EXC 2903 Intercultural Management: A Scandinavian Perspective

EXC 2903 Intercultural Management: A Scandinavian Perspective

Course code: 
EXC 2903
Department: 
Communication and Culture
Credits: 
12
Course coordinator: 
Yanique Fletcher
Course name in Norwegian: 
Intercultural Management: A Scandinavian Perspective
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
Bachelor - Electives
Semester: 
2019 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Bachelor
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

An empathic understanding of how people from different parts of the world differ when it comes to opinions, attitudes, and beliefs or even what it takes to develop motivated and committed employees, is crucial for managers in today’s global world. The assumption that national cultures are still playing important roles in forming people’s values and attitudes, more than indicates that definitions and concepts of culture and cultural differences at national, organizational, and managerial level should be covered during a course like this.

One aspect of the course focuses on the importance of national culture in determining communication and’ behaviour in international business. The course provides an overview of culture, Scandinavian management, digital relationships with data analytics: Scandinavian trends, communication strategies and cross cultural negotiations.  Learning approaches will include lectures, case work, teamwork and blended learning. We also gain key insights through guest speakers from the industry and visits to leading Norwegian companies to see Scandinavian management in practice.

The other aspect focuses on the so called ‘"Scandinavian Model"’ where gender and economic equality dominate and specific employment rules and rights must be applied. In particular, the ”"Norwegian Working Environment Act"” is covered.

Specific global industries where Norwegian firms have excelled such as shipping, oil and gas, and energy will also be investigated during the course.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

The objectives of the course are to provide students with an overview of research on intercultural management and to apply this knowledge creatively in the Scandinavian/Norwegian context.

  • Students should have an overview of key concepts of culture, cross cultural negotiations, the Scandinavian Management Model, creative communication planning.
  • Students should also be able to recognize key intercultural management issues within the Scandinavian/Norwegian context and communication strategies in a global context.
Learning outcomes - Skills

Students should be able to analyze intercultural interactions. They should be able to apply the Scandinavian Management Model and also able to understand data analytics to evaluate digital relationships with stakeholders in international management settings.

Learning Outcome - Reflection

Students should see the ethical and sustainable long term implications of the Scandinavian Management Model and culture in negotiations and communication and in data analytics.

Course content

The course is divided into three main areas of focus:

I. Culture, framework for comparing cultures

  • Culture’s impact on communication behaviour
  • Cultural stereotypes, differences and similarities

II. The Scandinavian Management Model

  • A focus on different Norwegian firms and sectors as well as on laws and regulations of work
  • Competencies for managing intercultural interaction; implications of cultural differences at intra and interorganizational levels

III. Digital relationships with data analytics: Scandinavian trends

  • Understanding digital stakeholder communication
  • Design thinking to develop and visualize stakeholder relations
  • Introduction to data analytics – applying data in visual communication: Scandinavian trends

IV. Negotiation skills

  • Negotiation behavior profiling in an intercultural context
  • Analyzing and understanding successful integrative bargaining strategies
  • Gaining meaningful insights and developing communication skills within strategic/empathetic thinking and creativity techniques
Learning process and requirements to students

The learning objectives of the course are accomplished with a combination of lectures, guest speakers, company visits, group work, workshop, and presentations. Normally each day will be structured so as the lectures will take place before lunch, while the afternoon will consist of other course-related activities.

Feedback during the course to promote student learning 
An important part of the course is the workshop on communication profiling, developing a toolkit for cultural understanding, development of data analytics skills for visualizing and developing stakeholder relations and in development of negotiation skills. Students work on pre-assigned groups while the instructors provide continuous feedback for improvement. In addition, feedback is provided on presentations and discussions for process learning

Making students work steadily – use of “required coursework” 
Participation in lectures, company visits, group work, and other activities is mandatory. The first two weeks of the course set the basis for the written exam (at the middle of the course). The workshops that follow in weeks three and four are designed to develop specific communication and negotiation skills and digital relationships knowledge. Students are required to work in teams for case negotiations, design thinking and in case reflection documents in the final week of the program. 

Participation in lectures (online and face-to-face), company visits, workshops, group work, and presentations is mandatory.

This is a course with continuous assessment (several exam components) and one final exam code. Each exam component is graded by using points on a scale from 0-100. The components will be weighted together according to the information in the course description in order to calculate the final letter grade for the examination code (course). Students who fail to participate in one/some/all exam elements will get a lower grade or may fail the course. You will find detailed information about the point system and the cut off points with reference to the letter grades when the course start.

At re-sit all exam components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course.

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Additional information

A re-sit is held at the next scheduled examination in the course. Students who are taking a new exam must take the course all over including all parts of the evaluation.

Qualifications

Higher Education Entrance Qualification

Required prerequisite knowledge

One year university studies

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
40
Grouping: 
Individual
Duration: 
8 Hour(s)
Comment: 
Take home exam
Exam code: 
EXC29031
Grading scale: 
Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade
Resit: 
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam category: 
Activity
Form of assessment: 
Presentation and discussion
Weight: 
60
Grouping: 
Group
Duration: 
1 Semester(s)
Comment: 
Group creative exercise and presentations.
Exam code: 
EXC29031
Grading scale: 
Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade
Resit: 
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam organisation: 
Continuous assessment
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
50 Hour(s)
Classroom
Other in classroom
10 Hour(s)
Workshop
Webinar
12 Hour(s)
Prepare for teaching
50 Hour(s)
Company visit and/or Study trip
50 Hour(s)
Group work / Assignments
50 Hour(s)
Student's own work with learning resources
38 Hour(s)
Examination and preparation for examination.
Group work / Assignments
60 Hour(s)
Preparations for presentations and presentations.
Sum workload: 
320

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 12 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 320 hours.