• Recognize key characteristics that define cultures and the criteria for cross-cultural analysis in a business context
• Understand theories, models, and best practices and how they could be applied to improve global business leadership and decision-making; to find common ground with those who view workplace issues through a different cultural lens; and to strengthen multicultural teams
• Explain cross-cultural company experiences in different industries and regions, and offer practical insight about why their approaches related to cultural issues succeeded or failed
• Recommend and defend strategies and tactics to bridge cultural gaps and, in the process, to enhance a multinational company’s internal relationships, external alliances, and productivity across borders
• Demonstrate heightened sensitivity to management communication (to avoid verbal and nonverbal miscues) when discussing and writing elements of a plan to enter or shift direction in international markets

This introductory course helps to prepare future managers for the cross-cultural challenges and opportunities awaiting them in an increasingly globalized business environment. By examining pertinent theories and practices, students gain a greater understanding about how culture influences an organization’s internal and external relationships and its decision-making and operations. Students explore strategies to bridge cultural gaps and to preempt or resolve conflict with culturally diverse customer, employee, supplier, and other stakeholder groups. Management communication techniques that recognize and aim to overcome the differences in verbal and nonverbal cues across cultures are a key aspect within the curriculum. Various theories covering a range of global brand management, leadership, organizational behavior effectiveness, work-life ballance and intercultural conflict styles. Discussion focuses on the experiences of numerous companies including Bang and Olufsen, Coloplast, Ecco, Novo Nordisk, Microsoft, Sony and Huawei.

Class 1: Overview: Cross-cultural imperatives and trends in global business management

Class 2:  Aspects of culture and differences in corporate cultural norms. Prevalent theories and models used in cross-cultural analysis

Class 3: Impact of culture(s) on business decision-making

Class 4: Managing communication across cultures - diversity

Class 5: Negotiation and conflict resolution in a cross-cultural corporate context  

Class 6: Feedback activity: Students propose and defend elements of a cross-cultural management strategy - drivers and obstacles

Class 7: Leadership best practices to manage culturally diverse stakeholders

Class 8: Techniques for successful collaboration in multicultural work groups and teams

Class 9: Structuring organizations and partnerships for intercultural effectiveness

Class 10: Shaping and managing international assignments/tasks

Class 11: Comprehensive review

Ordinary 6-week course

Preliminary Assignment: A generic test/assignment will be developed concerning “Nordic Nine.” It will be uploaded on Canvas at the end of May. Students are expected to access this assignment before classes begin. The assignment will not be reviewed in classes.

Course and exam timetable is/will be available on https://www.cbs.dk/uddannelse/international-summer-university-programme-isup/courses-and-exams

We reserve the right to cancel the course if we do not get enough applications. This will be communicated on https://www.cbs.dk/en/study/international-summer-university/courses-and-exams in start March.

Optional: Cross-Cultural Management, An Introduction; 2021, Sage Publications, Inc.; Authors: David C. Thomas and Kerr Inkson

ONE article needs to be purchased from CBS Samfundsliteratur; instructions to be posted on course site.

Other articles will be available free on Canvas.