Unit information: Cross-Cultural Management in 2028/29

Unit name	Cross-Cultural Management
Unit code	MGRC30011
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Lambert
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	None
School/department	School of Management - Business School
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Unit Information

Why is this unit important?

In many of today’s global industries, operating across borders is an expected aspect of management. Bringing with it many different opportunities and challenges, this reality requires understanding issues relating to regulatory differences between different national contexts and understanding cultural differences and cross-cultural management principles and practices. Examining ways in which globalisation and international business activities affect management and management practices across cultures, in this unit, students will explore and apply issues concerning management across cultures.

Through an innovative collaborative online international learning (COIL) experience involving an overseas partner institution(s), learning will occur amongst an internationally diverse cohort of students through face-to-face and online, individual and collaborative group activities. This learning environment will provide an opportunity to critically reflect on cross-cultural interactions and practices in an international classroom setting.

How does this unit fit into your programme of study?

By examining ways in which globalisation and international business activities affect management and management practices across cultures, this unit builds on key themes and issues introduced in the programme and requires students to explore and apply these in considering their implications for cross-cultural management.

Your learning on this unit

An overview of content

This unit introduces students to important principles, concepts, and framework for examining ways in which globalisation and international business activities affect management and management practices across cultures, which students explore and apply through case studies and application-based exercises in an innovative COIL environment.

How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit

On successful completion of this unit, students will be different through provision of the following unit aims:

• a critical understanding of different aspects of cross-cultural management.
• introduction to essential concepts and theoretical lenses on management across cultures.
• opportunities to analyse and apply the considerations needed for successful management across cultures.

In addition, students are provided an opportunity to develop important transferable skills for their professional life, including

• Group work: Improving collaborative working skills by working within a group in analyzing case studies, undertaking application-based exercises, and preparing a group presentation assignment. This unit will foster cultural understanding, communication, active listening skills, and an appreciation of the (learning) gains from sharing different viewpoints by participating in discussions with cross-institutional group members from different cultural contexts.
• Autonomy: Through class preparatory work and structured learning activities, develop capability as an independent and self-directed learner. Case studies and application-based exercises will also support the development of autonomous (and collaborative) learning.
• Evaluation: Improve evaluation and interpretation skills by working on case studies and application-based exercises.
• Employability: Introduce students to key concepts, principles, and practices for future management careers across different cultural contexts.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the cultural context of management across cultures.
2. Demonstrate a critical appreciation of key debates and different perspectives in cross-cultural management.
3. Demonstrate an ability to apply and evaluate concepts and theoretical lenses in examining conflicts, challenges, and opportunities in management across cultures and to provide valid conclusions and recommendations.
4. Demonstrate an appreciation of the skills necessary to work collaboratively in a cross-cultural environment

How you will learn

How you will learn

The COIL component is delivered through synchronous (live) online workshops with students from our partner institution(s), which are ‘bookended’ by in-person teaching sessions for University of Bristol students.

The unit takes a blended learning approach, including structured learning activities and lecture-style overviews outlining the aims and focus of each session and introducing fundamental principles and concepts. Interactive in-class group application-based exercises/ case-study analyses and discussions are at the heart of the unit’s approach to learning. Student-led personal study and active participation are integral to achieving the unit’s learning outcomes. Outside of taught sessions, students are expected to spend time on private study, undertaking guided reading and class preparation activities.

The assessment for this unit reflects these expectations for active participation and student-led learning, seeking to (a) facilitate exchange and discussion, encouraging the development of a collaborative approach to understanding and applying cross-cultural management concepts and practices, (b) cultivate deeper student-led learning and discovery, and (c) encourage the development of individual and collective accountability in group work and other transferrable skills.

How you will be assessed

Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):

Formative feedback will be presented through the application-based exercises and case study analyses and discussions operated on the unit, providing individual and collective opportunities for feedback, reflection, and further discussion and support.

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

There are two pieces of assessment for this unit:

1. 10-minute group video presentation task based on analysis of a case study (40% of your mark for this unit; Learning Outcomes 3 & 4).
2. 2,500-word individual essay assignment (60% of your mark for this unit; Learning Outcomes 1 & 2).

Groups for the presentation task will be cross-institutional, with each group drawing members from both the University of Bristol and the partner institution(s).

When assessment does not go to plan

If the exam board determines that a student is eligible for reassessment, separate reassessments are available:

• a 1,000-word individual case study analysis to replace the group video presentation task (40%; Learning Outcomes 3 & 4).
• A retake of the 2,500 individual essay assignment (60%; Learning Outcomes 1 & 2).

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MGRC30011).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.

The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.