2023/24 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

LAW5222M Intercultural Business and Organisational Communication

15 creditsClass Size: 100

Module manager: Ramzi Merabet
Email: R.Merabet@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module is an optional 15-credit module available to all Law taught postgraduate students. This module will be of interest to all postgraduate students, but will be particularly relevant to students with international backgrounds who wish to deepen their understanding of intercultural communication in business and organisational contexts and develop the skills to communicate effectively in cross-cultural business environments.

Objectives

This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to explore the meaning of culture and communication in business and organisational contexts, and, in particular, to consider aspects of successful intercultural communication. Students will be expected to speak, read and write critically about key issues in intercultural business communication, and show awareness of the cultural features and conventions which affect communication in workplaces and in a range of business and organisational contexts. There will be the opportunity to theoretically and practically explore areas where cultural knowledge and assumptions will impact on effective business communication, and notions of intercultural communicative competence.

Learning outcomes
By the end of this module, a successful student should be able to:

1. Critically analyse concepts of culture and intercultural communication in business and organisational contexts.

2. Examine how the relationship between language and intercultural communication behaviours affects successful communication outcomes.

3. Research and elucidate situations in which aspects of cultural diversity may impact business communication and interaction in global contexts.

4. Apply relevant theories of intercultural communication and intercultural communicative competence to authentic business and organisational contexts and scenarios.

Skills outcomes
This module will raise your awareness of how intercultural awareness can benefit communication in workplace and organisational contexts. It will also support your own communicative competence.

Syllabus

Introduction to module and assessments, expectations.

Defining communication and its role in the workplace and organisational contexts, definitions of culture and approaches to the study of culture, evaluation of issues in relation to ‘culture’.

How cultures vary, the impact on work and theoretical perspectives on cultural difference.

Using and critiquing cultural difference theories.

Cultural difference theories and impact on communication practices, conversational constraints and conflict resolution.

Factors affecting communication and barriers to intercultural communication; politeness, face, orientation.

Making intercultural communication more effective – inclusive language, ethical issues, and intercultural behaviours.

Developing intercultural understanding and effective intercultural self-presentation Intercultural communication processes and managing anxiety, uncertainty and conflict in intercultural encounters.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	8	1.00	8.00
Seminar	5	1.50	7.50
Private study hours			134.50
Total Contact hours			15.50
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

A formative assessment opportunity will be provided.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,500 word Reflective Essay	60.00
Group Project	10-15 minute group video presentation	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Students must attempt both components of assessment and attain an overall grade of 50% or more to pass the module. Should a student fail one of the components (i.e., attain a grade of 49% or less for it) then they will not be required to re-sit it provided that they have attained a grade of 50% or more when their weighted scores in both components are added together.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 27/09/2023

Disclaimer

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