Business Culture I, 7.5 credits

Main field of study with advanced study

General entry requirements (with the exemption of the requirement in Swedish) + English 6, Civics 1b or 1a1+1a2.

The course is given as a single subject course.

The goal of the course is that after completing the course the student should have acquired basic knowledge about business in different cultural contexts. In addition, the student will learn about organization, management, leadership and multicultural communication.

The student must also develop knowledge of the interaction process between people with different cultural backgrounds, and a practical ability to observe and manage cultural differences in communication. The student must be able to assess problems that arise as a result of conflicts between interests and/or cultural values. After completing the course, the students must be prepared to face managerial challenges in a multicultural business environment.

Following successful completion of the course the student should:

Knowledge and understanding

• understand business organizations and cultures
• identify problems that can arise when different cultures meet in an organization
• understand how cultural challenges in business can be handled

Skills and ability

• analyse business culture in the company's various functions such as marketing, HR, and corporate/buisness governance
• adapt personal behaviour and interaction in multicultural meetings
• work in multi-national groups

Judgement and approach

• reflect on cultural values
• reflect on how different cultures affect the company
• reflect on, evaluate and discuss ethical challenges that a company can face from a cultural perspective

The course puts management, leadership and organizational theories - in a multicultural context - into practice. The course will include team building, group work, exercises and simulation games to enable students to make decisions under uncertainty and in challenging situations in a multicultural context.
Students from different academic backgrounds and different cultures will work together and learn from each other.

The teaching consists of lectures and project work.

Examination consists of two projects with associated seminars.

If there are special reasons, the examiner may make exceptions from the specified examination format and allow a student to be examined in another way. Special reasons can e.g. be study support for students with disabilities.

Course evaluation is part of the course. This evaluation offers guidance in the future development and planning of the course. Course evaluation is documented and made available to the students.