MNGT 583 Cross-Cultural Management

MNGT 583 Cross-Cultural Management Syllabus FEAS, Yaşar University Fall 2013 Instructor: Özge Can Class Time - Location: Wednesday, 18:00-20:30 @Y 213 Office: İİBF Building, O 004 Phone: +90 (232) 4115215 E-mail: ozge.can@yasar.edu.tr Office Hours: Monday-Tuesday, 10:00-12:00; Wed, 13:30-15:30 Course Website: http://ocan.yasar.edu.tr/mngt-583-cross-cultural-management/ Course Description The competitive global arena of today as well as increasing diversity mandates that employees, especially managers, develop the skills necessary to conduct effective crosscultural interactions. This requires a deep understanding of culture and how it affects organizations, organizational processes and behaviours. Thus, this course focuses on crosscultural psychology with an emphasis on management in organizations. The course explores and defines the notion of culture in its many forms.the influence of culture is examined in various areas of organizational behaviour and at various levels of an organizational design. Course Objectives Upon successful completion of this course, the enrolled students will be gaining the following knowledge, skills and competences: 1. Increasing their knowledge about other cultures 2. Critically examining the cultural assumptions embedded in existing organizational theories 3. Understanding the role of culture in international business and HRM 4. Developing intercultural management competencies necessary to manage cultural differences 5. Critically examining their own psychological processes and behaviors as they are influenced by the cultural contexts they are embedded. 1

Course Structure The first part of the course will be spent on fundamental issues such as the definiton of culture, its relationship with concepts like perceptions, values and identities. Cultural differences, understanding of these differences as well as the proposed dimensions and classification for analyzing cultural differences will be examined. The course will then focus on the influence of culture on international management through the discussion of core issues including cross-cultural communication and negotiations, organizational culture, global leadership and multicultural teams. Meanwhile, a part of the course content will be devoted to key international HRM and organizational behavior aspects. The major theme of the last few weeks of the class will be intercultural daily-life and managerial practices in different regions and countries over the world. Primary Readings Trompenaars, Fons & Hampden-Turner, Charles (2000). Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Cultural Diversity in Business. London: Nicholas Brealey Publications. [Available in EBSCOhost ebook Academic Collection, YU Information Center Databases]. Hofstede, Geert; Hofstede, Gert Jan & Minkov, Michael (2010). Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. New York: McGraw Hill. [Available at YU Information Center Shelves: HM1211/. H65]. McFarlin, Dean & Sweeney, Paul (2011). International Management: Strategic Opportunities and Cultural Challenges. New York: Routledge. [will be provided by the instructor]. Silverthorne, Colin (2005). Organizational Psychology in Cross-Cultural Perspective. New York: NYU Press Academic. [Available in Ebrary, YU Information Center Databases]. Supplementary Readings Adekola, Abel & Sergi, Bruno S. (2007). Global Business Management: A Cross-Cultural Perspective. Hampshire: Ashgate Publishing. [Available in EBSCOhost ebook Academic Collection, YU Information Center Databases]. Gannon, J. Martin & Pillai, Rajnandini (2013). Understanding Global Cultures, Fifth Edition. UK: Sage Publications. [will be provided by the instructor]. 2

Thomas, C. David (2008). Cross-Cultural Management: Essential Concepts. Second Edition. UK: Sage Publications. [Chapters available as softcopy]. Additional Readings Besides the above, additional reading assignments might be given throughout the semester, and you will be responsible for these, as well. I can assign you articles and case studies from primary business and management journals. These materials will be available to you online or, when not available online, will be provided as hard copy or as an upload to the course web page. Some of the online resources will be accessible via University Information Center electronic databases. The website is: http://bm.yasar.edu.tr/. The specific details of the required readings, class assignments and other important announcements will all be posted on the course web page (as a part of my academic Yaşar University website) on a regular basis. The PowerPoint slides used in the class will also be uploaded there at the end of each week. Please make sure to check the course website regularly for lecture notes, slides, suggested readings and important announcements. Grading In this course you will be assessed on several course components. Final grades will be assigned based on the following distribution and weights: Case analyses papers 30 % Presentation: 20 % Final Exam: 50 % (Class discussions: 10%) (Research paper: 40%) Total: 100% Final grades for the course will be assigned according to Yaşar University s credit system as explained in University s Graduate Education and Teaching Regulation [Lisansüstü Eğitim ve Öğretim Yönetmeliği]. You can access and read the regulation from here: http://www.yasar.edu.tr/yonetmelik_yonerge Find below the corresponding coefficients for the letter grades that you receive in a master s course in Yaşar University: Grade Coefficient A 4,00 A- 3,70 B+ 3,30 B 3,00 B- 2,70 C+ 2,30 F 0,00 3

