APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2013/2014

SPÅ 2901 Business Communication in English -
Intercultural and Ethical Awareness (Written)

Responsible for the course
Derek Matthews

Department
Department of Communication - Culture and Languages

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
7,5

Language of instruction
English

Introduction
This course is relevant for people who plan to do business internationally and who would like more insight into the ethics of business.

Learning outcome
The course looks at intercultural communication and how culture impacts on business relationships. Focus will be put on Norway and its most important trading partners. In addition, it gives participants the opportunity to analyze business dilemmas from an ethical perspective. The overall objective is to enable course participants to develop the English skills needed to communicate effectively in the international business environment.

Acquired knowledge
Students will be able to define in appropriate English
1. intercultural terminology related to the business cultures on the syllabus and
2. basic guidelines for ethical reasoning related to the dilemmas on the syllabus

Acquired skills
Students will be able to contrast and analyze cultural differences by applying the relevant theoretical frameworks within a business context. Furthermore, they will be able to provide ethical justification for decisions taken in business settings. In both cases the responses will be written in an appropriate, professional letter/report/essay-writing style.

Reflection
Students will demonstrate an understanding of intercultural awareness and ethical reflection, for instance by showing sensitivity, insight, balanced judgement, professionalism and/or appropriate register in their written application of course-related material.

Prerequisites
English from upper secondary school or equivalent.

Compulsory reading
Books:
Brown, Mark and Peter Cleaverley. 2010. Three ethical dilemmas for discussion and writing practice : student handbook. BI Forlag
Gesteland, Richard R. 2012. Cross-cultural business behavior : a guide for global management. 5th ed. Copenhagen Business School Press. Part Two plus the relevant cultures

Collection of articles:
Matthews, Derek, ed. 2010. Collection of Articles for SPÅ 2901 Business Communication in English: Intercultural and Ethical Awareness. Handelshøyskolen BI

Other:
Obligatory Lecture Notes in form of Power Point slides. Published on It's Learning. approx 25 pages in total


Recommended reading
Books:
En engelsk-engelsk ordbok, for eksempel: Collins Cobuild, Longman, Webster's eller Oxford
Hansen, Einar. 2007. Bedre engelsk forretningsspråk : spesialordbok i økonomisk administrativt fagspråk. 5. utg. Cappelen akademisk forlag

Journals:
The Economist, Newsweek eller Times

Course outline
Intercultural Communication: Business Cultures
Introduces concepts and terminology used in the analysis of business cultures. The focus is primarily on the American, British, Chinese, French, German, Japanese and Norwegian business cultures, and on how these cultures compare with each other.

2. Ethical Dilemmas
This component focuses on business issues with an ethical dimension.

Computer-based tools
Students are encouraged to use the Internet during the course, as well as participate in discussion groups and assigned tasks on BI’s learning platform: It’s Learning.

Learning process and workload
The course consists of 28 hours of classroom teaching in addition to a practice mid-term exam during the latter stages of the course. . The mid-term trial exam will give the students the opportunity to see where they stand (they will be given feedback for improvement and a grade). In order to manage the requirements of the course it is essential that students attend the weekly sessions or, in the case of distance learning students, participate actively in web discussions. Individual teachers will set written assignments for appraisal and feedback.

The classroom teaching will be a mixture of lectures, small group discussions and analyses based on central concepts of intercultural and ethical awareness. Through the use of cultural scenarios, role-plays, presentations and ethical dilemmas, students will develop their reasoning skills and contextualize them in the writing of business letters, reports and essays

Online activities will also be made available in the form of short quizzes to test knowledge of basic concepts in both content and language. Open-ended discussion will also be made available to groups online to promote their skills of analysis and application of theoretical frameworks within intercultural communication and ethical reasoning. In addition, students will be encouraged to submit two pieces of formal writing together with a self-assessment checklist during the course of the semester.