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Cross-Cultural Management and Global Leadership

Module description

Global leadership and cross-cultural management have become essential skills for leaders who operate in diverse and multicultural environments. Navigating the complexities of different cultures, leadership and communication styles, and business practices requires a unique set of competencies. This module combines these two important themes – ‘global leadership’ and ‘cross-cultural management’- which are woven together throughout the module to enable the development of the intercultural competencies and global management skills needed by both managers and leaders. The first theme draws on research on national cultural differences to provide a useful base for those finding themselves working in international or multicultural settings, and also for those managing in those settings. You will develop cross-cultural awareness and a global outlook by exploring similarities and differences across cultures. You will build cultural agility competencies with the support of an online learning tool to assess your cultural values and to prepare for international assignments. The second theme involves taking a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural approach to leadership in a global context to develop key global skills such as cultural intelligence, intercultural communication, flexible leadership styles and managing multicultural teams. The module is designed to enhance your acquisition of global knowledge and competencies as a global leader, manager, or HR professional.

Module aims - intentions of the module

• To consider and critically evaluate the latest theories, research, and practices in global leadership and cross-cultural management, drawing on alternative perspectives on national cultural differences, cross-cultural and international management and multicultural teams;
• To assess the moderating role of culture on the relationship between leadership and other relevant variables, by drawing on some of the major research findings on cultural practices and leadership characteristics, as well as on the experiences of global managers and organisations;
• To explore the implications for various organisational and people management challenges, such as managing multicultural teams; dealing with culture shock; communication and developing intercultural competence;
• To develop and apply cultural intelligence and intercultural communication in global organisations to foster global team building and cooperation as well as inclusive leadership.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Articulate the importance of culture and formulate some of the implications of cultural differences for managing people in organisations and in relation to expectations around management, communication, working in teams, developing intercultural competence
• 2. Critically explore the meaning of leadership in a global environment and evaluate the benefits and challenges of cultural differences in leadership
• 3. Apply theoretical frameworks in analysing real-world cross-cultural scenarios and demonstrate a deep understanding of key concepts shaping cross-cultural management and leadership
• 4. Enhance the skill of effective communication across diverse cultural contexts and acquire knowledge to understand and apply inclusive leadership models for promoting diversity and inclusivity

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Assess how cultural practices intersect with global working and leadership challenges and how leadership styles need to adapt
• 6. Explain global traditions and practices in a variety of organisational settings and use international examples to consider the impact of diverse global traditions and practices on management and leadership

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Apply advanced intercultural communication skills applicable in a professional setting
• 8. Embrace opportunities to work in diverse teams, respect and be mindful of cultural differences and values and build up cultural intelligence

Syllabus plan

• Introduction to Culture and Cross-cultural Management
• Approaches to culture (emic, etic and contextual approaches)
• Working and living globally; Culture Shock and Cultural Adaptation
• Communication across Cultures and Intercultural Competencies/cultural intelligence
• Developing Cultural agility competencies; assess your cultural values and cultural agility, and prepare for global work by learning how to build trust, communicate and collaborate
• Leadership and managing multicultural global teams
• Change management skills in a global environment /Global leadership in a state of change
• Managing knowledge transfer globally
• Responsible and Ethical Global Leadership and Citizenship
• Global Leadership skills development.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

A full reading pack is supplied to students for this module (on ELE). Selected readings include:

Basic reading:

• Steeers, R., Osland, J. and Szkudlarek, B. (2023). Management across cultures: challenges, strategies and skills (5th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
• French, R. (2016). Cross-Cultural Management in Work Organisations (3rd ed.). CIPD.
• Browaeys, M.J. and Price, R. (2019). Understanding Cross-Cultural Management (4th ed.). Pearson.
• Spencer-Oatey, H., & Franklin, P. (2009). Intercultural Interaction: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Intercultural Communication. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Guirdham, M. (2017). Communicating Across Cultures at Work (3rd ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.
• Hall, E. (1989) Beyond Culture. Doubleday.
• Hall, E.T. (1990). Understanding Cultural Differences: Germans, French and Americans, Intercultural Press.
• Hofstede, G. (2005). Culture’s Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values (2nd ed). Sage.
• Illes, K. (2015). Leadership, Trust and Communication, Research Report with Mathews, M. Institute of Internal Communication Conference, 27th February 2015, Leicester, http://www.top-b.com/trustinleadership
• Laurent, A. (1983). The Cultural Diversity of Western Concepts of Management. International Studies of Management and Organization, 13 (1-2), 75-96.
• Maude, B. (2011) Managing Cross-Cultural Communication Principles and Practices. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Mead, R. and Andrews T.G. (2009). International Management Culture and Beyond (4th ed.). John Wiley Publishers.
• Melkman, A. and Trotman J. (2018). Training International Managers: Designing, Deploying and Delivering Effective Training for Multicultural Groups. Gower Publishing Ltd.
• Trompenaars, F. and Hampden-Turner, C. (2012). Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Cultural Diversity in Business (3rd ed.). Nicholas Brealey Publishing.

Periodicals

• The International Journal of Cross-Cultural Management
• International Journal of Human Resource Management
• Harvard Business Review
• Organisation
• Organisation Studies
• Theory, Culture and Society
• Management Today
• Human Relations
• Academy of Management Journal

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

You will have access to an online searchable and resources database, with links to several eBooks and eResources (eJournals) available through the Exeter Learning Environment (ELE). Within this environment, you will also be supported through online discussion forums and activities. Furthermore, lectures and seminars will include formative tasks.

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

As provided and recommended during classes and via ELE.

Key words search

Cross-cultural Management, Global Leadership, International Management, IHRM