tests

Assessment Analysis

perla costeño – Cultural Quiz Answers

No

Question

Correct answer

Your answer

Marks

	1			The French are more interested in immediate agreements than long term objectives.		False		True

	2			The French negotiating style is more emotional than logical.		False		True

	3			French bosses are very egalitarian.		False		False

	4			In France, status is based on achievement and results.		False		False

	5			The French stick rigidly to agendas.		False		True

	6			The French tend to believe they are intellectually superior to others.		True		False

	7			The French do not consider protocol important in work situations.		False		False

	8			The French are good compromisers.		False		False

	9			French people would rather be right than popular.		True		True

	10			The French prefer facts to ideas.		False		False

	11			The French prefer inefficient, charismatic leaders to efficient, mediocre ones.		True		True

	12			Communication in French organisations is horizontal rather than vertical.		False		False

	13			French business is very Americanized.		False		False

	14			Napoleon has been discredited in modern French society.		False		True

	15			Erroneous decisions by French managers are rarely forgiven and often result in the manager being fired.		False		False

	16			In France, attainment of immediate objectives is secondary to the reputation of the organisation and its socio-political goals		True		True

	17			There is little 'paternalism' in French companies.		False		True

	18			The French government protects large national companies more than most Europeans do.		True		True

	19			French middle managers, like those in Japan, make more decisions than top management.		False		True

	20			French senior administrators share information as much as possible with their staff to motivate them.		False		True

	21			Money is the best tool for motivating staff in France.		False		True

	22			French people have great respect for the law and rarely seek to get round regulations.		False		True

	23			French people rarely interrupt a speaker in a business meeting.		False		True

	24			French meetings begin promptly without any preliminary small talk.		False		True

				Total:						12

Assessment Analysis

perla costeño – Action Test Answers
The preferable option is shown in bold. Your incorrect answers are highlighted in red.

No

Question

Marks

	1			One of your French employees seems to lack enthusiasm for his job and goals in general. You decide to motivate him in a personal discussion. Would you:

				(a) offer him more money? (b) appeal to his self-pride? (c) show him the importance of his position in the company?
	Why?			French people are very conscious of the role they play in society or in an organisation.

	2			An employee consistently arrives late for work. Do you:

				(a) reprimand him strongly? (b) ignore the matter provided he works well? (c) rationalise the situation?
	Why?			It is logical that he may not disrupt the organisation through unpunctuality or breaking rules.

	3			One of your French colleagues frequently interrupts you when you are outlining strategy. Do you:

				(a) talk over him? (b) listen to what he has to say? (c) insist he may not interrupt your remarks?
	Why?			French people interrupt by instinct and often have good points to make.

	4			One of your French colleagues constantly digresses from the agenda during meetings. Do you:

				(a) insist he stick to the agenda? (b) accept his digressions? (c) throw him out of the meeting?
	Why?			French people cannot help digressing when they have an important point to make.

	5			One of your French colleagues is very long-winded and causes meetings to run seriously over time. Do you:

				(a) tell him to make it short? (b) interrupt him, just as French people interrupt you? (c) discuss the procedural style before the meeting begins?
	Why?			If the procedure is rationalised, a French person will accept this.

	6			A French employee insists on taking her holidays in August, even though this is not convenient for the company. Do you:

				(a) lay down strict rules as to when people may take their annual vacation? (b) accede to her request? (c) point out that others may be inconvenienced?
	Why?			Most French people regard it as a right to take their vacation in August, like most of their compatriots.

	7			One of your French colleagues is, in your view, over-opinionated. Do you:

				(a) pull rank and tell him to be less dominant? (b) combat his opinions with superior logic? (c) pretend to agree, but go your own way?
	Why?			French people will always bow to superior logic.

	8			One of your French managers appears to accept your directives, but consistently does things his own way in the end. Do you:

				(a) overrule him? (b) give him considerable freedom of action? (c) attack mistakes?
	Why?			French people, being logical, must admit and correct their mistakes.

	9			One of your French employees always sees things from a French-only point of view and appears generally ‘France-centred’. Do you:

				(a) remind her of France’s decline as a world power? (b) praise France’s cultural and artistic achievements? (c) make fun of her French-centeredness?
	Why?			If you praise France, you will win her over and she is likely to be more modest about France’s greatness.

	10			One of your French managers is reluctant to speak any language other than French in a multinational team. Do you, as chairman:

				(a) insist he take English lessons and shape up? (b) tell the others to brush up their French, as it might enhance their own prospects? (c) be mildly cynical about the manager’s attitude?
	Why?			French people, being cynical themselves, will react favourably to mild cynicism.

	11			One of your French managers consistently challenges your opinions and proposes alternative plans. You need to pursue your own version of the company policy. Do you:

				(a) pull rank? (b) emphasise your intellectual background or superior education degree? (c) point out you have greater experience?
	Why?			French people respect education more than experience or tough action.

	12			Your French employees seem to have an inadequate grasp of company goals. Would you inspire them, or clarify goals, by:

				(a) focusing them on good profit prospects? (b) showing them more efficient methods? (c) focusing on the elegance of the organisational structure?
	Why?			French people hunger for elegance and habitually seek form, beauty and style.

	13			Your French chief assistant constantly proposes alternatives to your suggested directives. Do you:

				(a) accept his views to keep things running smoothly? (b) try to defeat his arguments? (c) propose a compromise?
	Why?			French people habitually distrust compromise and prefer one side or the other to prove their point.

	14			Some of your French employees show great inquisitiveness and annoy you with their constant questions, which often seem superfluous to you. Do you:

				(a) tell them to stick to their own business? (b) answer all their questions? (c) be selective in your replies?
	Why?			The French are inquisitive by nature and often help you when they know all the facts.

	15			One of your French managers seems always to paint a rosy of prospects to the staff and charms them to make them believe it all. Do you:

				(a) tell him to be more factual? (b) give free rein to his charisma? (c) paint a gloomier picture to the staff?
	Why?			French people are used to both using and listening to charismatic discourse. The staff will exercise natural caution re. the manager’s remarks, but will welcome his charisma and inspiration. French people hate mediocrity.

				Total:		7