OR1000 International cross-cultural management

Contents and structure

Content and structure

With globalization becoming omnipresent across all industries and sectors, organisations face a growing presence of cultural diversity; in their work force, among external stakeholders and on the arena on which the organisations play. This is the point of departure for this course and the students will gain a good insight in the new roles and responsibilities of todays and future managers: On one hand, to manage traditional activities including handling cultural diversity within the organisation, on the other to optimize any challenges and opportunities that might arise from external stakeholders across national cultures.

The perspective in this course is the new roles of managers, regardless of industries and sectors, public or private. Moreover, the perspectives, tools and models presented and discussed are equally important for organizations operating entirely on the home market as for global organisations, as stakeholders, both internal and external, are increasingly multicultural in todays and tomorrows organizations.

Course content

• Stakeholder management, cultural diversity, sustainability.
• Interaction and communication across national cultures.
• Negotiation across national cultures.
• Decision-making and leadership in multicultural organizations.
• Managing multi-cultural teams.
• Major frameworks describing and comparing national cultures.
• Cultural intelligence and motivational theories.
• Sustainability: Cultural diversity and cross-cultural management as critical factors for achieving sustainability within and across national borders.
• Global management challenges in both local and global organisations.

Learning Outcome

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

The candidate...

• has broad knowledge of central themes, theories, issues, processes, tools and methods within management, including management of multicultural organisations.
• has knowledge of cultural intelligence and the influence of national cultures on management.
• has knowledge about relevant research within management and can update his knowledge within the areas of management and multicultural management.
• has knowledge of the subject's history, traditions, uniqueness and place in society.

Skills

The candidate...

• can apply professional knowledge and relevant results from research and development work to practical and theoretical issues related to the management of organizations in multicultural context and make reasoned choices.
• can reflect on own professional practice and adjust this under guidance
• can find, evaluate and refer to relevant information and research and present this in such a way that it illuminates issues related to the management of organizations in a multicultural context.
• can master relevant professional tools, methods and professional concepts.

General competence

The candidate...

• has insight into relevant professional and ethical issues related to the management of organizations in a multicultural context and awareness of the range and diversity of dimensions, roles and tasks that are part of the management of today's and tomorrow's organizations.
• can plan and carry out varied tasks and projects that extend over time, alone and as a participant in a group, and in line with ethical requirements and guidelines
• can convey central research and litterature such as theories, problems and solutions both in writing, orally and through other relevant forms of expression
• can exchange views and experiences with others with a background within the subject area and through this contribute to the development of good practice
• develop awareness of and reflect on issues that may arise in multicultural situations, both on a personal and professional level.
• Educational goals with a strong focus throughout the course: Develop cultural empathy and be taught to identify cultural differences, not judge other cultures!

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

None

Teaching methods

Teaching methods

Lectures in class, individual study, team work, work shops, seminars, exercises.

Compulsory learning activities

One multiple choice test, covering parts of the required readings.

Students must pass this test to be eligible to take the exam. Those who do not pass will be given a second chance.

Assessment

One written exam, 5 hours, counting 100% in the final grade.

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail.

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Examination support material

None

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