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MRK 3550 Cross Cultural Management

MRK 3550 Cross Cultural Management

Course code: 
MRK 3550
Department: 
Communication and Culture
Credits: 
7.5
Course coordinator: 
Benedicte Brøgger
Course name in Norwegian: 
Cross Cultural Management
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
Bachelor of International Management- Programme Courses
Semester: 
2023 Autumn
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Bachelor
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

In this course, students gain knowledge and skills useful for an international management career. Cross cultural management is a field of research close to international business and intercultural communication studies. The students will learn of key cultural dimensions, management issues that emerge as the result of cultural differences between two countries, and ways to deal the issues. This course is designed to give Bachelor of International Management students tools to prepare for their experiences for their third year abroad and for exchange students to reflect on practical uses of their international experiences.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

After completed course students shall have:

  • Knowledge of the main theories in the field of cross-cultural management.
  • Knowledge of how cultural differences affect multinational companies.
  • Understanding of ethical dilemmas generated by cultural differences. 
Learning outcomes - Skills

After completed course students will be able to:

  • Apply cultural dimensions for practical analysis of a cross-cultural management issue in a multinational company.
  • Ability to identify solutions that are culturally and ethically acceptable to managers, customers or employees from two culturally different countries. 
General Competence

After completing the course the student will have

Awareness of the need to balance ethical integrity with respect for cultural differences.

Awareness of the effects of discrimination, prejudice and stereotyping in international management.

Course content
  • Cross-cultural management research paradigms.
  • Key cross-cultural concepts. Their similarities, differences and how to apply them (Geert Hofstede, GLOBE, Alfons Trompenaars, Edward Hall).
  • Business behavior in different regions, Europe, Americas, Australasia, Africa, Asia, the Middle East. 
  • Consequences of cultural differences for:
    • negotiations
    • conflict resolution
    • marketing
    • human resource management
    • strategy and organizing
    • leadership and teamwork
    • accounts and financial reporting
    • communication  
  • Ethics and empathy - Intercultural communicative competence.
Teaching and learning activities

Classroom sessions will include introductions to cross-culture theory and cases from multinational companies operating in two or more culturally different countries, group discussions and interactive presentation software. Online session includes video-taped exercises, self-tests, and case studies.

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

As of autumn 2023 the form of evaluation in this course has changed.

Re-sit examinations is offered in the former exam codes MRK 35502 and MRK 35503 in autumn 2023 and last time in spring 2024. MRK 35502 wil be arranged as a school exam. 

Qualifications

Higher Education Entrance Qualification

Disclaimer

Deviations in teaching and exams may occur if external conditions or unforeseen events call for this.

Required prerequisite knowledge

Intercultural communication and ethical awareness undergraduate courses or equivalent international experience.

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Structured test
Invigilation
Weight: 
30
Grouping: 
Individual
Support materials: 
  • No support materials
Duration: 
1 Hour(s)
Comment: 
Mid-term MCQ (multiple-choice), which must be resolved in WISEflow. Automated, individual feedback and general feedback from professors. This exam element comes before the consultancy report. All exams must be passed to obtain a final grade in the course.
Exam code: 
MRK 35504
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination every semester
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
70
Grouping: 
Group (1 - 3)
Duration: 
1 Semester(s)
Comment: 
Consultancy report. All exams must be passed to obtain a final grade in the course.
Exam code: 
MRK 35505
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination every semester
Type of Assessment: 
Ordinary examination
All exams must be passed to get a grade in this course.
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
24 Hour(s)
Lectures
Webinar
2 Hour(s)
2 webinars available for all BI campuses.
Student's own work with learning resources
94 Hour(s)
Read/work with the textbooks and other Sources, term paper writing
Digital resources
24 Hour(s)
Asynchronous tasks on It's Learning, pre- and post lectures.
Feedback activities and counselling
16 Hour(s)
Preparation and supervision of term paper draft, in groups
Individual problem solving
40 Semester(s)
Prepare for the MCQ
Sum workload: 
200

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.