Module: BMA6107-20 Cross Cultural Management in International Business

Level: 6

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Anca Baker

Module Tutor Contact Details: a.baker@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

Management practices and processes frequently differ across national and regional boundaries. What may be acceptable managerial behaviour in one culture may be counterproductive or even unacceptable in another. As managers increasingly find themselves working across cultures, the need to understand these differences has become increasingly important.

The purpose of this module is to examine why these differences exist and how global managers can develop strategies and tactics to deal with them. This course also develops students’ ability to apply their knowledge and understanding to complex management and business problems in order to improve business and management practice in a global context.

In this module, you will be able to demonstrate the following Graduate Attributes:

• Able to understand and manage complexity, diversity and change;

• Internationally networked: studying alongside students from overseas;

• Ethically aware: prepared for citizenship in a local, national and global context.

2.Outline syllabus

The course will commence with the introduction to global realities and management challenges, developing global management skills and will progress to culture, values and worldviews. It will include organisational culture and culture change. It will also include communication across cultures in the context of international business. This module will also cover management patterns across cultures, organising frameworks and an introduction to diversity management.

3.Teaching and learning activities

The module will include a mix of tutor input, lectures, case studies, group work, discussions and role-play. There will be a 1 hour lecture and a 2 hour seminar.  The style will be interactive but there will be an emphasis on the application of key skills, namely the ability to acquire multicultural competencies that will be highly valued by their future employers. Where appropriate additional selected readings designed to support learning and understanding will be presented as the module develops. Students will work both individually and in teams. Appropriate technology will be used to enhance learning and as a communication platform both between tutor and student and student to student. All teaching and learning activities will aim to develop student autonomy, engagement, communication skills and analytical skills. It will further develop the awareness towards diversity, allow the students to be innovative and creative thinkers and become ethically aware global citizens.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Group Project (Presentation/Virtual conference presentation) with an Abstract/Executive Summary

• % Weighting: 60%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Individual Reflection/Analytical report (2,000 words)

• % Weighting: 40%