案例分析及参考答案（二） Case 1 Identify the problems occurring in these cross-cultural encounters. Ma Pin works in a joint-venture company as an executive in China.His boss is an American named Steve.They are good friends.Once,a a meeting with mostly Chinese participants including Ma Pin.Steve didn't hear much disagreement when asking for any suggestions on his new project.So he took it for granted that his new project would be quite satisfactory to everyone present at the meeting.But to his great surprise and puzzlement,after the meeting.Ma Pin came to his office and told him that the project might not work properly.This time,to Ma.Pin's surprise.Steve didn't seem happy but even annoyed with this. Q知estions: 1.What would Steve expect from the participants on his new project at the meeting? 2.What proper explanation could you give for Ma,Pin's behavior? 3.Suppose you are the person who knows both of them quite well.Could you please give some advice to both of them so that they could understand each other well? Reference 1.In America,which scores high in individualism,people leam to be unique.They prefer to express their personal thoughts and feelings in public,which is they like to debate issues openly.Thus disagreements are always welcome in the discussion.As an American.Steve would expect from the participants to express their independent ideas freely about the new project,especially when he openly asked them to do so. 2.In China,great value is placed on collectivism and group identity,uniformity and conformity are stressed.Uniqueness and Self-assertive behaviors are not favored within the group.for they tend to be viewed undignified or embarrassing.So people are not used to expressing their contrary opinions openly in order not to disgrace those
案例分析及参考答案（二） Case 1 Identify the problems occurring in these cross-cultural encounters. Ma Pin works in a joint-venture company as an executive in China. His boss is an American named Steve. They are good friends. Once, at a meeting with mostly Chinese participants including Ma Pin, Steve didn’t hear much disagreement when asking for any suggestions on his new project. So he took it for granted that his new project would be quite satisfactory to everyone present at the meeting. But to his great surprise and puzzlement, after the meeting, Ma Pin came to his office and told him that the project might not work properly. This time, to Ma, Pin’s surprise, Steve didn’t seem happy but even annoyed with this. Questions: 1. What would Steve expect from the participants on his new project at the meeting? 2. What proper explanation could you give for Ma, Pin’s behavior? 3. Suppose you are the person who knows both of them quite well.Could you please give some advice to both of them so that they could understand each other well? Reference 1. In America, which scores high in individualism, people learn to be unique. They prefer to express their personal thoughts and feelings in public, which is they like to debate issues openly. Thus disagreements are always welcome in the discussion. As an American, Steve would expect from the participants to express their independent ideas freely about the new project, especially when he openly asked them to do so. 2. In China, great value is placed on collectivism and group identity, uniformity and conformity are stressed. Uniqueness and Self-assertive behaviors are not favored within the group, for they tend to be viewed undignified or embarrassing. So people are not used to expressing their contrary opinions openly in order not to disgrace those
involved,even if they disagree. As a participant in the meeting.he should be aware of the status of group members and behave according to his position in the hierarchy.As a Chinese,Ma,Pin didn't express his disagreement at the meeting because he thought it might embarrass Steve--his boss,causing him to lose face.But as a friend,he had to tell him about his difference of opinion.So that's why he went to Steve's office to express his ideas about the project. However,from the point view of Steve,Ma,Pin was not a reliable and responsible person because he was not able to air his views openly. 3.As a group leader in China,Steve should try to understand the Chinese way of group identity.He might accept Ma,Pin's advice and needs to convince him that he really expects his independent opinion and encourage him to more openly express himself. 4.Ma,Pin should also try to get to understand American individualism.He should leam that Steve,as an American manager,really wants to receive suggestions during the meeting rather than placid agreement Steve,as an American manager,believes that open and free exchange of ideas will create the most productive and successful end result that helps to benefit everyone. Case 2 Jane,an American teacher,had just started teaching English to a group of Japanese students in the US.She wanted to get to know the students more informally.so she invited them to her house for a party.The studerts arrived together at exactly 8:00 pm. They seemed to enjoy the party:they danced,sang,and ate most of the food.At about 10:00 pm,one of the students said to the teacher."I think it's time for me to leave. Thank you very much for the party."Then all the students stood up and left at the same time.Jane decided she would never invite them again
