first 3 to 5 words (especially adjectives) that come to mind when you think of the France?

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* 23. Cultural perceptions/stereotypes:
What are the first 3 to 5 words (especially adjectives) that come to mind when you think of China?

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* 24. Cultural perceptions/stereotypes:
What are the first 3 to 5 words (especially adjectives) that come to mind when you think of Germany?

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* 25. Cultural perceptions/stereotypes:
What are the first 3 to 5 words (especially adjectives) that come to mind when you think of Arabic-speaking countries?

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* 26. Cultural perceptions/stereotypes:
What are the first 3 to 5 words (especially adjectives) that come to mind when you think of Mexico?

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* 27. Cultural perceptions/stereotypes:
What are the first 3 to 5 words (especially adjectives) that come to mind when you think of Nigeria?

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* 28. Cultural perceptions/stereotypes
If you had to live in a foreign country in which you have never lived, what would be your top two choices (place them in order).

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