An individual poster preparation and presentation exercise which will be aimed at evaluating both learning outcomes.

- Cultural theory

Defining culture
Evolution of cultural theory
National & corporate culture
Measuring cultural `gaps'
Charactering the complexity of culture and the difficulty in defining it.
Characterising the evolution of cultural theory and drawing a distinction between both national & corporate culture.

- Influence of culture on communication

Factors affected by cultural gaps
Communicating across cultural boundaries
Resulting patterns of international business
Charactering the challenge of communicating across cultural boundaries. Identifying the business risks associated with cultural gaps.

- Cultural dynamics

How culture is evolving
Near term - impact of globalisation
Longer term - population change & wider social change plus urbanisation
Characterising how culture is changing with increasing globalisation. Identifying what other factors impact culture and what the implications might be.

1. CRITICALLY ALALYSE THE EVOLVING THEORY OF CULTURE AND CONCEPT OF CULTURAL DISTANCE. DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF CULTURAL DISTANCE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNICATION ACROSS NATIONAL BOUNDARIES IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
(Analysis, Knowledge & Understanding, Learning)

2. CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF GLOBALISATION ON CULTURE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS IN FUTURE PATTERNS OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
(Learning)

The learning strategy for the module requires students to commit a total of 150 learning hours (including assessment). There will be 36 hours of class support (24 lecture hours and 12 tutorial hours) and 114 hours of independent and self directed study.

Learning support material will be provided for independent /self directed learning.

There will be participation in peer group discussion activities and directed reading of relevant texts and case studies where students will undertake their own (contemporary) research of relevant & related module topics.

A single summative individual assessment will involve research of and preparation of a poster and presentation on a directed subject, question or topic.

Module handbooks
Blackboard resource
Selected contemporary issues
Selected case studies
Directed texts

FOR INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS ONLY

Brooks I, Weatherston J & Wilkinson G. The International Business Environment - Challenges & Changes 2nd Edition (2010). Prentice Hall
Dicken P. Global Shift - Managing the Contours of the World Economy 6th Edition (2009). SAGE Publications Ltd
Mead R., & Andrews T. G., (2009) International Management: Culture & Beyond, 4th Edition, Wiley, England
Peng M & Meyer K. International Business (2011). CENGAGE Learning

Rugman A & Collinson S. International Business 5th Edition (2009). Prentice Hall