Study Guide

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
*
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

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

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

The student can define culture, recognises cultural differences and other phenomena in the field related. While doing tasks, he/she needs assistance. The student knows diverse courses of action but cannot justify his/her choices in practical context. He/she give and receive feedback but considers and assesses things from his/her viewpoints. He/she cannot judge things from multiple perspectives.  He/she is aware of course load and able to do routine tasks but may need to remind. 

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

The student compares culture from different perspectives and applies its impact upon learning and educating context. The student, as a resource person, plans independently or parts of a teaching group in bridging cultural diversity in learning environment. He/she can solves problems while dealing with pupils having different cultural backgrounds. The student can give and receive feedback actively in a culturally diverse learning perspective but considers things from his/her and the close community’s viewpoints. He/she takes responsibility and commits to the group activities in addition to his/her own work.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student understands culture from multiple perspectives and analyses its impact upon learning and educating context. The student, as a resource person, acts independently or parts of a teaching group in bridging cultural diversity in learning environment. He/she can search for diverse courses of action while dealing with pupils having different cultural backgrounds. The student uses feedback systematically in allocating tasks among culturally diverse learners and ensure growth thereby. He/she knows to perform his/her tasks responsibly in a group and independently as well. The student is flexible and non-hesitant in taking international assignment.

Location and time

09.02.2024 12.30 - 16.30 E1-06 (80 persons)
15.03.2024 08.30 - 11.30 E1-06 (80 persons)
12.04.2024 12.30 - 16.30 E1-06 (80 persons)
26.04.2024 12.30 - 16.30 E1-06 (80 persons)
03.05.2024 12.30 - 16.30 E1-06 (80 persons)

Exam schedules

No exam but project presentation

Assessment methods and criteria

Done tasks and class activities

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Pre-task, individual task/course paper, lecture, group project & workshop

Learning materials

- Organization Culture and Leadership, Edgar H. Schein, 5th edition
- Cultures and Organizations: Software of the mind, Geert Hofstede et. al, 3rd edition
- The Culture Map, Erin Meyer, 2015
- Suggested materials to moodle course site

Student workload

Total work hour for the students: 27 x 5 = 135
Contact lesson including presentation: 16 h
Project: 30 h
Individual task/course paper: 30 h
Reading: 59 h

Content scheduling

1st meeting: Culture; defining culture, influencing factors as well as national-, organisational-, & family culture
2nd meeting: Culture and human behavior; cultural influence on business activities & work ethics in different cultures
3rd meeting: Cultural differences and similarities; Cultural synergy; & managing diversity at work place
4th meeting: Cultural differences and similarities; Cultural synergy; & managing diversity at work place (continues)
5th meeting: Project presentation

Completion alternatives

Talk to the course teache

Practical training and working life cooperation

Own workplace linked task

International connections

Possible

Further information

Contact lessons are important from learning point of view