This activity is important because you will have many opportunities to interact with members of other cultures in the workplace. Understanding cultural dimensions and religious orientations will help you communicate more effectively and enjoy your cross$-$cultural relationships.

The goal of this activity is to demonstrate your understanding of the following cultural dimensions: individualism and collectivism, low$-$ and high$-$context cultures, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and cultural masculinity and femininity. You will also demonstrate your understanding of religious orientations.

Read the case about an interaction with two Nigerian business professionals. Then, respond to the questions to evaluate which cultural dimensions most likely explain various actions.

Sandra Needham started an online conference with two Nigerian professionals, Peter Okoro and Muhammed Harouna, who she was meeting for the first time.

$$Hello Muhammed and Peter, it$$s so great to meet you online. I look forward to working with you,$$ said Sandra.

$$Mrs$.$ Needham, the pleasure is ours,$$ replied Peter. $$Dear ma$$am$,$ it is a great blessing to speak with you,$$ chimed in Muhammed.

Sandra added, $$We$$re looking forward to your visit next month to our headquarters here in South Carolina. We look forward to showing you a good time and taking you out for drinks.$$

$$Thank you for your thoughtfulness,$$ commented Muhammed, $$but I do not drink alcoholic beverages.$$

$$No problem,$$ responded Sandra. $$We$$ll just take you out for a meal to have some of our famous barbequed pork. Now, let$$s get to the business at hand.$$

Peter interjected, $$Mrs$.$ Sandra, please do keep in mind that Mr$.$ Harouna does not eat pork. May we first inquire about your company. We$$re eager to learn more about the members of your team and those people we$$ll meet when we visit next month.$$

$$Well$,$ yes, I guess I can tell you about the entire team. Actually, maybe it would be easier just to send you their LinkedIn profiles.$$

$$We don$$t use LinkedIn much in Nigeria,$$ Muhammed mentioned. $$Are any of your team members in the office today?$$

$$Yes$,$ they$$re here today,$$ replied Sandra. $$I$$ll go ahead and create a document with their professional bios and email it to you by tomorrow. Now, let$$s start with the first item on the agenda related to partnership opportunities. Did you read the document I sent about how we arrange partnership agreements?$$

$$Mrs$.$ Needham, thank you so much for your help. We look forward to a prosperous relationship with your company. We share many values with your esteemed company.$$

The Nigerians consistently use titles when they address Sandra. This is most likely a result of what?