Intercultural Management

Teaching and learning formats

Excursion and Tuition in Seminars (onsite or digital/virtual)

Applicability

This module prepares the students from a cultural perspective for their stay at the partner university or at FHWS respectively (Module 5).

Programme semester

1. Semester

Particular conditions for admission (to exam)

other exam (soP): Project work (A), Paper (F) or Portfolio (G)
Decision and Announcement at the beginning of the semester
Attendance in lecture Organizational Behavior is condition for awarding CP

Weighting factor of module grade

Factor 1

Module contents

Organizational Behaviour
This course consists of two parts:
Part 1 - Coaching Module
In a 3-day seminar at an external location the course meets for the first time. The goal of the Coaching Module is to get to know each other and to reflect on oneself. Students form a team that will be ready for successful international project work, as well as supporting each other during the MBA program. Together, students will reflect on their own behaviour and attitudes, as well as on the interactions within the international team of fellow study group members, and experience the importance of deep listening and understanding.
Part 2 – Team training
In a 4-day seminar at an external location the study group meets again. The goal of the team training is to get a deeper understanding and experience in team development and project work in international teams. Students will reflect on their own first-hand experiences in team and project work, as well as gaining new hands-on experiences by working together in simulated projects and a small real-world project.

Cross Cultural Management
Actually, the world is not globalized. Not yet. In fact, we are only experiencing the beginning of it. Today, not only goods but also art, currencies, management theories and first of all people, are crossing borders. Because we are only at the beginning of this exponential acceleration, we all feel challenged to some degree.  Increasingly, executives, staff members or business students are and will be facing often-disturbing situations originating from a foreign culture. Although some people are naturally gifted in “swimming in foreign waters”, the majority does not think of it before facing a serious crisis. With this background, the course covers the following topics:
Cultural Generalities:

• What is Culture?
• Why Cross-Cultural Communication is important today?
• A Particularistic society where relationships are stronger than rules or the opposite?
• High context culture: a look at diffuse Asian / Russian management
• The influence of History and Geography
• Time relation
• Time Management
• The notion of equality in societies
• Showing our emotions: Should we smile or not?
• Kinesthetic behaviors
• What is Culture Transfer (how one’s feel)?
• Spoken & Body language.
• How about my own culture?

Society:

• Symbols, Heroes, Rituals, Values, Nationalism
• Etiquette: Telephone, Street, political incorrectness
• Education, the way people speak, Home (building & family)
• Health Care System, Technology  

Business:

• Power, Status, Meetings
• Do we separate work and home?
• Influence of corporate cultures in Business
• Planning, Budget, Contracts, Negotiations
• Connections: corruption or Mafia? - Management style

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this module, the students …

• are familiar with methods for self-reflection and for supporting and reflecting on team work
• understand the cultural background of their fellow students
• understand the pattern of their own behavior and attitudes
• can take responsibility for themselves, others and global environments
• know the latest theories and models in team development
• understand the differences between working by themselves and in international teams
• are able to solve interpersonal issues within teams
• are able to apply theories and models in team development to actual situations
• are equipped to perform in an international team
• can recognize how people from differing cultural backgrounds communicate, in similar and different ways among themselves, and how they endeavor to communicate across cultures.

Literature and other material

Organizational Behaviour

• McCann, Dick: Team Management Systems E-Book Series: Language of Teamwork (latest edition).
• Scharmer, Otto C.: The Essentials of Theory U - Core Principles and Applications (latest edition).

Cross Cultural Management

• Dumetz, Jerome: Cross-Cultural Management - Lessons from the world leading experts (latest edition).
• Trompenaars, Fons: Riding the Waves of Culture - Understanding Diversity in Global Business (latest edition).
• Hofstede, Geert: Cultures and Organisations - Software of the Mind  (latest edition).
• Hall, Edward: The Silent Language & Beyond Culture (latest edition).
• Lewis, Richard D.: When Cultures Collide (latest edition)
• Crane, Robert: Building Bridges Among the Brics (latest edition).