INTL500 Unit 3 Learning Activity

Solutions
Course Objective 3, Competency A

Develop a two- to three-page paper describing the importance of language as part of the
culture of one of the following BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) or MINT (Mexico,
Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey) countries. Include in your paper how knowledge of that
country’s language can improve an individual’s understanding of that country’s culture.
In addition, you should provide supporting data to illustrate how the economy of your
selected country has changed. Your paper should include supporting data, such as tables,
charts, or graphs, to support your research.

Suggested Response

Research papers will vary based on the country selected but should include sufficient
research describing the importance of language how and one’s language can influence
that country’s culture. Supporting data in the form of tables, charts, and graphs should be
included to show trends relating to the healthcare situation of the country selected.

Course Objective 3, Competency B

Reference Textbook Chapter 5, Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions: Question 6

Reread the Management Focus on DMG-Shanghai, then answer the following questions.

a. Why do you think that it is so important to cultivate guanxi and guanxiwang in China?
b. What does the experience of DMG tell us about the way things work in China? What
would likely happen to a business that obeyed all of the rules and regulations rather than
trying to find a way around them as Dan Mintz apparently does?
c. What are the ethical issues that might arise when drawing upon guanxiwang to get
things done in China? What does this suggest about the limits of using guanxiwang for a
Western business committed to high ethical standards?

Suggested Response

a. Guanxi literally means “relationships,” although in business settings it can better be

understood as “connections.” The concept of guanxi is deeply rooted in Chinese culture
and Confucianism. The Chinese will often cultivate a guanxiwang, or “relationship

© 2015 DeVry Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved.

The copyrights in these materials are owned by DeVry Educational Development Corp. and other copyright owners as
indicated herein. No part of these works may be reproduced or used, distributed, published, displayed, transmitted in any
form or by any means – graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, Web distribution or
information storage and retrieval systems – without the prior written consent of DeVry Educational Development Corp. or
the respective copyright owner.
Page | 1
INTL500 Unit 3 Learning Activity
Solutions
network,” for help. In China, there is a tacit acknowledgement that if you have the right
guanxi, legal rules can be broken or bent. Mintz made connections with two Chinese men
who had access to high-ranking government officials. Through these men, Mintz was
able to secure permission to film commercials in locations that are normally closed to
outsiders.

b. Personal power and relationships or connections (guanxi), rather than the rule of law,
have always been the key to getting things done in China. Most students will probably
agree that companies that play by the rules in China will probably find it difficult to
compete.

c. Guanxiwang refers to the relationship network that many Chinese companies rely on.
Because reciprocal obligations are central to the process, some students may suggest that
companies could get into trouble if they are asked to return a favor to a network partner
that involves unethical actions. Other students may note that in China, it is not what you
know that is important, it is who you know. These students may point out that because
success depends on others, firms doing business in China are not in complete control of
their own destinies—a situation that could result in ethical standards being comprised.

Course Objective 3, Competency C

Reference Textbook Chapter 5, Closing Case: Working Conditions in a Chinese Factory,

Questions 1, 2, 3, and 4

Summary

The closing case describes the deplorable working conditions at the Metai factory in
China that supplies computer parts directly to U.S. computer maker Dell and indirectly to
Hewlett Packard and Microsoft.

Workers at the factory work long hours doing monotonous tasks and have just 2 days per
month off. Wages are very low, and employees are forbidden to converse, listen to music,
or even take bathroom breaks while on the job.

When alerted to the conditions at the factory in early 2009, all three companies expressed
dismay and promised prompt investigations and appropriate action; however, by 2011, no
efforts to improve the situation for workers at the factory had been made.

Discussion of the case can revolve around the following questions.

© 2015 DeVry Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved.

The copyrights in these materials are owned by DeVry Educational Development Corp. and other copyright owners as
indicated herein. No part of these works may be reproduced or used, distributed, published, displayed, transmitted in any
form or by any means – graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, Web distribution or
information storage and retrieval systems – without the prior written consent of DeVry Educational Development Corp. or
the respective copyright owner.
Page | 2
INTL500 Unit 3 Learning Activity
Solutions
Question 1: What enables the owners of the Metai factory profiled in this case to get
away with such awful working conditions?
Questions 2: Should U.S. companies, such as Microsoft, Dell, and Hewlett-Packard, be
held responsible for working conditions in foreign factories that they do not own but
where subcontractors make products for them?
Questions 3: What labor standards regarding safety, working conditions, overtime, and
the like should U.S. companies hold foreign factories to: those prevailing in that country
or those prevailing in the United States?
Question 4: Do you think the U.S. companies mentioned in this case need to make
changes to their current policies? If so, what? Should they make changes even if they
hinder their ability to compete in the marketplace?

Suggested Response

1: Companies involved in international business face these difficult issues on a daily

basis. Government officials, particularly in such countries as China, are quick to look the
other way when it comes to ensuring that employee safety is a top priority in factories
that can be considered sweatshops.

2: Students’ opinions will vary. Although U.S. companies have control over their own
manufacturing facilities, when it comes to outsourcing work to companies halfway
around the world they walk a fine line between manufacturing components that are
profitable and making sure employees of their overseas vendors are treated fairly. This
question brings the concept of moral dilemma into the discussion and how much pressure
global companies can bring to bear on companies that do work for them.

3: Student answers will vary to this thought-provoking question. Global companies have
sought offshore vendors in an effort to produce products and components as
inexpensively as possible. It is unrealistic to think that foreign vendors will adhere to the
labor standards that are expected and required in the United States. However, these global
companies need to continue to communicate their expectations in terms of employee
safety and product quality to their overseas vendors on a regular basis.

4: U.S. companies have a responsibility to be sure foreign vendors are doing their best to
ensure employee safety. In this era of social media, one wrong move on the part of a
foreign vendor with regard to hazardous conditions in its facilities could cause global
companies to experience backlash from their customers with regard to turning a blind eye
to sweatshop conditions in which their products are manufactured. U.S. companies need

© 2015 DeVry Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved.

The copyrights in these materials are owned by DeVry Educational Development Corp. and other copyright owners as
indicated herein. No part of these works may be reproduced or used, distributed, published, displayed, transmitted in any
form or by any means – graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, Web distribution or
information storage and retrieval systems – without the prior written consent of DeVry Educational Development Corp. or
the respective copyright owner.
Page | 3
INTL500 Unit 3 Learning Activity
Solutions
to balance the ability to produce products at reasonable costs with the ability to monitor
and correct any conditions that they deem hazardous.

© 2015 DeVry Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved.

The copyrights in these materials are owned by DeVry Educational Development Corp. and other copyright owners as
indicated herein. No part of these works may be reproduced or used, distributed, published, displayed, transmitted in any
form or by any means – graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, Web distribution or
information storage and retrieval systems – without the prior written consent of DeVry Educational Development Corp. or
the respective copyright owner.
Page | 4