Course Syllabus
Course Number: 80512932
Course Name (CH): 跨文化管理
Course Name (EN): Cross-Cultural Management
Credits: 2
Prerequisites: None
Teaching Language: □CH
□CH+EN (EN ≥50%) ■EN
Courseware Language: □CH ■EN
Teaching Method: ■ lecture
■ discussion ■ case study ■ literature reading □
computer-aided assignment
■students’ in-class presentation
Assessment Method: □in-class quiz ■oral presentation ■group discussion ■case
analysis (report) □final report/thesis ■final exam □practice project (report)
□others
Semester: ■spring □autumn □summer
Course Category: ■core course □elective course
Target Students: □Undergraduate ■Master □PhD □MBA □EMBA □TIEMBA
Instructor:
Office:
E-mail:
Office Phone:
Office Hour:
TA:
Class time:
Classroom:
CHEN, Hao, Ph. D. (陈昊)
539, Weilun Building (伟伦楼 539)
chenhao@sem.tsinghua.edu.cn
(010) 62797335
Tuesday, 9:30am-11:30am
TBA
TBA
TBA
Course Description:
While business organizations strive for profitability and sustainability in the global
market, they face pressure from the external environment (e.g., social, economic, political,
legal, technological, and natural environments) and their competitors across the globe. As an
important and powerful entity of our society, business organizations need to understand the
relevance of cultural issues and consider the impact of globalization in their daily operations.
In this course we examine the business environment in all its complexity and discover
some of the tools managers use to better understand and deal with institutional conditions to
make effective management decisions in different national and transnational contexts. We
explore the developing field of cross-cultural management, identifying the relevance of
cultural issues to organizational and management processes and practices in different cultural
contexts. We adopt a multi-disciplinary perspective in this course drawing on sociology,
social psychology, organizational behavior, human resource management and strategic
management theories.
The main concepts and themes are introduced through lectures, communication
exercises, case discussions, videos, and in-class presentations. For group work, group
members will be graded based on preparation and participation as a group by the instructor.
Learning Objectives
Upon the successful completion of this course, you will:
1. Be knowledgeable of theories in cross-cultural management;
2. Understand the strengths and weaknesses of applying major theories;
3. Increase awareness of how business responds to challenges and the difficulties faced in
cross cultural contexts;
4. Discuss critically the impact of values and cultures on business both globally and
domestically;
5. Apply managerial/analytical tools to resolve problems in global business;
6. Be able to proactively analyze and manage issues in global business;
7. Apply theories in cross-cultural management and recommend solutions/strategies to
business organizations.
Textbooks & References:
Textbooks*
Peng, M.W.(2010). Global Business. Renmin University Press. ISBN: 978-7-300-11221-3.
(English Version)
Peng, M.W. (2011). Global Business (全球商务). Renmin University Press. ISBN:
9787300128191. (Chinese Version)
(You can choose either one of the above versions.)
Recommended Books
Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. J., Minkov, M. (2010) Cultures and Organizations: Software of the
Mind. 3rd Edition, McGraw-Hill USA. ISBN: 0071664181.
Mor Barak, M. E. (2013) Managing Diversity: Toward a Globally Inclusive Workplace.
SAGE Publications Inc.; 3rd Edition. ISBN: 1452242232.
Grading:.
Course Requirements
1. CLASS PARTICIPATION: 30% of the grade for this course comes from effective
participation in class. This includes active in class discussion and written outlines (an
overview) of the assigned readings. There will be a total of 5 outlines (5%, no longer than
500 words each). Missing any one of the outlines or directly copying from the original texts
will lead to a zero point grade for your participation. No late work will be accepted.
2. GROUP ASSIGNMENTS: You will be assigned to a group no larger than 5 members in
the first class. Get to know your group members throughout the semester.
Case Analysis One case will be assigned to each group every two weeks (4 cases in total).
Prepare a case analysis (double-spaced, 12font, softcopy or hardcopy, no more than 10 pages)
as a group for each case. Use theories, concepts and/or methods from class materials to
analyze the case. Each case is due a week after being assigned. No late work will be
accepted.
Case Presentation Every two weeks, 1-2 groups will be selected to present their case
analysis. Each group will present at least for one case. Prepare for a 15-minute group
presentation. The oral presentation may be inclusive of a short video clip, a class exercise, a
role-play, etc.
3. EXAM: Final exam will include (1) class materials and (2) textbook (e.g., true/false,
multiple choice, fill in the blank). It is a take-home exam. Makeup exams will not be
provided.
Course Grading
Assessment method
Class Participation
Class
Participation
Case Analysis & Presentation
Group
Activity
Final Exam
Exams
Total
Percentage
50%
40%
10%
100%
Teaching Schedule*:
Week
Date
1st wk
2nd wk
3rd wk
Content




Syllabus and course overview
What is culture?
What is globalization?
Cross-cultural management at
crossroads
 The roles of formal and informal
Institutions
 Leveraging resources and
capabilities
 Trading internationally
Literature
Reading
- Chapters 1
- Chapters 2,3
- Reading
Materials
- Chapter
4,5,6,7
Cases and In-Class Activities
- Assign Groups
- Assign Cases
- In-class Exercise
- Case 1 Presentation
4th wk
5th wk
6th wk
7th wk
 Managing global competitive
dynamics
 Making alliances and acquisitions
work
 Corporate governance in global
business
 Competing on marketing and
supply chain management
 Managing HR globally
 Entrepreneurial firm in global
business
8th wk
 New challenges in cross-cultural
management
9th wk
 No class
- Chapters
11,12,13
- Reading
Materials
- Chapters 16
- Reading
Materials
- Chapters
14,15
- Chapter 9,10
- Reading
Materials
- Chapters 17
- Reading
Materials
- Case 2 Presentation
Movie: Outsourced
- Case 3 Presentation
- Case 4 Presentation
- Take-home final exam due
*This schedule is tentative and may be changed upon the request of the instructor.
Other requirements and information:
I expect that all work you turn in as your own will be your own, including exams, in-class
exercises, and anything else you submit for individual evaluation. Furthermore, every student
is equally and collectively responsible for maintaining a good learning environment in the
classroom and in study teams. Academic dishonesty in any portion of the academic work for
a course shall be ground for awarding a grade of F or N for the entire course.