a. Module Learning Outcomes
On completing this module, you will be expected to be able to:
1. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the nature of culture, the theories and frameworks that help in highlighting similarities and differences across cultures, and comparative business practices and behaviors.
2. Apply theories and concepts to a range of different cultural and organizational settings within the context of international management and appreciate the challenges of diversity in the modern work environment.
3. Analyze and synthesize different theories and concepts and critically evaluate their usefulness in addressing the problems of managing people from different cultures in the areas of decision-making, communication, leadership and motivation.
4. Evaluate the drivers and consequences of negotiation patterns and building global partnerships.
5. Demonstrate your awareness of ethical issues and conflicts related to globalization, its impact on specific regions, and the emerging concerns about its influences and challenges on countries
Assignment:
Your task is to undertake two separate interviews with two organization members (profit/non-profit; private/public are all acceptable organizations) who have worked or are currently working overseas. One must be Singaporean and the other non-Singaporean and they must have lived and worked for a period of at least six months in a country other than their own. This also includes foreign nationals who are currently working in Singapore. The purpose of the assignment is to provide you with personal exposure to expatriate issues and, more broadly, to the issues facing people who work and live in a culture different than the one they grew in. Therefore I recommend you to aim ideally for a male and a female interviewee. In preparing the interview and the report, pay attention to the following points:
- Identify two expatriates you would like to interview (ideally from two different organizations). Decide on a general direction and time needed (a reasonable length would be half an hour to an hour long; you may go longer if they have the time).
- Establish contact and gain permission for interview. We expect most interviews to be face-to-face. In exceptional cases, we will consider allowing interview in other formats.
- List the topics that you would want to address. We recommend you read closely all nine chapters from your textbook before you finalize your topic list.
- Compose questions to address each of the topics you have chosen. Structure a general interview plan (e.g., the order of questions) before commencing the interviews and use it consistently in both interviews. At the interview: you may ask your interviewee's permission to be recorded-that will help you be more relaxed and natural during the conversation. Alternatively, assign some of the team members to take notes, while one main person at the time conducts the interview-you may want to change roles during the interview.