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2015/2016  BA-BEUBO1011U  Communicating across Cultures

English Title
Communicating across Cultures

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for Bachelor of Arts in European Business
Course coordinator
  • Minna Paunova - Department of International Business Communication (IBC)
Main academic disciplines
  • Intercultural studies
  • Communication
Last updated on 10-12-2015
Learning objectives
To achieve the grade 12, students should meet the following learning objectives with no or only minor mistakes or errors:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of basic definitions and dimensions of culture.
  • Understand cultural influences on cognition, communication, and interpersonal behavior.
  • Analyze and, when appropriate, discuss ways to approach practical situations related to cross-cultural communication and management.
  • Use key theories, models, and the meta-language introduced in the course to present critical and coherent analysis and discussion.
  • Observe academic conventions with respect to style, argumentation, references, etc.
Examination
Communicating across Cultures:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual
Size of written product Max. 10 pages
Assignment type Written assignment
Duration 48 hours to prepare
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Spring and Summer
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Course content and structure

The goal of this course is to develop awareness and understanding of cultural factors that enable and constrain communication in an increasingly globalized world (i.e., how these factors influence the way we interact and communicate across cultures). Self-awareness is also promoted through critical reflection upon one’s own patterns of thought and behavior, particularly as contingent on culture.

 

The course provides students with key theories, models, and a meta-language to enable them to analyze and discuss the relationship between culture and communication. Students also learn to evaluate and suggest ways to approach realistic cross-cultural communication and management situations, thereby developing their intercultural competence.

 

The course is structured around three modules. The first module introduces students to basic definitions and dimensions of culture. The second module engages with more in-depth theory and analysis of cultural influences on cognition, communication, and interpersonal behavior. The final module is based on case discussions of effective and responsible communication and management across cultures, focusing on issues such as conflict and negotiation. 
Teaching methods
The course is based on a combination of dialogue lectures, student-facilitated sessions, class discussion based on course curriculum and case assignments, written and oral assignments.
Student workload
Lectures 36 hours
Preparation 126 hours
Exam 48 hours
Expected literature

Required textbook

 

Readings

  • A selection of required and optional readings (e.g., research papers, book chapters, and articles from popular press) will be made available on LEARN.

 

Cases

  • As a rule, students are required to purchase cases from The Case Center http://www.thecasecentre.org/ 
  • Some case/exercise materials will be uploaded on LEARN.
Last updated on 10-12-2015