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344 PART 5 • KEY STRATEGIC-MANAGEMENT TOPICS

is a fun exercise that provides information for your class regarding some of these key
differences.

Instructions
Step 1 Identify four individuals who either grew up in a foreign country or who have lived in a foreign
country for more than one year. Interview those four persons. Try to have four different coun-
tries represented. During each interview, develop a list of eight key differences between
American style/custom and that particular country’s style/custom in terms of various aspects of
speaking, meetings, meals, relationships, friendships, and communication that could impact
business dealings.
Step 2 Develop a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation for your class and give a talk summarizing your
findings. Identify in your talk the persons you interviewed as well as the length of time those
persons lived in the respective countries. Give your professor a hard copy of your PowerPoint
presentation.

Assurance of Learning Exercise 11D

How Well Traveled Are Business Students at Your University?

Purpose
It would be interesting to know how traveled are students at your university and also how those
students consider their travels to be helpful in becoming an effective businessperson. Generally
speaking, the more one has traveled, especially outside the United States, the more tolerant,
understanding, and appreciative one is for diversity. Many students even state on their resume the
extent to which they have traveled, both across the United States and perhaps around the world.
Instructions
Administer the following survey to at least 30 business students, including your classmates in the
strategic management course. Analyze the results. Give a 15-minute presentation to your class
regarding your findings. Turn in a written report of your findings to your professor.
The Survey
1. How many states in the United States have you visited?
2. How many states in the United States have you lived for at least three months?
3. How many countries outside the United States have you visited?
4. List the countries outside the United States that you have visited.
5. How many countries outside the United States have you lived for at least three months?
6. List the countries outside the United States that you have lived for at least three months.
7. To what extent do you feel that traveling across the United States can make a person a more effective
businessperson? Use a 1 to 10 scale, where 1 is “Cannot Make a Difference” and 10 is “Can Make a
Tremendous Difference.”
8. To what extent do you feel that visiting countries outside the United States can make a person a more
effective business person? Use a 1 to 10 scale, where 1 is “Cannot Make a Difference” and 10 is
“Can Make a Tremendous Difference.”
9. To what extent do you feel that living in another country can make a person a more effective
businessperson? Use a 1 to 10 scale, where 1 is “Cannot Make a Difference” and 10 is “Can Make
a Tremendous Difference.”
10. What three important ways so you feel that traveling or living outside the United States
would be helpful to a person in being a more effective businessperson?