University of Tunis Tunis Business School

FRESHMAN COMMUNICATION SKILLS

FINAL EXAM

Date: May 29th, 2024

Duration: 2 hours

Student’s Full Name: ……………………………………………………………………

Group Number: ………………

Identity Card Number: …………………………………………….

INSTRUCTIONS: This is a nine-page exam consisting of two main sections:

A. LANGUAGE AND COURSE CONTENT CHECK (Six tasks) / 20 Marks

B. WRITING (Two tasks) / 20 Marks: (A case Study / 10 Marks) + (A free writing

task to be selected out of two proposed topics / 10 Marks)

OVERALL GRADE over 40 marks

/40

Marker‘s Name and signature

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Part I: (20 MARKS)
Task 1: Study the social and business traits listed in the box below. First, identify the four
commonalities between the Japanese and German cultures, then one individual difference setting
them apart from each other. Write the corresponding letter of each trait in the grid provided
under each illustration. Two extra alternatives are suggested. (3 marks)

1. …………….. 2. …………….. 3. …………….. 4. ……………..

a) They expect things to run on time such as meetings, trains, meetups, appointments, etc.
Lateness is not tolerated.
b) Being offered a business card, they receive it with both hands then carefully save it in a business
card folder.
c) People are highly performance-oriented; they tend to honor their commitments. They are
concerned with precision and doing things correctly. An excessive amount of planning can be
taken up for a high quality output.
d) Starting with a witty joke in a meeting is advisable to break the ice and create more intimacy.
e) No place for casualties! Workplace formalities are maintained. Pay attention to keep a proper
business attire and formal outfit! A person’s title and Last name shall be the common form of
address until given explicit permission to do otherwise.
f) Maintaining a long handshake.
g) People tend to be very straightforward; they get to the point right from the start. Talking some
trivial stuff like weather is a waste of time. They are honest about their opinions, as well. Being
honest is more important than being polite.
h) Don’t be touchy! Touching is considered very intimate and reserved for close friends
and family.

Japan …………….. Germany ……………..

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Task 2: The box below contains a list of several cultural and business approaches. Select the
appropriate ones to complete the sayings in the bubbles below. (There are extra suggestions)
(2 marks)

Top-down / Peaches / Monochrons / Task-oriented / Democratic / Coconuts /

Collectivistic / Polychrons

Decision-making in our company follows a consensus seeking process among colleagues at

one level, then escalates to the next level up in the hierarchy, where consensus is again
sought, and so on, until reaching the top. The final decision is made by the manager, but
he/she typically ratifies the consensus that has been gradually built by the groups below.
Also, people seek to maintain harmony within their own groups, though there might be
conflicts between one group and another group in what we call
………………………………………………………. company culture.

We are lenient towards tardiness and flexible when it comes to change. We make plans and
change them with the greatest ease and flexibility. We are comfortable doing multiple things
at once and interruptions are acceptable and managed easily during meetings. Our offices
are wide open and we do invest in maintaining good relationships. We are
……………………………………………………….

We have a fundamental belief that we are entitled to personal consideration from the others
in first meetings so expressing sympathy when you first get to know people is necessary.
We’re friendly and kind because it greases the wheels of our relationship, and because
there’s no reason to be cold or distant. We tend to spend an initial greeting period
exchanging pleasantries and personal details. We’re definitely
……………………………………………………….

Everyone of us has concrete, well-defined roles and responsibilities. Role clarity boosts the
team’s productivity and ability to achieve its goals or a certain performance standard. Results
are prioritized above everything else and their accomplishment is a way to show respect,
professionalism, and willingness to be a part of the team. We can often work under the
pressure of hitting every deadline and any interruption in the process is viewed as a lack of
commitment to the job. A successful person in our ………………………………………………………. culture
is one who gets the job done efficiently.

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Task 3: Select the right words from the box below to fill in the six blanks in the following
statements. There are two extra words: (3 marks)

cultural awareness / minimization / common ground / communication style / autocratic /

prejudice / inclusive / small talk

1) ……………………………………………………. can be very important to build relationships whether you are

working abroad or are required to liaise globally with colleagues or partners. Therefore, it can be
difficult to find ……………………………………………………. with people from other countries, especially when
their customs and business practices seem so different from your own.
2) A lack of ……………………………………………………. can lead to unintentional offenses during international
business meetings while ……………………………………………………. can hinder collaboration and teamwork in
multicultural environments.
3) Cultural flexibility helps individuals adapt their ……………………………………………………. when interacting
with people from diverse backgrounds.
4) "We prioritize creating an ……………………………………………………. work environment where employees from
all backgrounds feel respected, valued and empowered."

