MANAGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN ORGANIZATIONS

COM 461 - Fall 2004

Instructor: Dr. Guo-Ming Chen 
Meeting Times: Ind 205 – TH 12:30 – 1:45pm
Office: I206B 
Office Phone: (401) 874-4731 
Office Hour: 11-12pm TH and by appointment 
E-mail: gchen@etal.uri.edu 
URL: http://www.uri.edu/personal/gmchen

General Course Statement: The trend towards a global economy is bringing people of different ethnic and cultural background together. Thus, the development of greater intercultural understanding has become an essential element of global business. This course aims to examine the intercultural perspective of organizational communication in the modern global world by focusing on the management of cultural differences in modern organizations. Some knowledge of intercultural communication and organizational communication is preferable. After taking this course students are expected to be more aware of the cultural diversity in an organizational setting and further develop the ability of intercultural sensitivity and intercultural competence that will helps them better adapt to the future organizational life.

Texts: 

• Adler, N. J. (2002). International dimensions of organizational behavior. Cincinnati, OH: South-Western. (required) 
• Naisbitt, J. (1994). Global paradox. New York: Avon. (optional) 
• Suggested Readings (attached)

Requirements: You are required to

• attend and participate the class meetings 
• complete a case paper and presentation (details to be given) 
• complete a group performance (details to be given). 
• complete two examinations.

Policies & Expectations: 

• You must attend class in order to participate in exercises and discussions. If you miss more than two class  meetings, you will lose attendance/participation course credit (points) as follows: 2 points per class missed. 
• All written assignments must be typed. Case presentation will be evaluated based on five elements: how (the process of preparation), what (the content), style (the way you present yourself), cooperation (between you and your teammate), and time (20-25 minutes). Group performance will be evaluated based on the following elements: how (the process of preparation), what (the content), style (how present yourself), cooperation (among group members), costume, setting, and time (25-30 minutes).

Course Evaluation: Final grades will be cumulative and based on 

• Midterm - 20% 
• Final exam - 30% 
• Case Paper - 10% 
• Case Presentation - 10% 
• Group Performance - 20% 
• Class Attendance - 10%

SYLLABUS

Week 1 (9/8) -- Introduction to Course

Week 2-3 (9/14, 9/16, 9/21, 9/23)  

Intercultural Management Communication 
Trends of Global Society 
Cross-Cultural Management 
What is Culture 
Variations of Culture 
Communication Across Cultural Barriers 
Exercises and Case Study 
Read: Chaps. 1 & 3 (Adler)

Week 4-5 (9/28, 9/30, 10/5, 10/7)  

Influence of Cultural Differences on Organizations 
Variations of Work Behaviors Across Cultures 
Dimensions of Cultural Differences 
Organization Culture vs. National Culture 
Exercises and Case Study 
Read: Chap. 2 (Adler)

Week 6-7 (10/12, 10/14, 10/19, 10/21)  

Cultural Synergy and Problem Solving 
Strategies for Recognizing Culture 
Cultural Synergy 
Culturally Synergistic Problem Solving 
Exercises and Case Study 
Read: Chap. 4 (Adler)
Midterm (10/21)

Week 8-9 (10/26, 10/28, 11/2, 11/4)

Multicultural Teams in Organizations 
Managing a Multicultural Workforce 
Cultural Diversity in Groups 
Effectiveness of Multicultural Teams 
Managing Culturally Diverse Groups 
Exercises and Case Study 
Read: Chap.5 (Adler)
Case Presentation

Week 10-11 (11/9, 11/11, 11/16, 11/18)  

Multicultural Leadership and Decision Making 
Leadership and Cultural Contingency 
Motivation and Cultural Contingency 
Decision-Making and Cultural Contingency 
Exercises and Case Study 
Read: Chap. 6 (Adler)
NCA Convention (11/10-11/14)

Week 12-13 (11/23, 11/25, 11/30, 12/2)  

Business Negotiations in Multicultural Organizations 
What is Negotiation 
Negotiating Internationally 
Successful Intercultural Business Negotiations 
The Process of Intercultural Business Negotiations 
Tactics for Intercultural Business Negotiations 
Exercises and Case Study 
Read: Chap 7 (Adler)
Thanksgiving (11/25)

