Official Course Syllabi

MGNT 326
CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT

Catalog Entry

MGNT 326. Cultural Diversity and International Management.
Three hour lecture(3).

This course explores intercultural issues related to work organization and management. The course will attempt to build intercultural understanding, sensitivity, and skills. The emphasis is on intercultural awareness, effective work performance, and a global perspective of business and careers, especially as pertaining to international human resource management. The course also explores the international strategic planning process, including environmental scanning, internal resource analysis and goal formulation.

Detailed Description of Content of Course

Outline of major topics

Cultural diversity to include dimensions of cultural differences, similarities, and differences among and between various cultures.
Doing business in a foreign country to include key environmental factors and implications.
Self-awareness building, looking at issues of enthrocentrism, parochialism, and "worldminded-ness."
Exercises to build intercultural tolerance.
Introduction to selected countries of special global importance (e.g. Japan, Germany).
Introduction to customs from a variety of countries.
Explanation of international human resource management practices.
Explanation of common methods for managing and reducing environmental risks.
Development of the basic steps of strategic planning, including environmental scanning, internal resume analysis, and goal formulation.
Examine major types of organizational structure used in handling international operations.

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

Both a lecture-type and experiential-type course, Crosscultural Management will include student presentations, research projects, outside reading assignments, guest lecturers and videotape presentations.

Goals and Objectives of the Course

to explore motivation and illustrate how its various explanations might help to motivate employees in the international area
to compare and contrast leadership styles in the United States with those of selected other countries and cultures
to identify basic sources that organizations can tap in filling management vacancies in domestic and overseas operations
to explore common selection criteria used in identifying the most appropriate individuals for overseas assignments
to identify the training/educational processes used in international management (recognizing that people from different cultures often have different learning styles)
to explore various approaches used in managing international labor relations
to compare and contrast cross-cultural communication strategies and styles
to explore the terms "business customs" and "culture" and discuss some of the comparative ways of differentiating cultures (e.g. Hofstede)
to describe the concept of cultural values and relate various international differences, similarities, and changes occurring in terms of both work and managerial values
to identify the major dimensions of culture relevant to work settings, and discuss their effect on human behavior in an international environment (e.g. Hofstede)
to explore the "nitty-gritty" of how to do business in various countries based on culture orientation, business practices, and protocol (e.g. Morrison, Conaway and Borden)
To explore common methods for managing and reducing environmental risks.
To develop basic steps of strategic planning, including environmental scanning, internal resume analysis, and goal formulation.
To examine major types of organizational structure used in handling international operations.

Assessment Measures

Assessment of the student's success in the course will be based on the grade for a research paper, classroom participation, regular self-diagnosis, and instructor-coaching/evaluation.

Other Course Information

A variety of experiential exercises may be utilized as a learning enhancer.

Review and Approval

DATE ACTION APPROVED BY
September 20, 2001 Review Dr. Melvin R. Mattson, Chair Department Curriculum Committee