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2017/2018  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 Management, Society and Communication (MSC)
Main academic disciplines
  • Intercultural studies
  • Communication
  • Management
Last updated on 16-06-2017

Relevant links
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.
  • Analyze cultural influences on cognition, communication, and interpersonal behavior.
  • Evaluate (e.g., suggest ways to approach) practical situations related to cross-cultural communication and management.
  • Use key theories, models, and the meta-language introduced in the course (i.e., syllabus) to present critical and coherent discussion, analysis, and evaluation.
  • Observe academic conventions with respect to references, style, argumentation, etc.
Examination
Communicating across Cultures:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual exam
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
If the number of registered candidates for the make-up examination/re-take examination warrants that it may most appropriately be held as an oral examination, the programme office will inform the students that the make-up examination/re-take examination will be held as an oral examination instead.

The Make-up and Re-examination takes place according to the same rules as the regular 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 a combination of dialogue lectures, student-facilitated sessions, class discussion based on course curriculum and case assignments, written and oral assignments. The format of most classes (teaching hours) is seminar/exercise. Student participation in seminar/exercise classes is key, as it reflects student preparation at home. In addition, the course introduces students to ongoing research and practice in the field through a small number of invited plenary lectures.
Feedback during the teaching period
Feedback is an important component of learning in this course. To prepare for the exam, students have the opportunity to deliver one or two practice assignments. Feedback on the assignments will be given in class (highlighting common strengths and weaknesses) as well as individually during feedback and supervision meetings with instructors. Furthermore, instructors have regular office hours, which provide an excellent opportunity for feedback and supervision.
Student workload
Lectures 34 hours
Preparation 124 hours
Exam 48 hours
Expected literature

Required textbook (subject to change)

Browaeys, M.-J. & Price, R. (2015). Understanding cross-cultural management (3rd ed.). Harlow, UK: Pearson Education Limited.  http:/​/​www.pearsoned.co.uk/​bookshop/​detail.asp?item=100000000533853

 

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

Last updated on 16-06-2017