Course Requirements for Evaluation Class Participation & Discussions: As learning about culture necessitates active engagement and participation of students, you are expected to attend regularly to the classes. The experiential learning (discussions, videos, games, role plays, exercises) requires that you are present and actively involved in the learning. You are expected to complete assigned readings prior to class, prepare for analyses of cases, and to participate constructively in class discussions and exercises. (10%) Case Analysis Papers: You are expected to prepare a 2 or 3-page written analysis of five or six cases in the course. The written works will help facilitate the in-class case discussion each week. Where possible, you should collect background information on the country or company. All cases or articles assigned will be accessible from the course web page. (30%) The analysis should not be only a summary of what happened in the case, but should be an analysis according to the following: What is going on in the case? What has happened or is happening? (no more than a paragraph or two) What is the problem? Can you diagnose what needs to be addressed (i.e., what has gone wrong, what needs to be solved, or what opportunity is available? What has caused the problem or what is the basis for the opportunity? Can you analyze the factors that have contributed to the situation at hand? What can be done to fix the problem or pursue the opportunity? Can you think of what actions can be taken to help the situation? Test your ideas against the content of the case. How does the case material support your ideas? Presentation ( Personal Culture ): Students will make a 15-minute presentation on their own culture, comparing it with cultures that are different, using a metaphor they created on their own. The presenter will also be responsible for answering the questions raised and critically discussing his/her cultural assessment with other sutdents. The purpose of this presentation is for the student to develop mindfulness and self-reflection about his or her own culture, because this is a prerequisite for learning about the culture of others. (20%) The presentation should: Locate the culture on the dimensions and characteristics that we have discussed in class and discuss the implications. Include identification of the culture s key values accompanied by meaningful behavioral examples. Discuss those cultural dimensions that seem to be most taken for granted and those which seem to be contested. Identify a country where the culture appears to be most different from one s own and discuss how one might frame the contrasting culture in way that would improve the likelihood of getting along. To the last slide, include a bibliography with at least two sources regarding the culture of your home country. 4

Final Paper ( Cross-Cultural Research Proposal ): In groups of 2-3 persons, you will write an analytical paper regarding the influence of one of the cultural value dimensions on a specific managerial subject or international business issue. You should draw on available library research in the form of academic books and articles (and include proper citation and references). (40%) The paper should include: An extended literature review on the cultural aspect (whether it is a value, belief or some other cultural dimension) selected and the recent scholarly discussions around it. Describe specific examples of this aspect of culture and identify the underlying assumptions reflected in these aspect of culture. The main research question/hypothesis should be specified. It might either be a more theoretical question with respect to understanding culture and cultural differences better or a more practical problem from a managerial perspective. The cross-cultural research setting/context (and the current practices within them) from which you plan to collect data. Discuss the similarities and differences between the settings. Do not focus only on history or geography, but on cultural beliefs, values, and norms. The methods you will use to answer your research question and analyze the data. Course Policies Academic Honesty: Academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, lying, cheating, falsification and other forms) will not be tolerated in any form in this course. Such academic misconducts are serious offenses that could result in a failing grade and severe disciplinary action. Please pay utmost attention to avoid such accusations. Written Works & Deadline Policy: As a general rule, all assigned written work is to be double-spaced, with a page layout of 2,5 cm margins, and a standard Times New Roman or Arial 12 point font. Papers should display proper grammar, sentence structure and spelling. No late work will be accepted. Proper Citation: All material used in the preparation of assignments should be listed in a bibliography of works cited and websites used. You should use the format of scientific referencing for most printed material (name of author, date of publication: page number) in the body of the assignment (e.g., Adler, 2002 or Adler, 2002: 29). Full references should be put in a reference at the end of the assigned work. Classroom Behavior: You are expected to have good manners, integrity and respect in your interactions with the instructor and your classmates during the semester. Please take responsibility and do your best to contribute to the teaching and learning process and the intellectual environment of the course. Further information regarding these course policies and others will be given to you as a separate sheet. 5

