SM9546 - Managing People Across Borders

You will be introduced to key concepts and theories in one-hour lectures and supported throughout with contemporary examples and case studies. Your lectures will provide key explanations of theoretical issues. To support lecture materials, you will also be supplied with a detailed reading list to further illustrate how these theories and frameworks can be applied to organisations operating in an international business context. Additionally, the use of documentary videos and current news stories will provide a contemporary dimension to the studies. All necessary materials will be available through the e-learning portal.

You will also have two-hour seminars, which will involve discussing case studies in groups, critiquing alongside applying frameworks and concepts to explain work-place behaviour and how it is shaped by cultural differences. You will be provided with supplementary material before your seminar as well as topic-related tasks that will build your knowledge base. You will have the opportunity to work individually as well as in groups, where appropriate, in order to foster collaboration, team building skills and to increase your intercultural awareness.

Support will be provided to you by a member of academic staff leading the module and the teaching team delivering lectures/seminars. A team of academic staff are allocated seminars of about 20 students. These small-group seminars will provide a closer and more personal academic support. Your seminar groups are typically based on study programme cohorts, so you will be taught here alongside fellow members from your particular degree.

This module is supported by an e-learning portal, which houses teaching and learning plan, lecture materials, seminar briefs, and assessment details.

You will be provided with a wide-ranging electronic reading list that comprises of various academic textbooks, journal articles, business journals and relevant websites that showcase the application of knowledge acquired in the module.

The module assessment consists of a coursework assignment which will be distributed at the beginning of the teaching semester. The eLearning portal will be used to permanently host these tasks after release to ensure that you can access the information required at all times.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:

• Demonstrate knowledge of how multinationals enterprises are designed, developed and managed (MLO1)
• Critically examine the impact of cross-cultural and institutional differences on a range of managerial issues. (MLO2)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

• Demonstrate and develop the ability to work and communicate effectively in multi-cultural teams. (MLO3)
• Critically appraise the suitability of management practices in different cultural and national contexts (MLO4)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

• Develop an awareness of the cultural and ethical issues surrounding managing people across national contexts. (MLO5)

The module assessment comprises one component of individual assessment (weighted at 100%). This will be case based assignment investigating the conduct of a company internationally with regards to its international management strategy, organisational structure, HRM systems, and knowledge sharing strategies (2500 words maximum).

The assessment will address MLO1, MLO2 MLO3, MLO4 and MLO5.

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The success of firms operating in global and multicultural business environments rests on their understanding of cross-cultural differences and how to manage them. This module explores contemporary theories and evidence from practice to develop an understanding on how cultures differ, and the impact of these differences on employees’ and firms’ behaviour and success. You’ll examine the challenges of managing people across national and cultural boundaries around issues such as leadership, motivation, knowledge sharing, and global talent management. Case-based scenarios will evolve your skills in applying theory. The assessment involves a case-based assignment investigating the international conduct of a company which will develop your research and critical thinking skills. Overall, the module will help you develop multi-cultural capabilities highly valued by employers in today’s globalised world.