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Department of Business

BUS854: Managing Cultural Diversity in Business

Lecturer in charge

Dr Elizabeth Christopher

Availability

D1 - Day; Offered in the first half-year
D2 - Day; Offered in the second half-year
X2 - External study; Offered in the second half-year

Unit Outline

Websites

Handbook entry

Coursework unit website - Online learning @ MQ (Login required)

Also refer to the MCom + MIB Student Guide

Description

This unit is presented through two media:

  • A weekly classroom lecture combined with discussions, presentations and small group work;
  • Online support with lecture notes, writing guidelines, readings, case studies, etc

The unit aims to:

  • Increase students' knowledge of human aspects of management in multinational and global operations; and how to develop skills of motivation and leadership.
  • Develop awareness of the interactions of cultures within organisations and nations as well as between nations; and skills to increase and improve the quality of such interaction .
  • Apply the concept of culture to explain and predict differences in behaviour;
  • Assess the impact that cultural factors exert on organisation and management styles and values; and identify factors for the success of employees' international assignment;
  • Strengthen the idea of diversity as an asset, not only as a challenge, for international strategies and alliances, communication and management;
  • Evaluate the extent and manner in which students' own behaviour is shaped by cultural background, experience and assumptions;
  • Apply and evaluate theoretical frameworks for strategic planning and control in culturally diverse settings;
  • Enhance generic skills (communication skills, critical thinking, independent work, teamwork, writing skills and problem solving) developed from students' previous studies.

Topics

There are ten key topics, illustrated with readings and case studies:

An overview of the global business environment; corporate social responsibility and ethics; the role of culture in international management; cross cultural communication; negotiations and decisions; expansion strategies; international alliances; structures and controls; workforce diversity; motivation and leadership.