Karlstad University

STUDY GUIDE
BUSINESS CULTURES, 7.5 CREDITS
Spring 2011

Objectives
Welcome to Business cultures: locally and globally. This course covers the basic theories of cultural
differences and their impact on the world of business locally and globally. You will study the various
aspects of organizational culture/ corporate culture as well as develop abilities to apply theory to
actual situations.

About the class

It is difficult to learn various aspects in business cultures by merely studying the course literature.
Your input and personal experience is essential in order to fully understand potential of group and
individual related issues. To be able to share your personal experiences and cultural knowledge with
others also helps you grow in your own awareness.

Examination
The grading is based on your written assignment, your participation in class and in group discussions.
You are expected to refer to the course literature in your final written assignment; you may not copy
the texts from the course literature or the articles. Your exam consists of an individual paper that will
be handed out during our last meeting in May.

Grades
You will be graded according to the scale of:

 Pass with distinction (VG)

 Pass (G)
 Fail (U)

You are expected to refer to the course literature in your final paper. Naturally, you may not copy the
texts from the course literature or the articles. It is important that you show that you have read and
understood the course material and that you have gained some awareness from our class
discussions.

Literature:
Schmidt, Conaway, Easton. & Wardrope. (2007). Communicating Globally: Intercultural
communication and International Business. Thousand Oaks, CA; Sage Publications.

Compendium: Business Cultures, 7.5 hp.

Recommended reading:
th
Gesteland, Richard. (2005).Cross-Cultural Business Behavior. (4 Ed). Copenhagen: Copenhagen
Business School Liber

Contact information:
Teacher Course secretary
Annika Malmsten Marie Björk
annika.malmsten@kau.se marie.bjork@kau.se
Room: 12B551 Room: 12B556
Tel: 054- 700 13 91 Tel: 054-700 22 61

1
 Karlstad University

Course Outline

th
Week 14 Wednesday, 6 April Time: 13:15-16:00 Room: 1B306

Content: # 1 What is organisational culture?

Readings for this week:

Communicating globally; Chapter 1: The concept of international business and a global marketplace
Chapter 2: The concept of intercultural communication and the cosmopolitan leader

Week 15 Study week (no classes)

Readings for this week:

Communicating globally; Chapter 3: The concept of cultural synergy and the global organization
Chapter 4: Cultural contact and Interfacing with others

th
Week 16 Monday, 18 April Time: 13:15-16:00 Room: 1B364

Content: # 2 Various Value Dimensions in Business Culture

Readings for this week:

Communicating globally: Chapter 5: The nature of language and nonverbal communication

Compendium:
Nancy Adler: How Cultural Differences Affect Organizations
Stella Ting-Toomey: Classical Value Orientations
Fons Tromepnaars & Peter Woolliams: Recognizing Cultural Differences
Linda Beamer & Iris Varner:The Role of the Interpreter

th
Week 17 Tuesday, 26 April Time: 13:15-15:00 Room: 1B309

Content: # 3 Case study: IKEA in Saudi Arabia

Guest lecturer: Kotaiba Abdul Aal

Readings for this week:

Communicating globally; Chapter 13: Doing business in Africa and the Middle East

th
Wednesday, 27 April Time: 13:15-16:00 Room: 1B309

Content: # 4 Leadership

Readings for this week:

Communicating globally; Chapter 7: Cosmopolitan leadership, teams and the global workforce
Chapter 8: Disturbing the equilibrium and creating planned change

Compendium:
Linda Beamer & Iris Varner: Decision Making
Charlene Solomon & Michael Schell: Unique Challenges Women Face

2
 Karlstad University

th
Week 18 Thursday, 5 May Time: 13:15-15:00 Room: 11C369

Content: # 5 Conflict management

Guest lecturer: Tomas Jansson

Readings for this week:

Communicating globally; Chapter 6: Intercultural communication and conflict management

Compendium:
Robbins, Stephen. Chapter 13 Conflict and Negotiations, pages 218-231

th
Week 19 Wednesday, 11 May Time: 13:15-16:00 Room: 12B150

Content: # 6 Multicultural teams

Readings for this week:

Compendium:
Schneider, Susan & Barsoux, Jean-Louis: The “multicultural” team
Graeme Burton & Richard Dimbleby: What affects perception?

th
Week 20 Wednesday, 18 May Time: 13:15-16:00 Room: 1B306

Content # 7 Commercials through a cultural perspective

Guest lecturer: Andreas Jacobsson

Readings for this week:

Compendium:
Ingrid Pillar: Advertising as a site of language contact
John Sinclair & Rowan Wilken: Strategic regionalization in marketing campaigns: Beyond the
standardization/glocalization debate

th
Week 21 Wednesday, 25 May Time: 13:15-16:00 Room: 1B309

Content: # 8 Developing cultural competence

Readings for this week:

Compendium:
Myron Lustig & Jolene Koester: Competence and Intercultural Communication

Your take home exam will be handed out

Week 22 Deadline for your take home exam:

nd
Thursday, 2 June Time: 22:00

Send your paper to: businesscultures@kau.se