Cross cultural management part project

Cross cultural management part 2

Purpose of assessment 2:

This assignment is a group project. Students should form groups of (optimally) five. The assignment will require students to showcase their understanding of the different dimensions of Cross Cultural Management. The key objective of this project is for groups to develop a deeper understanding of a specific cultural environment of a given country and its implications for managers based on the topics discussed in class, thus developing global management skills.

Group Project Outcomes

The key outcomes of this group project are:

 the demonstration of an ability to discuss and analyse the contents of this module;

 the exploration of the different dimensions of the global cultural environment;

 the identification of the main issues and challenges relating to culture and its impact on facing businesses today;

 the completion of a group project on cross cultural management, which is a comprehensive business report on the application of the course concepts within your own workplace or one with which you are familiar.

The expectation is that all individuals will contribute equally to this project. Each group needs to elect a group coordinator to allocate and manage tasks democratically. In the appendix of each project, the contribution of each group member must be highlighted.

Students should also complete the Team Agreement Form which can be found in the Orientation folder on the Programme Area on Blackboard and is also included in the appendices at the end of this study guide. 28

Students will form their own groups. Each group will accordingly choose a topic and country / countries that they are NOT familiar with. Perhaps it is better to choose from list of countries in the World Values Survey Report (http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org) and / or Hofstede Dimension countries (http://www.geert-hofstede.com/) as there is a lot of data available, but groups are free to choose outside those lists.

The key cross-cultural theoretical themes of the project are Country Values and Determinants, and Theoretical Dimensions by Hall, Hofstede, Globe, etc... However, I am open to suggestions from students as to potential areas of interest.

Projects should be no more than 30 pages for group of four. If there are seven people in the group, it should be 50 pages. This averages out at 7.5 pages per group member.

• Project Framework: Title Page, Executive Summary / Abstract, Table of Contents, Introduction, various chapters, Conclusion, Bibliography, Appendices (including appendix on contribution of each member).

• Project Guidelines

• Simple example: Argentina: A Cross-Cultural Perspective for the International Manager.

• Example: Different Leadership Styles – Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore compared.

• Example: Confucianism and Management in Korea.

• Example: Management of Cross Cultural Teams in Singapore

• Example: Uncertainty Avoidance and Foreign Managers in Singapore

This type of title is basic, but I’m sure that you will come up with more creative and insightful project. The following is a suggested format for the project:

• Discuss and analyse the determinants of culture in the country chosen: History, Religion, Social Structure, Political Philosophy, Economy, Language, and Education.

• Apply the cultural theories to the chosen culture.

Look at the Hofstede Dimensions and World Values Survey to find background

info (see last slide). Other theoretical perspectives. Tropenaars, Globe Project,

etc., should also be included. See appendix plus lecture notes for more details. 29

Please refer to The GLOBE Book of In-Depth Studies of 25 Societies, if it is

available to you in library.

• Apply your cultural analysis above to the Global Management Skills topics discussed in class.

Given that the focus of the project is Cross Cultural Management, there are a number of chapters in the textbook specifically on Global Management Skills that can be used as a template for each section: Situation, Organisation, Communication, Negotiation, Leadership, Motivation, Teamwork, and HR. Your theoretical analysis should inform each one of these potential topics. Note: it is your decision to focus on the number of topics that interest you; you may analyse them all, or indeed you may choose to just analyse one topic or more and do so at a deep level.

• Conclusions must be an analytical synthesis of all of the above about the cultural environment for business in the given country/region.

ALL PROJECTS MUST BE ROBUST – IRRESPECTIVE OF SIZE.

Project Resources

• Text Book

• Hofstede Home Page: http://www.geert-hofstede.com/

• World Values Survey: http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org

• CIA World Fact Book: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html

• Many other comparable sources of background information: Country Statistical Organisations, The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, The Economist, OECD, IMF, World Bank, United Nations.

• Use E-library and Google!

• See Background Readings and Supplementary Readings Folders in Blackboard

Group Work and Checklist Submission

 Group Work – in Appendix

ALL students are expected to contribute actively and equitably to the completion of the group project and details of each group members’ work must be provided. All students must be involved in a student group. 30

Create an Appendix which provides details of the following:

 How was the work divided up amongst group members?

 What did each group member do?

If you have a problem with an individual member not pulling his / her weight, please communicate with your programme manager. Students who are deemed to have not contributed to their group project may be given a G grade. Please see Appendix 1 on UCD School of Business Student Code of Practice – Group Work. Read carefully.

 Checklist – At the beginning of project.

We want to ensure that the students adhere to a certain format. In consequence, please enclose a completed Checklist addressing the following issues:

 Does the Title of the Project Relate to Cross Cultural Management?

 Have all sections of the project been considered and developed?

 Is there an introduction and conclusion to the project?

 Is there a Table of Contents?

 Is there a reference section at the end of the project and are sources referenced in the text – Suggested format (Quinn, 1999).

 This checklist has to be signed by all members of the group.

One checklist per project only to be submitted with project. This checklist is available on Blackboard.

Project Grading Criteria

Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge of the key issues at the heart of the topic and demonstrate a high level of analysis and argument. The structure of the assignment is important: introduction, key paragraphs, and conclusion. There should be a strong level of analysis, demonstrating focused background reading on the chosen topic.

In terms of grading criteria. See following plus table 6 below:

 Students are expected to demonstrate that they have read, internalised and are able to discuss, analyse, synthesise and evaluate the key issues at the heart of the module topics. Ensuring that there is a comprehensive reference section is axiomatic.

 Moreover, students are expected to demonstrate background reading in terms of academic journals and business newspaper / magazine articles.

 Students are expected to utilise examples and case studies liberally in answering each question. Each example / case study alluded to needs to be expanded on and presented in an analytical fashion.

 The project outcomes should be realised.

 Originality of project will be rewarded.

Students are also expected to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of referencing utilising the Harvard Referencing System:

(http://www.ucd.ie/t4cms/Guide69.pdf). Be careful with your presentation style: write clearly and intelligently; and view this group assignment as you would a professional report and treat it with the according respect. 32

The grading of the project is based on the UCD grading system: A = Excellent; B = Very Good; C = Good; and D = Fair. The differentiating factors with respect to UCD grades are highlighted from page 20. For this group project, students are expected to demonstrate a high level of discussion, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. The presentation of the document should be as highlighted below in Checklist. It should be tidy, well-structured with good introductions and conclusions. Do not forget to utilise Harvard referencing style (http://www.ucd.ie/t4cms/Guide69.pdf).

Table 6: Assignment 2 Team / Group Project Grading Criteria Grading Criteria	Excellent ‘A’	Very Good ‘B’	Good ‘C’	Fair ‘D’
Level of theoretical underpinning of project
Level of analysis of values and determinants of culture
Level of discussion, analyses. Evaluation of topics chosen and theoretical integration
Cognitive and reflective capacity
Extent of academic reading and references used.
Use of examples
Originality of project
Structure and presentation of the submission, writing style
Integration of final document as a group project
Overall have you addressed project outcomes?