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HA E31 - International Management*

Faculty
Frank Brandt
Course Coordinator
Frank Brandt
Prerequisite/progression of the course
It is advantageous, but not a prerequisite, to have some background social science knowledge (sociology, economics, anthropology, organization theory).
Course content, structure and teaching
The course is designed to equip students to analyze and understand the inter – cultural contexts, situations, dilemmas and opportunities that arise from the increasing internationalization of business. Focus is placed upon the possibilities (tools and analytic capabilities) available in a variety of managerial roles with the intention of giving students a solid foundation to take up a variety of more specialized managerial positions.
The course has three pillars: The first pillar comprises of theories that give us the ability to analyses culture and the link between culture and institutions and business and management practices. The second pillar comprises of looking of topics such as mergers and acquisitions, relations between units of multi national corporations, the psycho/social aspects of being an international manager leading and working in multi - national teams and ethics in international/multi-cultural contexts. The third pillar comprises of applying the theories that are applicable to each of the topics in the analysis and discussion of concrete cases.
The course will have lectures and class discussions sessions. In the lectures theoretical approaches are presented bases primarily on the readings from the course textbook and the “theory compendium”. The lectures are intended to be open dialogues and student participation in each week’s topic is encouraged.
The structured class discussion take their point of departure in the case material for that week’s meeting and the here the students are expected to offer their interpretations, critiques and solutions to the issues and questions arising from the case.
The course's development of personal competences
By the end of the course the student should be capable of understanding the roles that culture plays in business activities, as well as coming to a personal position of how the challenges of cultural differences can or should be met.
Learning Objectives
1. Possess a sophisticated and analytical understanding of the origins of cultural differences via familiarity with various competing and complementary theories.
2. Understand the difference between cultural and institutional approaches to differences encountered in international business and management.
3. Understand the ways in which such differences can impact management, organization and business.
4. Can develop an array of theoretically and empirically founded strategies for dealing with a positively utilizing these differences.
Type of examination, exam aids and assessment
4 Hour written open book Exam
Recommended literature
Schneider & Barsoux: Managing Across Cultures 2nd edition, Prentice Hall 2003.“Theory compendium” – a collection of theoretical articles.

Last updated by Electives secretariat 20/08/2010