Cross Cultural Management ORGB 9190

In the light of the now established phenomenon of globalised businesses and markets, this course begins by examining the importance of cultural norms and identities based on learned attitudes, values and beliefs and their impact upon the conduct of business operations. An analysis of the depth and extent of adaptations of organizational strategy and behaviour which are necessary to achieve successful outcomes in this global environment is conducted. Globalisation now means that companies are operating in a global rather than a local environment, even when they are identified as being local firms. The reliance on employees from a cross-cultural mix requires a level of understanding and competence that evidences a shift from an ethnocentric to a geocentric approach. The aims of the course are to understand the impact of culture on management; to identify the areas in which cultural differences present a challenge in managing people across cultures; and finally to become more self-aware of cultural conditioning, individual biases and assumptions and to understand the implications these have on our interactions with people who are different from cultures. Students will develop the ability to communicate cross culturally and understand diverse perspectives - a necessity in order to achieve a competitive advantage in global the economy.