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Unit outline_

MIBS6002: Global Management and Culture

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal evening] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The effective management of employees from diverse backgrounds poses a significant challenge for many international organisations, as well as for domestic firms which inevitably face the dilemma of workforce diversification. However, as organisations move from domestic to global business arenas, meeting this cross-cultural challenge is also one of the key levers for achieving competitive advantage. For managers working in such contexts, the ability to carefully observe and analyse cross-cultural situations is fundamental to individual and organizational success. The underlying driver in achieving this success is the understanding of one's cultural assumptions and how these impact interactions with others, decision-making processes and even perception of the world around us. This unit addresses these issues.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit International Business
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
MIBS6001
Prohibitions
? 
IBUS6001 or IBUS6002
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Echo Liao, yuan.liao@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Open book) Type C final exam Final exam
Short answer questions
40% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO6
Assignment Individual assignment
Case analysis
15% Week 07
Due date: 13 Oct 2020 at 09:00
1200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO6
Assignment group assignment Group project
Group video case (20%) and individual reflection (5%)
25% Week 09
Due date: 27 Oct 2020 at 09:00
12 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Presentation group assignment Group research
Presentation
10% Weekly 10 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Participation Participation
Participation
10% Weekly Weekly
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO6 LO4 LO3
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type C final exam = Type C final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Individual assignment: This is a case analysis comprising reading materials and essay questions. You will be required to analyse the pertinent issues and apply cultural frameworks to the situations. Students will have approximately a week to complete the exam.
  • Group project: The group project consists in producing a video-case that contains two parts: a 7-minute segment describing a (real) manager and a cross-cultural management problem he or she had to confront, and a 5-minute segment in which you interview the manager about the issue. The content of the video should be related to the topics discussed in the course, and describe what happened in real life. In addtion, each student will write an individual reflection on their experience working in their multicultural team.
  • Group research: A small group presentation on country profiles.
  • Participation: Participation in class discussion.
  • Final exam: The final exam will consist of questions requiring short essay-type answers that demonstrate relevant knowledge and understanding about the topics covered in the course and communicate this effectively. The exam will include all material covered in the course including lectures, class discussions and cases/activities/exercises used in class.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction Seminar (3 hr) LO1
Week 02 Cultural frameworks Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Diversity and complexities Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 04 Global leadership Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 05 Decision-making Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO6
Week 06 Motivation Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 07 Cross-cultural communication Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 08 Cross-cultural negotiation Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Multicultural teams Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 10 International human resources management Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 11 Multicultural employees Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 12 Review and concluding insights Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recording: All lectures and seminars are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas.

  • Steers, RM; Osland, JS. (2020) Management Across Cultures: Challenges, Strategies, and Skills. Fourth Edition. Cambridge University Press.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand and apply insights from major theories, concepts and models in the area of cross-cultural management, team management, and global leadership
  • LO2. critically assess cross-cultural management theories, models and techniques, and their application in practice
  • LO3. analyse and resolve dilemmas and challenges in the area of cross-cultural management including managing global assignments, managing global teams, leading global organisations, negotiating global partnerships, managing ethical conflicts and managing work and motivation
  • LO4. communicate more mindfully in cross-cultural encounters
  • LO5. work effectively in cross-cultural, diverse teams
  • LO6. reflect upon cultural relativity of decision making processes in different contexts and more mindfully take your own decisions.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Major changes to assessment types and weights have been approved by Unit of Study Proposal. - Added two group work to introduce more students interactions and engage students with experiential learning in the online environment. - Based on the feedback on the Unit of Study Proposal, the 25% group project has been changed to 20% of group work and 5% individual reflection of working in a multicultural group.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.