Dr Hyun-Jung Lee NAB4.12

This course is available on the MBA Exchange, MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Columbia), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Hertie), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and NUS), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Sciences Po), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Tokyo), MPA in International Development, MPA in Public Policy and Management, MPA in Public and Economic Policy, MPA in Public and Social Policy, MPA in Social Impact, MRes/PhD in Management (Employment Relations and Human Resources), MSc in Human Resources and Organisations (Human Resource Management/CIPD), MSc in Human Resources and Organisations (International Employment Relations and Human Resource Management), MSc in Human Resources and Organisations (Organisational Behaviour), MSc in Management (1 Year Programme), MSc in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Master of Public Administration. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Some background in psychology and organisational behaviour, and/or international business is useful, but not required.

The ability to communicate cross-culturally and to understand the diverse perspectives of people from different cultures is a necessity in order to achieve a competitive advantage in the global economy. The aims of the course are to understand the impact of culture on management; to identify the areas in which cultural differences pose challenges as well as opportunities in managing people across cultures; and, to become more self-aware of our cultural conditioning, individual biases and assumptions.

Topics include i) understanding my own and others’ cultural conditioning, ii) analytical frameworks of cross-cultural comparisons, iii) multicultural teams, iv) managing global organisations, v) ethical dilemmas and global responsibility of multinational corporations, vi) cross-cultural communication and negotiation, vii) global leadership and cultural intelligence, viii) international assignments and global careers.

15 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the LT. 3 hours of seminars in the ST.

Experiential learning is emphasised and team working is an integral part of the course. The teaching is highly participative. Students will be asked to make presentations and participate in exercises. The course is demanding of students and success depends partly upon student commitment and willingness to participate fully. Students on this course will have a reading week in Week 6, in line with departmental policy

Students will be expected to produce 1 essay in the LT.

The following reading list contains some easily accessible introductory discussions. Most of the course reading is taken from journals. A full reading list will be issued at the start of the course.

B. Gerhke and M-T. Claes (eds.)(2014), Global leadership practices: A cross cultural management perspective, Palgrave Macmillan 

R. Steers et al.(2013), Management across cultures, Cambridge University Press; R Nisbett (2003), The geography of thought, Nicholas Brealey Publishing

Essay (50%), project (40%) and class participation (10%).

The essay is completed individually, and the project is completed as part of a group.