BSAD 450 Multicultural Business Relations
Course Outline, Fall Semester 2006

Instructor: Erich Baumgartner, PhD
Office: Bell Hall (School of Education) 173
Office Phone: (269) 471-2523
E-mail: baumgart@andrews.edu
Web: http://www.andrews.edu/~baumgart
Other Course Links: http://www.andrews.edu/~baumgart/links.htm
Class Location: 210 CHan Shun Hall
Class Periods : T / TH, 5:00‑ 6:15 pm
Office Hours : By appointment - Usually in office most mornings.

Course Description - Course Objectives - Textbook -
Course Requirements - Regulations - Course Schedule - Class Notes

Globalization and the increasing ethnic and cultural diversity in the workplace require managers who are sensitive to the role of culture. This course focuses on intercultural communication theories and skills which may be utilized to improve business relations in a multicultural context.

Course Objectives

1. Increase understanding of concepts of culture and communication and their interrelatedness, with emphasis on its impact on business practices.

2. Provide an intellectual framework (such as taxonomies, cultural patterns, and verbal / nonverbal codes) which allows cultural description and assists in promoting understanding between disparate cultures, particularly when working in a multicultural environment.

3. Develop skills to improve communication with individuals from other cultures with the aim of developing multicultural competence from a business perspective.

4. Develop a broader awareness of other cultures by identifying and explaining cultural issues as portrayed in popular culture (film).

5. Develop writing, research, and presentation skills.

Textbook

Fred E. Jandt. (2004). An Introduction to Intercultural Communication: Identities in a Global Community. 4th ed. Sage. ISBN: 0‑7619‑2847‑2.

Course Requirements

A. Research Paper

The research paper shall be submitted in three parts as follows:

1. Part I: Analyze and describe your own culture (this should be based on a cultural pattern study following one of the frameworks such as those proposed by Hofstede or Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck),

2. Part II: Analyze and describe another culture (using the same framework used in the first part of your research paper),

3. Part III: Identify, describe, and analyze the significant cultural patterns which would influence communication between your culture and the other chosen culture. Suggest strategies to overcome potential cultural barriers and to enhance communication.

Notes:

• The total paper should be 10‑15 pages of text (not including title page, outline, end notes, or works cited) divided equally among the three parts.
• In order to have both some breadth and depth to your research, your "works cited" must include at minimum two current books, two current journal articles, and two web-site references.
• Parts I and II are to be submitted as a "work in progress" in electronic format (preferably as an e-mail attachment using either as MS Word or WordPerfect) sent to tidwell@andrews.edu. Parts I and II will be read and commented on by the instructor and returned to you before the final paper is due. The final submission must include all three parts. If you are not able to submit your paper electronically, please make suitable arrangements with the instructor beforehand.
• The research paper must follow standard APA style and format. See links above for a web‑based guide to APA format or use a standard reference such as Robert Perrin, (2004), Pocket Guide to APA Style, Houghton Mifflin.

B. Culture Study Presentation:

Present the key traits of a culture other than your own. You will choose the other culture by pairing up with another person in the class who has a culture different from your own. Each of you will serve as a "live" resource to the other person. Thus, not only will you attempt to understand the other person's culture, you will also need to have a fuller understanding of your own culture to be able to assist the other person. In addition, you should use the taxonomies (such as Hofstede and Hall) studied in class as well as other resource material (see other course links above) to develop your presentation. Each of you will do separate but back‑to‑back presentations of 10‑12 minutes each. You may use clothing, food, dialogue, music, video or picture clips, and PowerPoint to assist you in presenting the key traits of the other person's culture to the rest of the class.

As part of your presentation, also prepare and distribute to the rest of the class a one‑page handout (two sides) that highlights the cultural traits you are presenting. This may either be in a "newsletter" or a brochure form. It should also provide pertinent business information that would help you if you were in a business relationship with someone from that culture.

C. Group Film Presentation

Form a group (5‑6, depending on class size) and choose one of the feature length videos available from the instructor. Prepare a presentation (15-18 minutes) on the multicultural issues and implications found in the video. This should be a power‑point / video presentation and include several short video clips (maximum of 1‑2 minutes each).

