Business in its Linguistic and Cultural Environment

BEN401

Code	BEN401
School	EBSL
Description	This module will examine the relationship between culture and economic activity in a number of societies. Literature on the subject focuses mainly on the influence of culture on the means for achieving economic development. Culture itself is capable of quite dramatic adaptation to changing economic circumstance. To lead companies through the process of regional and global integration, managers need the 'traditional' skills and attributes of managing change, vision, adaptability in new situations, achieving targets and openmindedness. In addition, managers will need skills which are related to cross-cultural ability and experience, such as international strategic awareness, ability to motivate cross-border teams, and sensitivity to different cultures. Language reflects underlying values and motivations which inform business practice. Attention and sensitivity to the use of language will facilitate communication and be helpful in relating to other people's linguistic and conceptual frame of reference.This module will bring together, and build on the existing knowledge and experience of, students from a variety of different language study pathways. It will focus mainly on countries in Asia and/or Europe and study the respective business cultures in a mainly comparative approach.
Module Level	4
Module Code	BEN401
Available Summer	N
Semester	1
Credits	15
ECTS Credits	6.5
Contact Hours	33
Course Aims	The module aims to: develop critical understanding of the frameworks for comparing cultures in international business and management; examine the relationship between national and corporate culture and the impact that the former has on the latter; focus on the impact of culture on the process of achieving understanding in order to manage social rapport and build relationships; demonstrate how attitudes and social values are created through and reflected in discourse; further enhance the student's intercultural skills and personal attitudes which are essential for leading and managing people in different cultural and linguistic contexts; develop critical awareness of current economic, political and socio-cultural issues relating to the macro-environment of the countries under investigation; consolidate the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out research about various socio-cultural phenomena.
Learning Outcomes	KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING develop a command of foreign cultures and of differing values to support the international business dimension identify ethical and social values and how they are reflected in the use of language analyse and interpret discourse within multi-cultural contexts COGNITIVE AND INTELLECTUAL SKILLS analyse and assemble complex data within the framework of relevant and up-to-date theory, concepts and techniques for the delivery of papers, presentations and report TRANSFERABLE SKILLS manage independently the learning activities in the programme to access and utilise data from a range of refereed and researched sources to meet personal and group objectives and timings use communication skills (oral and written) to sustain constructive debate and support effective evaluation and conclusions/ recommendations deriving from complex data in the research process demonstrate interpersonal skills by effective listening and sensitivity to others’ positions and views and in the context of multicultural group relational issues integrate comfortably into differing linguistic contexts and cultural values justify and defend the methodology, validity and reliability of research, analysis and evaluation of course activities and produce original output that adds to, rather than merely repeating, the sum of knowledge in the field PRACTICAL SKILLS conduct self-directed external research activities with individuals and organisations utilising appropriate communication skills and research techniques as part of the fieldwork activities
Reading Recommended	Crystal, D. (1997). English as a global language. Cambridge University Press. De Wit, B. and Meyer, R. (2004). Strategy. Process, Content, Context: Chapter 10: ‘The International Context’, pp. 535-587. Ferraro. G.P. (1994) ‘The cultural dimension of international business’. Prentice Hall. Gwynne, R. & Kay, C. (eds) (2004) Latin America Transformed: Globalization and Modernity, London: Arnold. Hodgetts, R. M., Luthans, F. and Doh, J. P. (6th ed. 2006) International Management. Culture, Strategy, and Behavior. McGraw-Hill, pp. 92-121. Mead, R. (2005) International Management. Cross-Cultural Dimensions Cambridge: Blackwell, pp. 27-54. Prevost, G & Oliva Campos, C.(eds.) (2002), Neoliberalism & Neopanamericanism, New York: Palgrave Macmillan Schneider, S.C. and Barsoux, J-L. (2003) Managing Across Cultures. London: Prentice Hall, pp. 20-50. Spencer-Oatey, H (2000). Culturally Speaking. Managing Rapport Through Talk Across Cultures. Continuum. Tannen, T. (1994) Women & Men at Work. Talking from 9 to 5. Virago Press.
Asseseement Methods	Continuous assessment through group presentations and individual essays.