Task 4: Decide whether the following statements are true or false. Write TRUE or FALSE after
each statement and correct the false ones ONLY by providing sound arguments. (5 marks)

1. The circuit approach of communication is based on the assumption that communication is a turn-
taking process where a sender transmits a message and a receiver absorbs it passively. So, it
doesn't display an interaction but rather a simple message being sent one direction. ………………
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2. In egalitarian societies or corporate cultures, the notion of authority is linked to people’s

positions, gender or age. ………………

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 3. There is a general agreement among researchers that culture has a specific set of layers. The out-
of-awareness part of culture which is not visible or easy to identify includes elements such as the
concept of justice, the notion of friendship, ethics and human values. ………………
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4. In the defense stage of intercultural sensitivity, individuals actively seek to understand and
appreciate cultural differences, showing openness and curiosity towards diverse perspectives.
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5. The individuals of an entire nation can strictly be defined by the norms of their national cultures.

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Task 5: Supply the right words or expressions to complete the following sentences. (4 mark)

a) ………………………………………………………………….. is the gradual process by which people learn the culture

of their own group by living in it, observing it, and being taught things by members of the group.
b) ………………………………………………………………… - whose cultural aspects are perceived by the naked eye
(Like food, dress, communication style, art; etc.) – is easily recognizable in intercultural settings.
c) …………………………........................ is the expression and interpretation of messages through physical
contact and touch.
d) According to Milton J. Bennett, ………………………………………………………………… individuals are those who
have received largely monocultural socialization and consequently have access only to their own
cultural worldview, so they are unable to view the world in a way that would generate a different
experience.
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 Task 6: Check which of the following conducts are culturally appropriate or inappropriate. Write
the letter corresponding to each statement under the right heading in the table below. (3 marks)
a) Wearing a brightly-colored outfit in a meeting to project a positive attitude.
b) Coming 5 minutes ahead of a meeting to show your seriousness and sense of commitment.
c) Keeping a forearm’s distance while conversing with a new acquaintance.
d) Repeating the person’s name from time to time in the conversation during a first meeting.
e) Not crossing your legs or arms in a business meeting or negotiation.
f) Starting a meeting in Saudi Arabia by talking about the expensive prices of hotels and services during
the pilgrimage period.

Culturally Appropriate Behaviour Culturally Inappropriate Behaviour

Part II: Writing (20 marks)

A. Case Study: (10 marks)

Write a fifteen-line cross-cultural analysis of the case study in focus. The questions below will guide
you:
- What is the problem in this case study?
- What cultural and business aspects might be present in this case study?
- Did both teams think flexibly? Explain your answer with reference to Bennett’s model.
- How could such a problem be avoided?

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GlobalTech, a multinational technology company based in the United States, recently
embarked on a collaborative project with a new partner company, TechSolutions, based in
China. The aim was to develop a cutting-edge software application by combining their technical
expertise and market knowledge. While both companies were excited about the potential of
their partnership, significant problem soon surfaced, impacting their collaboration. Indeed,
during the initial phase of the project, a series of virtual meetings were scheduled to align the
teams on project objectives, timelines, and responsibilities. In one particular meeting, the
American project manager, John, noticed that the Chinese team often responded with "Yes"
during discussions. John interpreted this as agreement and commitment. However, the project
deadlines were consistently missed by the Chinese team, leading to frustration and tension.
Additionally, the American team was puzzled by the Chinese team's reluctance to voice their
opinions or concerns directly during meetings. On the other hand, the Chinese team members
felt uncomfortable with the American team's bluntness and found it disrespectful when
decisions were made without thorough unanimous agreement and understanding of
everyone's viewpoints.

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B. Free Writing: (10 marks)

You are given two writing topics to choose from. write about 15 lines
on the topic you prefer.
 Topic 1:

Between what I think

What I want to say
What I think I am saying
What I say
What you want to hear
What you hear
What you think you understand
What you want to understand
And what you understand
There are at least 9 chances
That we will not understand each other.
(Bernard Weber, French Writer)

Comment upon the quote above, explain how cross-cultural communication can be effective and support
your analysis with sound arguments and examples.
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 Topic 2:

Comment upon the illustration above focusing on the importance of making a good first impression in
a job interview and state the major mistakes made by candidates in that first business encounter that
may blow their chances to project a positive image and get the job.

Chosen topic number: …………

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With all our best wishes for success

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