The objective of this course is to enhance the ability of class members to interact effectively with people from cultures other than their own, specifically in the context of international business. The course is aimed at significantly improving the ability of practicing managers to be effective global managers. The course is concerned with considering the issues and problems of managing in cross-cultural situations, in particular at the people problems that invariably arise in international business relationships. Failure on the part of managers to understand and deal with the difference in attitudes, values and behaviour of those with whom they interact in business transactions consistently has been shown to be a major source of difficulties. The course will involve marrying theories and concepts from the broad fields of culture and international business and applying them to problems typically confronted by managers involved in international business. The course will draw on the existing knowledge and expertise of the class participants to solve problems relevant to them and their organisations.

 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. discuss the main theories in cross-cultural management, analyse existing research around the theoretical constructs and argue the validity of the extant literature
2. distinguish the relevant contextual issues in cross-cultural management in relation to international business and the multi-cultural Australian workforce
3. identify problems in cross-cultural management, relate the problems to the literature and suggest solutions
4. communicate effectively in oral and written forms about cross cultural management using appropriate concepts, logic and rhetorical conventions.

Research-Led Teaching

The course is designed to provide students the opportunity to learn and critique extant research in cross-cultural management. Students are expected to show a strong commitment to teamwork and to be open to interesting and challenging cultural discussions based on the case and research article. All assessments require students to have an understanding of extant research in the field. 

Field Trips

Not relevant.

Additional Course Costs

There are no additional costs expected for this course.

Examination Material or equipment

Final exam will be held during examination period. Detailed instructions will be provided during the course.

Required Resources

Link for online resources available on Canvas

Recommended Resources

1) Richard M. Steers and Joyce S. Osland. Management across Cultures: Challenges, Strategies and Skills, 5th Ed., Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2023

2) F. Luthans, and J.P. Doh. International Management: Culture, Strategy, and Behavior, 11th Ed., McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2021

These books are also available in the library for short term loan.

A copy of the textbook both in hard copy and an e-book format will be held in the ANU library reserve & short loan collection.

Book links will be available on Canvas

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Seminar 1 - Introduction and the Importance of cross-cultural management	Chapters 1 & 2 of Textbook 1- Please refer to the Canvas for additional weekly reading
2	Seminar 2 - Models of cross-cultural management	Chapter 4 of Textbook 2 - Please refer to the Canvas for additional weekly readingDue: Assessment Task 1 - In-class group discussion
3	Seminar 3 - Cross-cultural abilities & skills	Chapter 3 & 7 of the Textbook 1 - Please refer to the Canvas for additional weekly readingDue: Assessment Task 1 - In-class group discussionW3 Group Presentation
4	Seminar 4 - Cross-cultural teams in organisations	Chapter 10 of the Textbook 1 - Please refer to the Canvas for additional weekly readingDue: Assessment Task 1 - In-class group discussionW4 Group Presentation
5	Seminar 5 - Intercultural communication in organisations	Chapter 7 of the Textbook 2 - Please refer to the Canvas for additional weekly readingDue: Assessment Task 1 - In-class group discussionW5 Group Presentation
6	Seminar 6 - Negotiation and conflict in cross-cultural management	Chapter 9 of the Textbook 1 & Chapter 7 of the Textbook 2 - Please refer to the Canvas for additional weekly readingDue: Assessment Task 1 - In-class group discussionW6 Group Presentation
7	Seminar 7 - Diversity in the workforce & Acculturation	Chapter 11 of Textbook 1 & Chapter 6 of Textbook 2 - Please refer to the Canvas for additional weekly readingDue: Assessment Task 1 - In-class group discussionW7 Group Presentation
8	Seminar 8 - Global careers - Expatiation and repatriation	Chapter 14 of Textbook 2 - Please refer to the Canvas for additional weekly readingDue: Assessment Task 1 - In-class group discussionW8 Group Presentation
9	Seminar 9 - Leading in a multi-cultural organisation	Chapter 6 of Textbook 1 - Please refer to the Canvas for additional weekly readingDue: Assessment Task 1 - In-class group discussionW9 Group Presentation
10	Seminar 10 - Employee/Employer relationships and cross-cultural management	Chapter 12 of Textbook 2 - Please refer to the Canvas for additional weekly readingDue: Assessment Task 1 - In-class group discussionW10 Group Presentation
11	Seminar 11 - Case Study	Details of the case study will be made available on Canvas. This will serve as a practice exam to support preparation for the final examination.
12	Seminar 12 - Cross-cultural training: Effectiveness and myths & Review	Chapter 12 of Textbook 2 - Please refer to the Canvas for additional weekly readingDue: Assessment Task 1 - In-class group discussionW12 Group Presentation
13	End of Semester Examination Period	Due: Assessment Task 3 - Final Exam

Tutorial Registration

There is no tutorial associated with this course

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
In-class group discussion (Individual - 20%)	20 %	*	1,2,3,4
Group Presentation (Group - 30%)	30 %	*	1,2,3,4
Final Exam (Individual - 50%)	50 %	09/12/2026	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Class Format & Participation

Each week, students will be provided with a 1-1.5-hour pre-recorded lecture video. Students are expected to watch the lecture video prior to attending the in-person class.

The weekly in-person class will run for approximately 1.5 - 2 hours and will include a range of discussion-based activities. Group presentations will also be conducted during class time from Week 2 to Week 12.

