INB431 Global Management Practice

• Topics

  The course provides in-depth knowledge of issues relevant for working in global workplaces and covers topics such as essentialist and non-essentialist approaches to culture, expatriation, multicultural teams, international negotiations, language issues in global workplaces, as well as culture specific concepts (e.g. Face, Guanxi). 

• Learning outcome

  Upon successful completion of the course, the student will have attained the following: 

  Knowledge:

  • Enhanced awareness of one´s own culture and cultural diversity in global teams
  • Enhanced awareness of issues relevant for working in international management
  • Enhanced knowledge of the main theories related to cross-cultural management

   

  Skills

  • Ability to critically assess the main theories related to cross-cultural management and their usefulness for the global worker and manager
  • Ability to critically reflect on how one´s identity and own biases may influence one's perceptions and interpretation of the "Other"

   

  General competence

  • Improved soft skills to work in intercultural settings 
  • Ability to receiving and giving feedback
  • Critical thinking 

• Teaching

  In this course, we focus on experiential learning through teamwork, discussions, case studies, together with lectures and readings.  

  The student will do fieldwork in order to (1) investigate cross-cultural challenges that business people face (2) link the findings to existing theories in cross-cultural management (3) critically discuss and reflect on these theories. The student will present the results in class and practice giving and receiving feedback.

  The student will work in a multicultural team during the semester and provide (and receive) feedback in order to improve soft skills essential for a global leader.

  The student is encouraged to make the most of the cultural diversity present in the classroom and to share insights and experience with his/her fellow-students. Class discussions will be based on relevant case material, and on the reading chosen for each meeting.  

   

  This is a mandatory CEMS course.

• Restricted access

  This is a mandatory CEMS course reserved for CEMS students only.

• Required prerequisites

  Familiarity with the cultural dimensions paradigm (Hofstede; Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner; GLOBE). Good English oral and written skills.

• Requirements for course approval

  (1) Presentation of the fieldwork results in class and (2) discussion of another group's fieldwork presentation.

  Course approval is valid for one semester.

• Assessment

  Assessment for this course will not be changed spring 2020.

  Individual paper (50%) 

  Group report based on fieldwork project (50%)

  Both assessment elements has to be taken in the same semester.

• Grading Scale

  Grades A - F for the assessment parts and for the overall grade.

• Computer tools

  No specific computer tools required for this course.

• Literature

  Book: Global Leadership Practices: A Cross-Cultural Management Perspective, Red Globe Press, 2014. Edited by Bettina Gehrke and Marie-Therese Claes.

  A selection of book chapters and articles will also be made available on Canvas.