Course 2012-2013 a.y.

Course Objectives

The global arena of today mandates that managers develop the skills necessary to conduct effective cross-national interactions. This requires a deep understanding of how culture affects organizations, managerial processes and behaviours. The course offers a broad view of current thinking on culture linked to management. Theories and concepts are applied to practice through a serious of experimental exercises.

Another major focus of this course is the development of intercultural competencies for doing business in developing countries, in particular Brazil, China, India, Russia, Africa and the Middle East.

As employees increasingly find themselves working in culturally diverse and geographically dispersed teams, the challenges of multicultural teams are addressed throughout the course.

Course Content Summary

• Understanding the role of culture in international business:
  • Impact of culture on organizations and organizational behaviour.
  • Communicating and negotiating across cultures.
• Understanding theories of analyzing cultural differences:
  • Cultural values dimensions.
  • Cultural complexities and paradoxes.
• Managing people and (virtual) teams across cultures.
• Developing International leadership competencies.
• Doing business in emerging markets (Africa, Brazil, China, India, Middle East, Russia).

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

• 30% Class participation
• 20% International virtual team project
• 30% Team research paper
• 20% Final written exam

Non attending students

The final grade consists of:

• 50% Written exam based on the textbook
• 50% 3 written papers

Textbooks

Attending students

For detailed references see program

Non attending students

• Marie-Joelle Browaeys, Understanding Cross-cultural Management, Roger Price Prentice Hall, FT 2011

Prerequisites

Undergraduate knowledge in Organizational Behaviour. An on-line entrance test is mandatory.