Intercultural Business Skills (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Content scheduling

First Part September -Mid October:
Managing Intercultural Dimensions across boundaries

Second Part Mid October- Mid November:
Insights and Development of Global Mindset in Global Waters

Third Part Mid November- December:
Search for New Model of International Management and Leadership

Objective

The object of the course:
You increase your understanding about cross-cultural concepts and the impacts of the intercultural business skills in the international business environment.

Course competences:

Internationalization and multiculturalism: Students Is familiar with the impacts of their cultural background on their activities and is able to develop operating methods that take multiculturalism into account in their work community.

Resilience and Integrity: student is able to take responsibility for their own actions and their consequences and reflects on them in accordance with the ethical principles and values of their field.

Operating in a workplace: student is able to work constructively in a work community and promotes their own and their work community’s well-being.

The learning objectives of the course:
You can understand, make a critical assessment and analyze information available from academic and professional business sources in intercultural business field. You can apply disciplinary and interdisciplinary competence to various intercultural business challenges and situations. You communicate responsibly, effectively and professionally in English in oral and written formats. In addition, you understand the meaning of integrity in multicultural settings and demonstrate professional teamwork skills.

Content

The course has the following themes: the impact of culture on international business, cultural dimensions and frameworks (G.Hofstede, F.Trompenaars, R, D, Lewis), intercultural management styles and negotiations (K.Fatechi, J.Choi), (case studies of intercultural business challenges and solutions), development of global mindset ( M.Javidan) and Emotional intelligence (EQ), cultural adaptation and integration strategies, ethical considerations in intercultural business.

For each theme the analytical tool/s for implementation of the model and concepts will be offered.

Materials

Luthas, F., Doh, J., 2022. International Management: Culture, Strategy and Behavior. 11th edition.

Teaching methods

In class teaching, group assignments, case studies and workshops, independent study

Exam schedules

December, agreed in the classroom with the enrolled students
Exam Retake option in January 2026

Completion alternatives

None

Student workload

Lectures 24h , Assignments 61 h , Independent study 50 h :Total 135 h

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Sufficient 1
You are familiar with the ways to analyze and evaluate academic and business information relevant to intercultural business. You know how to analyze business challenges in intercultural context and can propose required management actions in intercultural business in guided situation. You know the meaning of ethics. You can also transmit your ideas and findings in English and participate in multicultural teamwork to a limited extent.

Satisfactory 2
You can do basic analyzes and evaluate academic and business information relevant to intercultural business. You can to a limited extent analyze business challenges and viable management actions in intercultural business situations. You understand the meaning of ethics in multicultural settings. You are able to get your main message through when presenting your ideas and findings and have basic teamwork skills in multicultural teamwork.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good 3
You can analyze and evaluate business academic and business information relevant to intercultural business. You are able to analyze business challenges and propose solutions for intercultural business management. You are able to work around ethical business issues and able to present your and your team’s ideas and findings in English and participate in multicultural teamwork.

Very Good 4
You have the ability to analyze and evaluate intercultural business information from various sources. You can analyze complicated business challenges and propose practical solutions for intercultural business. You are able to discuss about challenging ethical cases in the business environment and able to present your and your team’s ideas and findings in English on a level clearly above average of your peers and participate productively in multicultural teamwork.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent 5
You have ability to analyze, evaluate and combine academic and business information from various sources related to intercultural business. You can analyze complicated business challenges and propose innovative intercultural business solutions. You are able to manage challenging ethical business situations and able to present your and your team’s ideas in a convincing manner in English and participate in and manage multicultural teams.

Further information

Items of assessment: Team work and individual assignments