CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Course code HUM 119
Course title Cross Cultural Communication
Type of course Elective
Stage of study Undergraduate
Department in charge Undergraduate school,
Semester Summer Programme
ECTS 6 ECTS: 36 hrs. - lectures and workshops, 112 hrs. - self-study, 2 hrs. -
consultations
Coordinating lecturer Artūras Jonkus
Studies form Full-time, free-mover
Prerequisites -
Language of instruction English
Annotation
Communication is centered on language, as the usual means to pass on one’s culture to other generations and to
reveal deeper insights to representatives of other cultures. However, communication extends into non-verbal
communication and other behavior that gives messages about our expectations and beliefs. We think, interpret, speak,
move, eat the way we have been taught, seen or done it in our own cultural environment. When people from different
nationalities or cultures come together in teams, meetings, negotiations, as employees, or as simple citizens in casual
encounters, they bring with them different expectations and beliefs, of how they should work together. In other words,
they contribute to the whole with their own cultural input, and as no culture is “right’, or “wrong”, “better” or ‘‘worse‘‘, we
should learn to not merely accept but also appreciate the values and ways of others. Thus course may serve the
purpose of preparing 21st century decision makers for the challenges of a multicultural environment.
Aim
The course is intended to provide core knowledge of cultural analysis and cross cultural behavior to develop the
necessary skills for professional and successful communication in any given society, a local and/ or multinational
company with multicultural staff and clients. Also the course provides some negotiation theory and practice. After the
graduating from the course students are expected to have theoretical and practical knowledge of strategic
organizational communication, and cross cultural business communication, and intercultural negotiation. Several
different teaching approaches are utilized to provide students with multiple ways to learn the material. These are
classroom lectures, case discussions, analysis and evaluation of real world communication cases, analysis and
research of real companies and the impact of communication management on company performance and personal
effectiveness as global communicators.
Learning outcomes (CLO) Study methods Assessment methods
LO1. To name and apply major strategic Lecture, self-study, case study, seminar participation,
organizational communication and cross cultural project presentation, exam
business communication concepts;
LO2. To be able to analyze and research main Lecture, pre-coursework, problem case study, seminar participation,
issues of international organizational solving, group homework, seminar, project presentation, exam
communication self-study
LO3. To be able to analyze international Lecture, pre-coursework, group case study, seminar participation,
communication management aspects in homework, seminar, self-study project presentation, exam
organizations as an essential instrument of
successful company performance
LO4. To be able analyze external and internal Lecture, group homework, seminar, case study, seminar participation,
communication processes and the need for global self-study project presentation, exam
communication competence and management
LO5. To name main concepts of intercultural Lecture, problem solving, group case study, seminar participation,
negotiations strategies and styles and national homework, seminar, self-study project presentation, exam
profiles.
LO6. To be able to analyze needs an aspects of a Lecture, group homework, seminar, case study, seminar participation,
company’s communication strategy, and provide self-study project presentation, exam
recommendations for professional communication
management
LO7. To be able to work in a team, to present work Group homework, seminar, self- case study, seminar participation,
results in written or oral form, to be able to study exam
argument decisions
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Quality assurance
The quality of the course is assured by the variety of teaching and learning methods, interim knowledge assessment,
continuous discussions of individual and group work, other assignment results, as well as by supply of learning
materials to students.
Cheating prevention
Variety of assignments for individual and group work reduces chances for plagiarism; cheating possibilities are
prevented by having individual tasks/questions to inhibit any acts of dishonesty during exams.
Course outline
Topics Readings
Lectures Seminars
Introduction Ch 1. [1]
1 Presentation of course aims and assignments 2 2
What is culture?
Cultural values in business and society Ch 2 [1]
Value Orientation Method: Kluckholn and
2
Strodtbeck 2 2
Inglehart-Welzel Culture Map of the World
The World Values Survey
Language matters Ch 3 [1]
R. Lewis cultural categories Ch 3, 4 [2]
3
Non-verbal aspects of cross-cultural 2 2 Ch 4 [1]
communication Ch 5 [2]
E.T Hall’s model: The Silent Language Class individual
4
2 2 notes
Web page ref.
Prejudice and stereotypes Ch 5 [1]
5
Expatriate performance 2 2 Ch 6 [1]
Culture shock models Ch 2 [2]
Adjustment, CQ Ch 8 [1]
6
Developing cross-cultural skills Managing 2 2 Ch 9 [1]
and working in multicultural teams Ch 8, 9 [2]
Communicating across the cultural Ch 10 [1]
7 distance
2 2
Etiquette, protocol, mannerism. Nepotism, Ch 6 [2], [3], [4]
corruption, bribery. Human rights
Issues on Cross-cultural marketing Class individual
8
communications 2 2 notes
Standardization, adaptation or customization Web page ref.
9 Cross-cultural meetings and Negotiations Ch 11 [1]
Cases, role-plays 2 2
Total 18 hours 18 hours
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Course assignments and evaluation
Assignment Percentage of the total grade
1. Pre-Course work 25
2. Group homework or Individual academic writing task 35
3. Final Exam 40
Total 100
Assessment
1. Pre-Course work (25 % of the final grade). Written essay on provided topic should be presented till the start
of the course. Topics will be assigned till the middle of June at the very latest.
2. Group homework or Individual academic writing task: (35 % of the final grade). Students will carry out
research and write a comparative essay on a chosen topic or assigned, where they are expected to share the
results of their analysis and individual insights. Personal stories, first-hand or third person experience and
quoting are essential to illustrate the case. The paper must be submitted in both digital and printed format for
grading. Deadline: will be announced in the beginning of the course.
3. Final exam accounts for 40 % of the final grade. It will consist of brief open questions and/or multiple-choice
questions about all the topics covered during the course. Case study analysis might be included in the exam.
4. Re-take examination (40 %). If the final exam grade is lower than the minimum required, students have to
re-sit the exam, which will include all the topics covered along the course. Accumulative grades obtained for
other assignments still count for the final grading. The retake will consist of a written report on a topic which
will be sent by e-mail in 5 working days after the final exam. This written report must be submitted in 20
calendar days after the final exam; the weight of the retake is 35%. Retake reports cannot be rewritten.
The course is designed to encourage active participation and attendance. The pre-coursework, homework and
final exam are meant to check assimilation of theoretical content as well as to test knowledge application.
Remark:
The final grading for the course is calculated according to the accumulative formula as indicated in the
Regulation of Studies at ISM. Negative grades (below 5) are not included into the accumulative grading
system !
Note that:
The final grade is computed using accumulative formula. Negative grades are not included to the final grade. If the
final grade is negative, the student might be allowed to retake the exam during the exam retake session.
Course Literature
1. Maude, B. (2011).Managing Cross-cultural Communication. Principles and Practice. Palgrave. MacMillan.
UK.
2. Lewis, R. (2006). When cultures collide. Leading across cultures. Nicholas Brealey International. Boston, MA
02116 USA.
3. Gesteland, R. (2004). Cross Cultural Business Behavior.. The Copenhagen Business School.
4. Jandt. F.E. (2003) Intercultural Communication. SAGE publications.
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