D. Quizzes and Exams: There will be occasional quizzes on material presented in class, a Midterm and a Final.

Regulations

A. Grading: Grades will be based on a percentage of points possible as follows:

Grading Scale

A = 95 - 100%
A- = 90 - 94%
B+ = 85 - 89%
B = 80 - 84%
B- = 75 - 79%
C+ = 70 - 74%
C = 65 - 79%
C- = 60 - 64%
D = 50 - 59%
F = below 50%

Any borderline grades will be affected by attendance, promptness, enthusiasm, and participation.

B. Late Work. Late work will not be accepted except for stringently reviewed contingencies such as long term illness.

C. Plagiarism / Academic Dishonesty. All work submitted must be a student's own. Research format is expected to follow standard documentation such as APA. University policies on academic honesty as explained in the section, "Academic Integrity" in 2006‑2007 Andrews University Bulletin, will apply.

D. Attendance. Andrews University policy requires regular class attendance. Absences in excess of 20% may result in a failing grade. See "Class Attendance" and "Class Absences" in 2006‑2007 Andrews University Bulletin.

E. Optional Extra Credit Assignment. A student may choose to complete one of the following optional assignments for a maximum of 10% extra credit.

• Experiencing Culture: Attend three different intercultural events and write a brief report of each. This assignment needs to be pre‑approved by the teacher and includes the filling out of an approval form.
• Cultural Views: Choose one aspect of culture (religion, personal space, time, status of women, individual, etc) and find three separate cultural views of this characteristic. Present your findings in a 10‑15 minute presentation to the class.
• Case Study: Prepare a case study analysis on an intercultural business issue (A suitable case study will be provided by the teacher).

Course Schedule

 Note: Read assigned chapters prior to class. There will be heavier textbook readings for weeks 2, 3, 4, and 9. Written assignments are due by noon Friday of the school week scheduled.

Week 1: August 28, 30

Topics: Course introduction; Globalization and the need for a multicultural view; Defining culture

Video: Cross‑Cultural Understanding

Read Jandt, Chapter 1

Week 2: September 5, 7

Topics: Multicultural metaphors ; Approaches to developing multicultural competence

Video: Managing the Overseas Assignment

Read Jandt, Chapter 12, 18

Week 3: September 12, 14

Topics: Cultural systems; Beliefs, values & norms

Read Jandt, Chapter 8, 13, 14, 15

Week 4: September 19, 21

Topics: Beliefs, values, and norms, continued; American Cultural Traits

Read Jandt, Chapter 9, 16, 17

Week 5: September 26, 28

Taxonomies (Kluckholm and Strodbeck, Hall)

Read Jandt, Chapter 10

Week 6: October 3, 5

Topics: Taxonomies (Hofstede)

Week 7: October 12

October 10: no class: fall recess

Topics: Taxonomies continued (Hofstede)

Week 8: October 17, 19

Topics: Defining communication

Video: Doing Business in Singapore (or Mexico)

Read Jandt, Chapter 2, 3

Midterm Exam

Week 9: October 24, 26

Topics: Verbal and non‑verbal communication

Read Jandt, Chapter 4, 5, 6, 7

Video: The Colonel Comes to Japan

Week 10: October 31, November 2

Video: Moscow on the Hudson

Research Paper: Part 1 due

(by Friday noon, November 3)

 Week 11: November 7, 9

Topics: Multicultural business issues: etiquette, ethics, negotiations, etc

Read Jandt, Chapter 11, 12

Paired Cultural Study Presentations as scheduled

Week 12: November 14, 16

Paired Cultural Study Presentations as scheduled

Research Paper: Part 2 due

(by Friday noon, November 17)

Week 13: November 21

November 22-26: Thanksgiving Break

Video: possibly Gung Ho

Week 14: November 28, 30

Topics: Crosscultural transitions; Relocation issues

Re‑read Jandt, Chapter 13

Paired Cultural Study Presentations as scheduled

Week 15: December 5, 7

Paired Cultural Study Presentations as scheduled

Group Film Presentations as scheduled

Final compiled Research Paper due

(by Friday noon, December 8)

Week 16: December 10-15

Final Exam, Sunday, December 10, 5:15 ‑ 7:15 pm