involved, even if they disagree. As a participant in the meeting, he should be aware of the status of group members and behave according to his position in the hierarchy. As a Chinese, Ma, Pin didn’t express his disagreement at the meeting because he thought it might embarrass Steve-- his boss, causing him to lose face. But as a friend, he had to tell him about his difference of opinion. So that’s why he went to Steve's office to express his ideas about the project. However, from the point view of Steve, Ma, Pin was not a reliable and responsible person because he was not able to air his views openly. 3. As a group leader in China, Steve should try to understand the Chinese way of group identity. He might accept Ma, Pin’s advice and needs to convince him that he really expects his independent opinion and encourage him to more openly express himself. 4. Ma, Pin should also try to get to understand American individualism. He should learn that Steve, as an American manager, really wants to receive suggestions during the meeting rather than placid agreement. Steve, as an American manager, believes that open and free exchange of ideas will create the most productive and successful end result that helps to benefit everyone. Case 2 Jane, an American teacher, had just started teaching English to a group of Japanese students in the US. She wanted to get to know the students more informally, so she invited them to her house for a party. The students arrived together at exactly 8:00 pm. They seemed to enjoy the party: they danced, sang, and ate most of the food. At about 10:00 pm, one of the students said to the teacher, “I think it’s time for me to leave. Thank you very much for the party.” Then all the students stood up and left at the same time. Jane decided she would never invite them again
Why did all the students leave together?Why did Jane decide never to invite these students to her house again? Reference 1.Young people in Japan and many other countries in Asia often arive in a group at social events and leave in a group.This is a sign ofcollective culture. 2.Jane felt insulted,because they all left at once.In the US and other English-speaking countries.10:00 pm is relatively early to leave a party. Case3 Tom,an American,went to a Chinese home for the first time.He was offered some tea.Just when the first cup was about to finish.more tea was added.He drank the second cup.Then the cup was filled the third time.Then he drank it,then...until he was quite full.Tom was totally confused by the way of entertaining Why was Tom totally confused? Reference Traditional Chinese custom requires that during the course of entertaining.the host has to always pour more wine or tea to the guest's glass or cup.and always adds more food to the guest's plate or bowl without asking whether it's wanted. Chinese guests know how to respond to this type of hospitality.They simply leave the wine,tea,or food in the container and stop having any more.But Tom,the American guest in the case didn't know this. He followed the politeness rule of his culture.It's not good manners to leave food in
Why did all the students leave together? Why did Jane decide never to invite these students to her house again? Reference 1. Young people in Japan and many other countries in Asia often arrive in a group at social events and leave in a group. This is a sign of collective culture. 2. Jane felt insulted, because they all left at once. In the US and other English-speaking countries, 10:00 pm is relatively early to leave a party. Case 3 Tom, an American, went to a Chinese home for the first time. He was offered some tea. Just when the first cup was about to finish, more tea was added. He drank the second cup. Then the cup was filled the third time. Then he drank it, then… until he was quite full. Tom was totally confused by the way of entertaining. Why was Tom totally confused? Reference Traditional Chinese custom requires that during the course of entertaining, the host has to always pour more wine or tea to the guest’s glass or cup, and always adds more food to the guest’s plate or bowl without asking whether it’s wanted. Chinese guests know how to respond to this type of hospitality. They simply leave the wine, tea, or food in the container and stop having any more. But Tom, the American guest in the case didn’t know this. He followed the politeness rule of his culture. It’s not good manners to leave food in
one's own plate at a dinner table.Therefore,without any knowledge of the differences between the two cultures,an American guest would very likely suffer from either drinking or eating too much in such a situation
one’s own plate at a dinner table. Therefore, without any knowledge of the differences between the two cultures, an American guest would very likely suffer from either drinking or eating too much in such a situation