Students are expected to attend all classes and attempt all assessments, in line with 'Code of Practice for Teaching and Learning", clause 2 paragraph (b).

Examination(s)

The end-of-semester examination will be held during the ANU advertised examination period, centrally invigilated, and students are expected to be available for the scheduled examination. More information on the examination structure will be made available on Canvas at least 2 weeks before the examination period. Additional examination details will be made available at https://exams.anu.edu.au/timetable

Assessment Task 1

In-class group discussion (Individual - 20%)

In-class discussions based on the case study and research article will take place from Week 2 to Week 12, excluding Week 11. These discussions are designed to support learning through the exchange of ideas, critical reflection, and application of course concepts. Students are encouraged to contribute thoughtfully by asking questions, sharing insights from readings, relating concepts to real-world examples, and engaging constructively with their peers' perspectives. Students will be recognised for meaningful participation that enriches class discussions and demonstrates engagement with the course material. Brief written submissions will be used to document participation. Feedback will be provided during class sessions.

Return of assessment date: Marks will be returned in the following week.

The discussion in each week is worth 2 marks (2% of the course total grade).

Marking criteria (Total score: 2)

1. Knowledge and Skills Application (1)

Application of models/theory

(The sureness of your grasp of the conceptual frameworks/theories that have a bearing on the discussion and your ability to apply them to the discussion). 

2. Critical Thinking and Reflection (1)

- Clarity/consistency of your arguments (Are your arguments well supported and coherent?)

- Reflecting on the learning experience

Rubric

2	1	0
Clear and concise discussions. Responses should demonstrate clarity of thought and flow in the application of theory and concepts.	Responses to some parts, but with good application to the theory	Poorly structured response with little or no application of concepts/theory and information from case

Assessment Task 2

Group Presentation (Group - 30%)

In self-selected groups of four students, all group members are required to present on the scheduled date. Each group will present one of 9 topics (from w3 to s12). Presentation topics will be made available on Canvas. Each presentation will last approximately 20 minutes in total, with each member expected to present for an equal share of the time (approximately 5 minutes each).

While minor deviations are acceptable, presentations that run more than 5 minutes over time will be stopped. No single student may occupy a disproportionate amount of the presentation time. Following the presentation, there will be a short Q&A session to allow for further discussion and clarification. During the Q&A, questions may be directed to individual group members to verify their understanding of the work. Students are encouraged to incorporate relevant examples to demonstrate their ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, resulting in a more engaging and insightful presentation. Presentations will be video recorded to enable later validation and verification of the assessment if required. Students who do not participate in the presentation will receive no mark.

Mark Allocation: A contribution statement form will be provided on Canvas and must be completed and submitted with the presentation materials. Individual marks may be adjusted based on the contribution statement and evidence of participation. Students who do not make a meaningful contribution to the group task may receive a reduced mark or no mark for the assessment.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI use is rapidly growing across all sectors, particularly the use of Large Language Models, many of which are proprietary brands. In this course, students may choose to use or not use AI tools. In any case where AI tools are used, the student must do so in a way consistent with the ANU Academic Integrity principles for use of GenAI, as well as accurately cite and reference what tools were used, and advise in an appendix how they used the tool. Guidance on how to do this appropriately is provided in the assessment requirements on the course Canvas page, and the ANU provides further broad guidance in the ANU Gen AI LibGuide.

Individual assessment or Group task: Group Assessment

Submission Requirements: Presentation slides (PowerPoint) must be emailed to the lecturer by 11:59 pm on the Wednesday of the presentation week.

Return of assessment date: Marks will be returned in the following week.

Marking Criteria: Marking criteria will be provided on Canvas two weeks before Week 1 of the semester.

Assessment Task 3

Final Exam (Individual - 50%)

Students are expected to read and study all assigned readings. The test will comprise multiple-choice questions (MCQs), short answer questions, and essay questions. The test content will pull from assigned readings, lecture notes, and class discussions. In the exam, you will be asked to go beyond factual knowledge by integrating what you have learned into a bigger picture of cross-cultural differences and by applying your knowledge and experience to practical cross-cultural management problems. No qualitative feedback will be provided for this assessment.

Exam Preparation: To assist with exam preparation, a revision case study will be undertaken in Week 11. The case study is designed to help students consolidate their understanding of key concepts and practise applying course theories and frameworks in a practice exam setting.

Specific details of the exam date will be available closer to the commencement of the examination period at https://exams.anu.edu.au/timetable

Exam Date: The exam will be scheduled during the final exam period

Exam Venue: To be advised by the Examinations Office

Exam Type: in-person invigilated exam

Duration: The exam will last 2 hours + 15 mins reading time

Permitted Materials: One A4 single-sided sheet of student-prepared notes is permitted. No other materials are allowed (closed-book examination)

Return date of assessment: With the release of the final results.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For certain types of assessments (e.g., handwritten assignments, artworks, laboratory notes), hard copy submission may be required where approved by the Associate Dean (Education). All hard copy submissions must include a completed Assignment Cover Sheet. Students are advised to retain a copy of their work for their records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Refer to the details for each assessment item. Policy regarding late submission (where applicable) is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an approved extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Requests for Assessment Adjustment (Assessment Extension and Extenuating Circumstances Application) should be submitted via ANUHub.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Please see relevant assessment task details above

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Unless specified otherwise in the assignment requirements, resubmissions are permitted up until the due date and time, but not allowed afterwards.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students