Students should attain both knowledge in culture and international business after attending this course. Course materials cover the different definitions of culture and the psychological underpinnings of how culture develops and how it influences behaviour. Students should also gain knowledge of mainstream cultural theories from important cultural researchers.
Students should also be able to identify the major risks in international business as well as the solutions to those risks. Students should be able to gain practical knowledge of culture and change management by participating in the workshops. Students should be able to recognize cultural problems and identify the underlying concepts behind behaviours from people with different backgrounds. Students also gain experiential knowledge about the effects of changing cultures and how change management acts as an essential component for intercultural management.

Courses in the Module

• International Business
• Cross Cultural Management  

International Business

• Four major risks in international business
• Modes of international business
• Globalisation

Cross Cultural Management

• Definitions for culture
• Cultural dimensions from Hofstede
• Cultural dimensions from Hall
• Cultural dimensions from Kluckholn & Strodtbeck
• Psychological background on how culture forms
• Culture shock
• Organizational climate and Edgar Schein

• The Social Construction of Reality, Berger and Luckmann
• Understanding Cultural Differences, Hall and Hall
• Organizational Culture and Leadership, Schein
• Cultures and Organizations, Hofstede, Hofstede and Minkov
• Hofstede, Geert. Culture’s Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviours, Institutions and Organizations Across Nations. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2001
• Fine, Debra. The Fine Art of Small Talk: How To Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Networking Skills -- and Leave a Positive Impression! USA: Hachette Books 2005.
• Gibson, Robert. Intercultural Business Communication. Berlin: Cornelsen & Oxford, 2000.
• Trickey, David, and Nigel Ewington. A World of Difference: Working Successfully Across Cultures. Video − Self-Study Workbook − Teacher’s Manual. London: Capita Learning, 2003.
• Trompenaars, Fons, and Charles Hampden-Turner. Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Cultural Diversity in Business. London: Brealey, 1997.
• Managing Across Cultures, Schneider and Barsoux
• Scholarly Articles

5 ECTS x 30 hours = 150 hours, combined out of the following:

• Course attendance: 60 hours
• Preparation / homework / self-study : 40 hours
• Time for exercises and group work: 30 hours
• Exam preparation: 20 hours
• Exam time: 120 minutes