INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS
BUS 642
Facilitator: Harry J. Bury, Ph.D.FAX: 826-3868
Office: Office Heritage 2E-MAIL:
Phone: 826-2395 OfficeWebsite:
891-9517 Home
Texts:Culture and Organizations by Geert Hofstede
Doing Business Internationally, The Guide to Cross-Cultural Success,
Brake, T., Walker, D. and Walker, T.
Managing Cultures, Making Strategic Relationships Work, Hall, W.
This course defines both culture and communication, indicates some important relations between the two and explores relevant systems of belief, values, thought and assumptions in order to increase analytical and systemic approaches to organizational challenges and opportunities. Topics include both the theoretical and practical, from the structure of contrasting world views and value systems to the detail of business etiquette.
A major objective in this course is to enable both the participants and the facilitator to go beyond the typical stereotypes and study in depth how people from various countries in the world are shaped or programmed (socialized) not only by their national culture, but also by other factors such as: family, religion, neighborhood, education, profession, corporate culture, social class, gender, race, generation, cultural heroes and people from other countries. Not only will participants achieve a better understanding of how people from other countries view themselves, but the process will empower participants to examine and critique their own values, beliefs and behaviors toward changing themselves in order to become more effective interculturally.
Learning methodology will include classroom lectures and discussion, varied media presentations, small group assignments, role-plays, simulations and brief oral and written presentations by course participants. As indicated above, a major objective of this course is to change one's own behavior. The assumption is, if a person has not changed his/her behavior, the person has not learned.
Participants will be asked to form learning teams with emphasis on gender balance with team members being from different nations.Team members are expected to meet regularly outside the classroom, both to prepare course work and to socialize.
Each person is expected to develop their own personal profile and be prepared to present the profile to class participants. Each team is responsible for presenting a country profile. In choosing a specific country, indicate how the chosen country differs from other nations in its area or continent. For example, if the team chose South Korea, in describing the country's profile demonstrate how South Koreans differ from the Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, North Koreans, etc. However, the main emphasis needs to be on South Korea in this situation. Only mention the others when they are significantly different from the chosen country.
Each team is also responsible for a Team Field Project. The focus is Action Research through surveys, observations, etc. whereby a team learns about the behaviors of people of a particular country culture. For example, one could test the data found in a country profile on the hypotheses found in either of our three assigned texts or other texts. Please discuss your chosen field project with the facilitator before beginning. Make an appointment for this discussion.The expectation is that the team works on the project throughout the term and not simply during the last few weeks. Hence, decide on the project no later than the third week of the term.
Grading:
Mid-Term Performance Appraisal 20%
Team Field Project 20%
Country Profile 10%
Personal Profile 10%
Short Essays (8 pearls averaged) 40%
Anyone missing a class will lose two points from the overall grade unless the individual views a prescribed video and writes a paper describing the learning (change of behavior) the individual received from the experience. Do not simply describe what the video was about but rather what you think about its message and how you are now different because of having seen the video. (Titles of videos:Culture by Culture; The Cultural Environment of International Business; International Business Practices: Hidden Dimensions; International Business Etiquette Vol. 1: Communications Across Cultures; Global One: Cross-Cultural Understanding; Global One: International Communicating; Managing Globally: Managing Across Cultures.)For those who never miss even one class, each will receive an additional two points added to their overall grade. If papers are submitted late, two points will be deducted from the overall score.
A+ = 99 - 100% B+ = 86 - 89% C+ = 76 - 79%
A = 94 - 98% B = 83 - 85% C = 73 - 75%
A- = 93 - 90% B- = 80 - 82% C - = 70 - 72%
An A grade is understood as going beyond standard; doing more than the facilitator requires or expects. A B grade indicates one has performed to standard, to what the facilitator expected of you.
Schedule
Sep 14Introduction.
Choose Learning Teams. Learning Style Inventory and Pinch Theory. Pearl Explanation. For next week read Chapter One in all texts.
Sep 21Discuss Chapter One in all texts.
Personality Exercise. Relate to Hall text. Also,Perception Theory.
For next week read Chapter Two in all texts. First Pearl is duetoday.
Sep 28Discuss Chapter Two in all texts.
For next week be prepared to identify and presentyour personal profile. (See Page 45 in Brake Text). Note how personal profilesdiffers from country profiles. For next week read Chapter 3 in all texts. Second Pearl is due today.
Oct 5Discuss Chapter Three in all texts.
For next week read Chapter Four in all texts.
Pearl 3 is due today. For next week personal profile paper and presentation due.
Oct 12Discuss Chapter Four in all texts. Present Personal Profiles.
For next week read Chapter Five in all texts.
Pearl 4 is due today.
Oct 19 Discuss Chapter Five in all texts. For next week read Chapter 6 in all texts.
Pearl 5 is due today.
Oct 26 Discuss Chapter 6 in all texts. Pearl 6 is due today. For next meeting prepare
for Mid-Term Performance Appraisal. No Pearl due next class.
Nov 2 Midterm Performance Appraisal. Cover all six chapters in all texts plus Notes,
Handouts and Class Activities. For next meeting be prepared to present Team
Country Profiles. Also read Chapter Seven in all texts.
Nov 9 Discuss Chapter Seven in all texts. Team Country Profiles presented.
Pearl 7 is due today. For next meeting read Chapter Eight and Nine in all texts.
Nov 16 Discuss Chapters Eight and Nine in all texts. Pearl 8 is due today.
Finish Team Country Profiles if necessary. For next meeting read Chapter Ten
in all Texts.
Nov 23 Discuss Chapter Ten. No Pearl due. Present Field Projects.
Nov 30 No Pearl due. Present Field Projects, last meeting.
HOW TO WRITE A PEARL:
Suppose you are reading along in your assignment for the week and something you read gives you a little bump. You think some idea is extraordinarily well-put; or you are really struck by some example; you can think instantly of a dozen corroborating examples; you are reminded of a vivid incident in your past; just one word invades your imagination; or again, you disagree sharply with a proposition; you can test some assertion easily against a dozen countervailing examples. Whatever.
Note this place in your text.Quote the sentence or two at the top of your paper and give the page number. Do not forget to begin your paper in this manner.
Now, reflect on why this particular passage checked the flow of your reading or your thought. Spin your reasons around the single fact or word or thought that set you off in the first place and compose one page presenting both your thought and your conclusion.This conclusion will be stated in the form of a proposition, an informed query, or a naturally drawn conclusion. Read aloud in class, it will provoke comment and discussion.
Like a pearl, your essay will begin from a small, well-defined starting point around which will accrete a volume of, in this case, exact detail. Like a pearl also, your essay will be beautiful and interesting. These are general requirements.
Successful pearls will be:
-- not more than one page.
-- typed, double-spaced.
-- specific.
-- filled with concrete detail.
-- free of the words: should, must, ought to, and their variants.
-- free of generalities, clichés, pieties, abstractions.
-- beautiful (that is, well shaped, well paced, with a fit proportion of general to specific
statements, with a pleasing individuality of diction and expression).
-- perfect (that is, no errors in spelling, grammar, syntax, punctuation.
-- interesting.
Successful pearls are rarely, if ever, a first draft. Please write it three or four times and
read it to friends to obtain their feedback before you read the pearl in class.
In reading your pearl in class, please read it slowly and with a strong voice.
Also, supply a copy of your pearl to each of your colleagues so they can follow along and reflect afterwards on what you have written.