Leading Multicultural Organizations (5cr)

Objectives (course unit)

The course aims to address the culture and its impact in managing/leading organization made up of people from diverse cultural background. Culture is an integral part of everyday organizational life. Understanding culture facilitates organizational success in national- as well as international market.

After completing the course, the student will be able to:
• know culture from different perspectives prioritizing the field of management and organization.
• lead multicultural workforce.
• build work team/group with people from different cultural background.
• deal with cultural differences effectively.
• identify culture lenient motivational strategy.
• manage cultural tension by engaging empathetic approach.
• negotiate globally.

Content (course unit)

The contents include the followings:
• What is culture?
• What is family-, national-, organizational- and business culture?
• What are the roots of culture?
• How culture influences management and the functioning of an organization?
• How to deal with cultural challenges in forming group/team and leading people with diverse cultural background?
• What are the crucial issues to remember while negotiating internationally?

Prerequisites (course unit)

None.

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

The student can define culture and recognises cultural differences. He/she is aware of the course load and able to do routine tasks. The student can give and receive feedback and can do project work in a group. He/she considers and assesses things from his/her viewpoints. The student can work in a group. He/she judges things mainly from his/her own perspective.

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

The student compares culture and explains its impact on different social entities. He/she helps to apply cultural approach in leading a multicultural workforce. The student as a resource person assists in solving problems in leading a multicultural workforce or building a multicultural team. He/she helps making a plan for dealing with cultural differences effectively. He/she considers and assesses issues from multicultural perspectives and can engage in negotiation with counterparts from another culture. The student becomes a responsible member of a diverse group.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student understands culture from multiple perspectives and analyses its impact on different social entities including business organisations. The student as a resource person acts independently or as part of a group in leading a multicultural workforce or building a multicultural team. He/she assists in finding solutions to team in dealing with cultural differences effectively. He/she actively engages himself/herself in the work group in finding solutions to problems at hand or adopting policy regarding a culture lenient motivational plan. Moreover, the student can play a flexible role in multicultural negotiation context.

Location and time

Time Room

08.01.2026 11.00 - 14.00 C4-09a (21 persons) C4-09b (21 persons)

13.01.2026 08.00 - 11.00 C4-09a (21 persons) C4-09b (21 persons)

20.01.2026 08.00 - 11.00 C4-09a (21 persons) C4-09b (21 persons)

27.01.2026 08.00 - 11.00 C4-09a (21 persons) C4-09b (21 persons)

03.02.2026 08.00 - 11.00 C4-09a (21 persons) C4-09b (21 persons)

10.02.2026 08.00 - 11.00 C4-09a (21 persons) C4-09b (21 persons)

17.02.2026 08.00 - 11.00 C4-09a (21 persons) C4-09b (21 persons)

Exam schedules

No exam but project, individual task & presentation

Assessment methods and criteria

Group project: 30%
Group project presentation: 10%
Presentation participation diary (Individual task): 10%
5 short individual task: 50%

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Contact teaching
Study conversation
Individual task
Group project
Presentation

Learning materials

Cultures and organizations : software of the mind : intercultural cooperation and its importance for survival, Hofstede, Geert, 2010 (suggested chapters)

When Cultures Collide, Richard D. Lewis, 2018 (suggested chapters)

The Culture Map: Decoding how people think, lead, and get things done across cultures. Erin Meyer (suggested chapters)
+
Lecture handouts & suggested reading

Student workload

Total time: 27x5 = 135 hours
Contact lesson 7 x 3: 21 hours
Project: 25 hours
Reading: 29 hours
5-6 short individual task: 30 hours
Pre-assignment & online activity: 30 hours

Completion alternatives

Talk to the course teacher

Practical training and working life cooperation

Possible & welcome

International connections

Open

Further information

Return course tasks on time. Late submission will have negative impact to the course final grade.