Students

MGMT7054 – Managing Cultural Diversity

2021 – Session 1, Special circumstances

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Meena Chavan
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
The unit is co-badged with MGMT8054
Unit description Unit description

To succeed in a globalised business environment, it is imperative for managers to develop a global mindset as a leader and understand contemporary approaches to leading and managing in culturally diverse environments. Cultural Intelligence and cross-cultural communication are key inclusive leadership traits that enable managers to effectively implement and accomplish strategies and tactics in international assignments, and to engage and manage global teams. Core objectives of this unit are to enhance cultural intelligence and cross- cultural communication competence to impart an understanding of how cultural diversity affects managerial behaviour and processes. The unit prepares students to be global minded leaders with cultural intelligence, which is valued as a highly appreciated skill set by future employers. The unit utilises a range of assessments such as simulations, experiential exercises, forums, reflective tasks, case studies, presentations and group activities in order to synthesise students' understanding of cross-cultural theories and their ability to apply their learning in global business settings.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Evaluate and analyse the diversity of cultures and its implications as they relate to business management and examine the intricacy of operating via group interactions in the global market.
  • ULO2: Research and appraise the multicultural ‘big picture’ in which global trade and government forces operate and justify the major culture-based challenges (political, social, legal, economic and technological) faced by international managers.
  • ULO3: Identify and describe major cultural characteristics including communication styles that characterise regions, nations, communities, organisations, group and individuals.
  • ULO4: Use research skills to advance knowledge and apply professional and reflective practice to individual and group learning and communication.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Policy:

Late assessment submissions must be submitted through the appropriate submission link in iLearn. No extensions will be granted unless an application for Special Consideration is made and approved. There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late. Late submissions will not be accepted after solutions have been discussed and/or made available.

Note: applications for Special Consideration Policy must be made within 5 (five) business days of the due date and time.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online Forums: Case Study Forum and Reflective Experiential Exercise Forum 40% No Weekly
Case Study Analysis 20% No Weekly
Research Report 40% No Week 10

Online Forums: Case Study Forum and Reflective Experiential Exercise Forum

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 40%

 

This assessment is a participatory task worth 40% in total. Participation will be in online forums throughout the unit on various case studies, experiential exercises, and reflective tasks.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate and analyse the diversity of cultures and its implications as they relate to business management and examine the intricacy of operating via group interactions in the global market.
  • Identify and describe major cultural characteristics including communication styles that characterise regions, nations, communities, organisations, group and individuals.
  • Use research skills to advance knowledge and apply professional and reflective practice to individual and group learning and communication.

Case Study Analysis

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 20%

 

This assessment is worth 20% in total (10% allocated to group performance and 10% allocated to individual performance). It is a 1250 word group case analysis.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate and analyse the diversity of cultures and its implications as they relate to business management and examine the intricacy of operating via group interactions in the global market.
  • Research and appraise the multicultural ‘big picture’ in which global trade and government forces operate and justify the major culture-based challenges (political, social, legal, economic and technological) faced by international managers.

Research Report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 40%

 

This assessment is a research report worth 40% in total with a max length of 4000 words.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Research and appraise the multicultural ‘big picture’ in which global trade and government forces operate and justify the major culture-based challenges (political, social, legal, economic and technological) faced by international managers.
  • Identify and describe major cultural characteristics including communication styles that characterise regions, nations, communities, organisations, group and individuals.
  • Use research skills to advance knowledge and apply professional and reflective practice to individual and group learning and communication.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Required text

 ‘International Management: Managing Across Borders and Cultures – Text and Cases’, Ninth Edition (International Edition) by Helen Deresky, Pearson Education.

This contains all the required chapter readings and case studies in addition to material posted on iLearn.

A copy of the required text is also available in the Macquarie Library and obtainable from Macquarie University Coop Bookshop (macq_byr@coopbookshop.com.au)

KickStart

This unit includes a KickStart package, designed to help you get a head start with your studies. Being well prepared can be the key to success, so be sure to take advantage of KickStart and make it work for you.

What is it?

KickStart is a package of resources and activities in iLearn that is specific to studying this unit. Your package may include welcome videos from the Unit Convenor, quizzes (not counting toward your final grade), insights from industry experts and tips from previous students on how to succeed in the unit.

When is it available?

Two weeks before the start of the session, log into iLearn and access the KickStart package.

Please note that the activities in the KickStart package do not count towards the final grade of the unit.

Unit web page

The web page for this unit can be found at: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/

Technology Used and Required

Students are required to have access to a personal computer and familiarise themselves with iLearn (https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/).

iLearn will be used to post lecture slides, assessment details, student grades and as a means of communication between staff members and students.

Delivery Format and Other Details

Number and length of classes: Each class is 3 hours long, including lecture and seminar activities i.e. 3 hours face to face per week unless indicated otherwise in the lecture schedule. Classes may vary due to public holiday(s).

Workshops will commence in Week 1.

The timetable for classes can be found on the University web site at: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/

Recommended readings

Recommended readings are provided via Leganto on the iLearn Unit page

Inherent Requirements

None

Unit Schedule

Week

Lecture: Topic and Reading

1

Assessing the environment: Political, Economic, Legal, Technological

 Chapter 1

2

Managing Interdependence: Social Responsibility, Ethics, Sustainability

Chapter 2

Understanding the Role of Culture

Chapter 3

4

Communicating Across Cultures

Chapter 4

5

Cross-cultural Negotiation and Decision Making

Chapter 5

6

Formulating Strategy 

Chapter 6

7

Implementing Strategy 

Chapter 7

8

Organisation Structure and Control systems

Chapter 8

9

Staffing, Training, and Compensation for Global Operations

Chapter 9  

10

Developing a Global Management Cadre

Chapter 10

11

Motivating & Leading

Chapter 11 

12

International Trends in the Workplace

see iLearn

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
21/01/2021 Co-badged status

Unit information based on version 2021.03 of the Handbook