Week 14-15 (412/7, 12/9, 12/13-)

Group Presentation
Final Exam

 Suggested Readings

• Adler, N. (1983). Cross-cultural management research: The ostrich and the trend. Academy of Management Review, 8, 226-232. 
• Adler, N. J. (1983). Organizational development in a multicultural environment. Journal of Applied 
  Behavioral Science, 19, 349-365. 
• Almaney, A. J. (1981). Cultural traits of the Arabs: Growing interest for international management. 
  International Management Review, 21, 10-18. 
• Chaney, L. H., & Martin, J. S. (1995). Intercultural business communication. Upper Saddle River, J: Prentice Hall. 
• Beamer, L. (1992). Learning intercultural communication competence. Journal of Business Communication,  29, 285-304. 
• Chen, G. M. (1998). Intercultural communication via e-mail debate. The Edge: The E-Journal of 
  Intercultural Relations, 1, 4 [on line]. Available: http://kumo.swcp.com/ biz/theedge/chen.htm. 
• Chen, G. M., & Chung, J. (1996). The five Asian dragons: Management behaviors and organizational 
  communication. In L. A. Samovar and R. E. Porter (Eds.), Intercultural communication: A reader (pp. 317-328). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. 
• Chen, G. M., & Holt, R. (2002). Superiority and seniority: A case analysis of decision making in a Taiwanese religious group. Intercultural Communication Studies, 11, 41-55. 
• Chen, G. M., & Starosta, W. J. (1997). A review of the concept of intercultural sensitivity. Human 
  Communication, 1, 1-16. 
• Chen, G. M., & Starosta, W. J. (1998). Foundations of intercultural communication. Needham, MA: Allyn & Bacon. (Chapter 10: "Cultural diversity and multiculturalism") 
• Chen, G. M., & Starosta, W. J. (1997). A review of the concept of intercultural awareness. Human 
  Communication, 2, 27-54. 
• Chen, G. M., & Starosta, W. J. (2000). Communication and global society: An introduction. In G. M. Chen and W. J. Starosta (Eds.), Communication and global society (pp. 1-16). Peter Lang, New York. 
• Child, J. (1981). Culture, contingency and capitalism in the cross-national study of organizations. In L. L. Cummings and B. M. Staw (Eds.), Research in organizational behavior, vol. 3 (pp. 303-356). JAI Press. 
• Cushman, D. P., & King, S. S. (1985). National and organizational cultures in conflict resolution: Japan, the United States, and Yugoslavia. In W. B. Gudykunst, L. P. Stewart, and S. Ting-Toomey (Eds.), 
  Communication, culture, and organizational processes (pp. 114-133). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage. 
• Das G. (1993). Local memoirs of a global manager. Harvard Business Review, 71(2), 38-47. 
• Delgado, M. (1981). Hispanic cultural values: Implications for groups. Small Group Behavior, 12, 69-80. 
• Elgstrom, O. (1994). National culture and international negotiations. Cooperation and Conflict, 29, 289-301. 
• Ferrai, S. (1972). Human behavior in international groups. Management International Review, 12, 31-35.
• Fine, M. G. (1991). New Voices in the workforce: Research directions in multicultural communication. Journal of Business Communication, 23, 259-275. 
• Fisher, G. (1980). International negotiations: A cross-cultural perspective. Chicago, IL: Intercultural Press. 
• Global Report (1999). 7. Technology and the knowledge-based society [on line]. Available: 
  http//policyresearch.schoolnet.ca/keydocs/global/07techknow-e.htm. 
• Govindarajan, V., & Gupta, A. K (1997). The changing global landscape [on line]. Available: 
  http//www.bmgt.umd.edu/cib/wplist.htm/ 
• Gupta, A. K., & Govindarajan, V. (1997). Guest for global dominance: Building global presence [on line].  Available: http//www.bmgt.umd.edu/cib/wplist.htm/ 
• Gupta, A. K., & Govindarajan, V. (1997). Creating a global mindset [on line]. Available: 
  http//www.bmgt.umd.edu/cib/wplist.htm/ 
• Graham, J. H. (1985). The influence of culture on the process of business negotiations: An exploratory study. Journal of International Business Studies, 16,81-96. 
• Hall, E. T., & Hall, M. R. (1987). Understanding cultural differences: Germans, French and Americans. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press. 
