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2018/2019  BA-BASPO1004U  Intercultural Organisation

English Title
Intercultural Organisation

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 BSc in Business, Asian Language and Culture
Course coordinator
  • Lisbeth Clausen - Department of Management, Society and Communication (MSC)
Main academic disciplines
  • Organization
  • Organisational behaviour
Teaching methods
  • Blended learning
Last updated on 28-06-2018

Relevant links
Learning objectives
At the exam the student should demonstrate the following learning objectives:
  • Define and solve a research question in a clear and structured manner concerning organisational design and behavior in relation to doing business in Asia
  • Build a framework of key concepts, theories and models in organizational theory and organizational behavior to answer the research question
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply these concepts and theories in analyses of business/organizational issues in multinationals operating in Asia
  • Demonstrate the ability to discuss the interconnectedness between theories - their uses and limitations - and to critique assumptions underlying the course material as well as own assumptions
Examination
Intercultural Organisation:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Oral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance.
Individual or group exam Individual oral exam based on written group product
Number of people in the group 3-5
Size of written product Max. 3 pages
Excluding references and bibliography. Appendixes may be included but are not part of the overall evaluation.
Assignment type Synopsis
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
20 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and external examiner
Exam period Summer
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
The re-exam/make-up exam shall be based on the same synopsis as the ordinary exam:
- if a student is absent from the oral exam due to documented illness but has been part of handing in the synopsis she/he does not have to submit a new version for the make-up exam but must upload the same synopsis again
- if an individual student fails the oral exam she/he does not have to submit a new version for the re-take exam but must upload the same synopsis again
- if a whole group fails they must hand in a revised synopsis for the re-take. The group will then get feedback on the synopsis from the examiner
Description of the exam procedure

The synopsis must be handed in through Digital Exam before the set deadline.

 

Throughout the semester students will work in larger case groups of students consisting of one or more exam groups to promote group discussion and the generation of ideas - however, the exam synopsis will be handed in in smaller exam groups as described above.

 
Course content and structure

The aim of the course is to provide students with knowledge of organisation theories and organisational behavior challenges for international managers in their business operations in Asia.

During the course students will become familiar with different theories and methods of analysing organisational structure and organisational behavior in companies doing business in Asia. Students will be challenged to do additional research concerning their case companies. They will also be challenged to describe and apply the theoretical models of organisational design and organisational behavior in relation to practical case issues. 

 

Workshops and guest speakers are planned to exchange information between teacher, students and practitioners in the field. The speakers represent Danish national and international corporations and entrepreneurs. They share their professional practices and strategies in organizing markets, stakeholders, employees, alliances and subsidiaries in Asia.
Description of the teaching methods
The course is a combination of class room teaching and discussion of textbook and academic articles. Workshops, case studies, guest speakers are planned to engage and exchange information between teacher, students and practitioners in the field. The speakers represent multinational corporations and entrepreneurs (and IBA alumni). During lectures students are expected to contribute creatively and actively and to answer immediate questions based on the readings - ‘cold calling’. This is to accelerate learning and to test the understanding of course material. Students will in turn present mini-assignments related to the articles in the compendium for discussion in the class.

Group work
Students will be assigned to a working group to solve a number of problems using course theories and concepts on a corporate multinational case. They will work on this case (25 pages) for the entire course. The case should be read for the first lecture. The course is designed to enable students to collect a portfolio of models and theoretical applications that they can use in the exam synopsis: Students will make ‘deliveries’ based on given themes/issue/model related to their case. A delivery is a A-4 paper hand-in, which will be scanned and up-loaded on LEARN following the class. Besides one-page deliveries, students will conduct class presentations analyzing a particular problem in their case related to theory. The groups will in turn provide feedback to each other to share knowledge across their case organizations.
During the course the working group will be expected do additional research on their case organization (organizational history, stock value, homepages, news stories, annual reports, etc.). Questions and a guide for the deliveries and presentations will be posted on LEARN.
Note: The case is part of the exam and the synopsis is written in the assigned exam group.
Feedback during the teaching period
During the course 8-10 group assignments ‘deliveries ‘ (oral and written) allow students to test their knowledge and get feedback on theories and their application on corporate CASEs. The in-class assignments (A-4 page(s) are uploaded on learn from the whole class to demonstrate findings and compare across cases. These are mandatory requirements. Feedback is given to the entire class, showing good examples and pointing to typical mistakes.
A Kahoot (softwarebased) quiz (designed by students) covering the entire course will be held at the end of class. Students will present their research question using Mindmaster (software) to mindmap course theories, analysis and case examples.

Feedback is further offered in response to your questions and work whenever feasible although please appreciate that there are often time constraints. Please take full advantage of participation in lectures and classes. We encourage you to ask questions or make comments in class and to participate in group work to secure peer feedback on your work.
Student workload
Lectures 12x3 36 hours
Preparation for class 72 hours
Group work 12x1 12 hours
RECAPTURE 10 hours
SYNOPSIS 38 hours
EXAM 38 hours
Further Information

Please note that this course will be discontinued and will be offered for the last time in spring 2020. The last exam in the course will be offered in summer 2021.
Expected literature

Materials are available two weeks before class starts on LEARN and on-line at CBS SP Academic bookstore:
 

CASE BOOK Clausen, Lisbeth (2015) Team dynamics and diversity: Japanese corporate experiences. Copenhagen: Copenhagen Business School Press.

IMPORTANT: Only purchase the assigned ONE COPORATE CASE 

 

Please note: these reading materials are only tentative and changes may occur. Final literature lists will be uploaded on LEARN before the course begins. 

Last updated on 28-06-2018