Tentative Course Schedule The tentative class schedule is as follows. I reserve the right to make changes in the schedule, as appropriate, based on the specific course situation and environment. Any changes will be announced in class and posted on the course web page. Week 1 Introduction to the Course No Readings Week 2 The Concept of Culture: Meaning, Values, Identities Trompenaars & Hampden- Turner (2000), Part 1-2-3 An introduction to culture, p. 1-12. The one best way of organizing does not exist, p. 13-20 The meaning of culture, p.20-28. Hofstede et al. (2010), Part 1 The rules of the social game, p. 3-26. Adekola & Sergi (2007), Chp. 8 Culture defined, p. 163-181. Week 3 Culture and Management Thomas (2008), Chp.1 The challenging role of global manager, p. 3-26. Adekola & Sergi (2007), Chp. 9 The impact of culture on international management, p. 201-237. Jackson (2002), Chp. 1 The cross-cultural organization: The multicultural model, p. 13-34. Week 4 No Class (Official Holiday) Week 5 - Analyzing Cultural Differences: Dimensions and Classifications (1) Hofstede et al. (2010), Part 2 Studying cultural differences, p. 27-49. McFarlin & Sweeney (2011), Making distinctions across cultures, p. 117-148. Chp. 4 Thomas (2008), Chp. 3 Comparing cultures, p. 47-69. Dupuis & Dunham (2013) Intercultural analysis in management: Decompartmentalizing the classical approaches, p. 41-66. Week 6 - Analyzing Cultural Differences: Dimensions and Classifications (2) Zhang (2009), Chp. 2 The conceptualization of culture, p. 11-31 Silvethorne (2005), Chp. 3 Culture and organizations, p. 24-40. 6

McFarlin & Sweeney (2011), Chp. 5 Perception, interpretation and attitudes across cultures, p. 159-193. Week 7 - Managing Intercultural Communication Hofstede et al. (2010), Part 11 Intercultural encounters, p. 381-429. McFarlin & Sweeney (2011), Communicating effectively across cultures, p. 195-200. Chp. 6 Trompenaars & Hampden- Reconciling cultural dilemmas, p. 195-211. Turner (2000) Week 8 - Cross Cultural Negotiations Brett (2007), Chp. 2 Culture and negotiation, p. 23-52. McFarlin & Sweeney (2011), Chp. 6 Managing conflict and conducting effective negotiations, p. 221-247. Sebenius (2002) The hidden challenge of cross-border negotiations, Harward Business Review, p. 67-85. Week 9 Organizational Culture Hofstede et al. (2010), Part 10 The elephant and the stork: Organizational cultures, p. 341-377. Trompenaars & Hampden- National cultures and corporate culture, p. 157-179. Turner (2000) Silverthorne (2005), Chp. 4 Organizational and national culture, p. 41-56. Week 10 Assessing Global Leadership Competencies (1) Trompenaars & Hampden- Turner (2000) Towards international and transnational management, p. 183-194. Thomas (2008), Chp. 5 Cross-cultural dimensions of decision-making, p. 93-116. McFarlin & Sweeney (2011), Motivating and leading across cultures, p. 363-392. Chp. 11 Week 11 Assessing Global Leadership Competencies (2): Study of GLOBE Javidan et al. (2012) In the eye of the beholder: Cross-cultural lessons in 7

Ashkanasy (2002) leadership from Project Globe, p. 131-166. Leadership in the Asian Century: Lessons from GLOBE, Intnernational Journal of Organizational Behaviour, p. 150-163. Week 12 Managing Diversity & Multicultural Teams Brett, Kristin & Kern (2012) Managing multicultural teams, p. 289-298. McFarlin & Sweeney (2011), Managing groups across cultures, p. 461-494. Chp. 14 Jackson, E. Susan and Schuler, S. Randall (2012). Cultural diversity in cross-boarder alliances, p. 299-319. Week 13 Global HRM; Expatriates and International Careers Tams & Arthur (2007) Studying careers across cultures, Distinguishing international, cross-cultural, and globalization perspectives, Career Development International, p. 86-98. Adekola & Sergi (2007), Chp.10 Cross-cultural training and expatriate assignments, p. 239-259. McFarlin & Sweeney (2011), Building an effective international workforce, p. 393-423. Chp. 12 Week 14 - Intercultural Management in Different Geographies Silverthorne (2005), Chp. 8 Managerial values and skills, p. 121-151. Silverthorne (2005), Chp. 9 The impact of cultural values on problem solving and other, p. 152-170. Trompenaars & Hampden- South Africa: The rainbow nation, p. 213-221. Turner (2000) Week 15 Understanding Culture by Metaphors Gannon & Pillai (2013) The Turkish coffeehouse, p. 78-97. The Finnish sauna, p. 154-169 The Nigerian marketplace, p. 312-331. Week 16 General Discussion Week 17 Presentations & Research Proposal Submission 8