Managing Culture in Global Operations (5 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

This course offers fundamental understanding of cultural issues in today's global business environment. It also provides the student with the skill to navigate successfully in intercultural environments.
When the student has passed this course he/she will know:
- Notion of culture
- National culture and its typologies
- Organizational culture and its typologies
- Emergence of culture
- Elements of culture
- Culture and religion (protestant ethics and capitalism, Islam and Hinduism)
- Culture and human behaviour
- Cultural influence on business activities
- Work ethics in different culture
- Cultural differences and similarities
- Cultural synergy
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When the student has completed the course he/she can:
- Understand national- and organizational cultural differences
- Detect consumer behavior across national boundary
- Manage an organization made up of people from different cultures
- Treat people from other cultures with empathy
- Solve business problems according to cultural requirements
- Deal with different interest groups without hesitation
- Work in global marketplace with a flexible personality
- Easily commit to different customer groups
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This course includes international business game (VIBu Simulation) in cooperation with University of Turku and several foreign universities.
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After completing the game the student knows:
- The impact of the virtuality to daily company operations and activities in an international working context
- The importance of cooperation and communication within international, multicultural virtual teams
- The link between supply chain management decisions and company cash flow, income statement and balance sheet
- The “bottle-necks” in the supply chain processes and how those bottle-necks impact on the company’s productivity and profitability
- The pressure of uncertainty and time constrains in decision making.
When the student has passed the course he/she can:
- use the experience of managing company processes within simulated environment in real business environment
- manage the company’s materials flow from suppliers to customers
- analyze company financial data
- manage the multicultural virtual team work better
- collaborate better with internal and external business partners
As a result, the student will be:
- A decision-maker who is qualified to understand independencies of different company operations and the financial success.
- A project manager who is able to take account the aspect of virtual team work and cultural differences.
The course is done by Shaidul Kazi, Ph.D. and Heli Leskinen, M.Sc. (international business game part)

Content (course unit)

In the era of globalization, companies go beyond national boundaries with the aim of getting the best possible returns from their trade and investment.
Successful operation in the global context requires cultural readiness to deal, among others, with competitors, partners, customers and suppliers.
Keeping in mind the mentioned necessities, the course content has been designed as follows:
- the notion of culture
- national culture and its typologies
- organizational culture and its typologies
- emergence of culture
- elements of culture
- culture and religion (protestant ethics and capitalism, Islam and Hinduism)
- culture and human behaviour
- cultural influence on business activities
- work ethics in different culture
- cultural differences and similarities
- cultural synergy

The course includes a business game (VIBu) is conducted virtually with one introduction lecture in a class. The game is played online over the internet and students work online as a part of an international team. Game decisions and negotiations as well as other course activities are carried out virtually as well. The course content is
• game introduction (in a class)
• running the company (2 x 6 hours) online as a part of virtual multicultural team
• analysis of the company processes, financial results and team performance

Exam schedules

No exam but project presentation & VIBu game completion

Evaluation methods and criteria

Managing Culture in Global Operations & VIBu completion. As well as, required activities done (attendance & fulfilling course requirments.

Teaching methods

2 VIBu game sessions and three contact lessons on Managing Culture in Global Operations

Learning materials

VIBu materials and lecture handouts on culture

Student workload

Completing 2 VIBu game sessions and doing related tasks. Attending to 3 contact lessons on culture and completing required group project

Content scheduling

Look description above

Completion alternatives

Talk to the teacher responsible

Practical training and working life cooperation

Open

International connections

Welcome

Further information

The course is divided into two parts; VIBu game and Managing Culture in Global Operations

Assessment criteria - fail (0) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Unable to attend at least to 2 lessons & not done the project

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Student has achieved the objectives of the course sufficiently. Student understands the premises and principals of the subject matter. Student recognizes, is able to determine and use the concepts and models.

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Student has achieved the objectives of the course well although the skills and competences are somewhat in need of further development. Student is able to determine and apply the concepts and models of the subject matter well and is able to apply them in simple tasks.

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Student has achieved the objectives of the course excellently. The student masters the concepts and models of the subject matter in an excellent manner. Student is able to conduct fluent and reasoned analysis and has good capabilities to apply the learning.