• Hare, A. P. (1969). Cultural differences in performances in communication networks in Africa, United States and the Philippines. Sociology and Social Research, 77-92.
• He, Z., Zu, J. J. H., & Peng, S. (2002). Cultural values and conflict resolution in enterprises in diverse cultural settings in China. In G. M. Chen & R. Ma (Eds.), Chinese conflict management and resolution (pp. 129-147). Westport, CT: Ablex. 
• Harris, P. R., & Moran, R. T. (1987). Managing cultural differences (Chapters 1, 14, 15, 17, 18). Houston, TX: Gulf. 
• Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture's consequences: International differences in work related values. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage. 
• Jablin, F. M., Putnam. L. O., Roberts, K. H., & Porter, W. (1987). Handbook of organizational 
  communication: An interdisciplinary perspective. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. 
• Kaufman, F. (1970). Decision making - Eastern and Western style. Business Horizons, 13, 81-86. 
• Kume, T. (1985). Managerial attitudes toward decision-making: North American and Japan.. In W. B. 
  Gudykunst, L. P. Stewart, and S. Ting-Toomey (Eds.), Communication, culture, and organizational 
   processes (pp. 212-230). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage. 
• Laurent, A. (1983). The cultural diversity of Western conceptions of Management. International Studies of Management and Organization, 13, 75-96. 
• McDaniel, E. R., & Samovar, L. A. (1997). Cultural differences on communication in multinational 
  organizations: The Maquiladora, In L. A. Samovar and R. E. Porter (Eds.), Intercultural communication: A reader (pp. 289-296). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. 
• Mead, R. (1990). Cross-cultural management communication. New York: Wiley. Moran, R. T., Stripp, W. G. (1991). Successful international business negotiations. Houston, TX: Gulf. 
• Morgan, G. (1988). Emerging wave and challenges: The need for new competencies and mindsets In G. Morgan, Riding the waves of change: Developing managerial competencies for a turbulent world (p. 1-15). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. 
• Pezeshkpur, C. (1978). Challenges to management in the Arab world. Business Horizons, 21, 47-55. 
  Putnam, L. L., & Poole, M. S. (1987). Conflict and negotiation. In F. M. Jablin, L. L. Putnam, K. H. Roberts, and Porter, L. w. (Eds.), Handbook of organizational communication: An interdisciplinary perspective (pp.503-548). Newbury Park, CA: Sage. 
• Rhinesmith, H. S. (1992, October). Global mindsets for global managers. Training and Development, 63-68. 
• Rhinesmith, H. S. (1995 May). Open door to a global minset. Training and Development, 35-43. 
• Rhinesmith, H. S. (1996). Going global (Chapter 1). In Rhinesmith H. S., A manager's guide to globalization: Six skills for success in a changing world (pp. 3-21). Chicago, IL: Irwin. 
• Stefani, L. A., Samovar, L. A., & Hellweg, S. A. (1997). Culture and its impact on negotiation. In L. A. Samovar and R. E. Porter (Eds.), Intercultural communication: A reader (pp. 307-316). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. 
• Sue, D. W. (1991). A model for cultural diversity training. Journal of Counseling & Development, 70,  89-104. 
• Terpstra, V., & David, K. (1985). The cultural environment of international business. Cincinnati, OH: South-Western. 
• Triandis, H. C. (1983). Dimensions of cultural variations as parameters of organizational theories. 
  International  Studies of Management and Organization, 12, 139-169.
• Triandis, H. C., & Albert, R. D. (1987). Cross-cultural perspectives. In F. M. Jablin, L. L. Putnam, K. H. Roberts, and Porter, L. w. (Eds.), Handbook of organizational communication: An interdisciplinary  perspective (pp. 264-296). Newbury Park, CA: Sage. 
• U.S. Department of Labor (1987). Workforce 2000: Work and workers for the 21st century. 
• Varner, I., & Beamer, L. (1995). Intercultural communication in the global workforce. Chicago, IL: Irwin. 
• Woodworth, W., & Nelson, R. (1980). Information in Latin American organizations: Some cautions. 
  Management International Review, 20, 61-69.

Evaluation Form for Case Presentation

Name: 
Date:

Evaluation Form for Group Presentation

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