Module and Programme Catalogue

Search site

Find information on

2015/16 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS5259M Cross Cultural Management

15 creditsClass Size: 110

Module manager: Christos Antoniou
Email: C.Antoniou@lubs.leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2015/16

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

Successful students on LUBS5259M are characterised by:

- Cultural self-awareness - an ability to learn from oneself, in the context of others.
- Cross-cultural awareness - appreciation and understanding of different cultures, and of the problems and insights that arise when different cultures meet in the international business context.
- Cross-cultural organisational awareness - an understanding of how different cultures encourage or discourage certain managerial and organisational forms, and the implications of this for international business practitioners.
- Cross-cultural ethical awareness - an understanding of relative and absolute ethical judgements, and cultural issues relating to this (this will be explored particularly through gender issues in international business, and through the comparative study of corruption in business).
- An ability to understand the cultural underpinnings of the different varieties of capitalism.

Syllabus

Firstly, we examine the influential work of Geert Hofstede, and the five 'dimensions of culture' associated with his work. We examine the managerial and organisational implications of these. Hofstede's work is then briefly related to work by other authors in the field, including Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner, Hall and d'Iribarne.

We next look at corporate, organisational and institutional structures. We begin by looking at the contrast between family firms and professionally managed firms, and at the separation of ownership and control. The importance of family firms in some cultures is related to Hofstede's dimensions, in particular power distance and individualism/collectivism. We then look at corporate ownership structures more generally, in the context of different forms of capitalism. This is followed by a discussion of 'corruption' in international business, and at the cultural and institutional context of this. The Transaction Cost paradigm of corporate activity will be discussed in the light of these issues.

The above issues are then illustrated by looking at various cross-country comparisons, where the cultural and the institutional issues raised above can be illustrated through empirical instances. Major economic events are also examined in the same light: we will look at the 'Asian Miracle' and the 'Asian Crisis'; at the position of the U.K. in relation to the European Union; and at the emergence of India and China. We then look briefly at cultural and institutional influences upon 'different capitalisms', and at the comparative performance and robustness of these different systems.

Lastly, we will look at the ways in which domestic and multinational companies have responded to the issues already raised.

The student body on this programme is nationally and culturally diverse. One important element of the module is encouraging the sharing of ideas and experiences from this diversity.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lecture112.0022.00
Seminar61.006.00
Tutorial31.003.00
Private study hours119.00
Total Contact hours31.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)150.00

Private study

- Case study preparation 50 hours,
- background reading 30 hours,
- individual research
- and assignment preparation 50 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Through class discussion each week in group activities, case study discussions and discussion of readings.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
AssignmentIndividual "Who are you, where are you going?"30.00
AssignmentIndividual "Acculturation" Diary20.00
PresentationGroup - in seminar30.00
Oral PresentationGroup audio video report on "Come dine with me"20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 19/04/2016

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD

© Copyright Leeds 2019