CROSS-CULTURAL BUSINESS
This is an individual task
Your assignment requires you to answer a number of questions related to the material covered in weeks one to five of the course:
Part 1: Four compulsory questions (40%)
Part 2: Choose one of the questions provided. This question must be answered in an essay format. (60%)
Your assignment should be uploaded to Turnitin as a pdf document.
Formalities:
Word count: 2000-2500 words for all questions.
Please provide the following: Cover Page, Table of Contents, References and Appendix. These are excluded from the total word count.
Font: Arial 12,5 pts.
Text alignment: Justified.
Any definitions must be explained in your own words and all information must be cited.
The in-text references and the bibliography have to be in Harvard’s citation style.
Submission: Week 5 – Via Moodle (Turnitin). Your assignment is due by 31st October 23.59pm.
Weight: This task is a 40% of your total grade for this subject.
Outcomes: This task assesses the following learning outcomes:
• Identify the key aspects, sources, subjects, issues of cross-cultural business issues; • Apply knowledge and understanding of the different aspects of cultural theories to the subject matter.
Part 1
1. How would you define culture and what does the cultural pyramid tell us?
2. Explain the concept of a cultural paradigm and that of a paradigm shift. Use examples from recent times to support your explanation.
3. Highlight the key differences between the terms multicultural, cross-cultural and intercultural and how are they are relevant to business?
4. Explain three of the key cross-cultural issues that should be addressed by managers leading teams in a cross-cultural business environment. Provide examples.
Part 2
Choose one of the following questions:
1. Critically evaluate the work of Hofstede and Trompenaars. Which perspective of national cultures do you believe to be most relevant today?
2. In what way has culture affected the position of women in the workplace? Consider the advantages, challenges and opportunities they face.
3. To what extent do the dimensions of individualism and collectivism influence employee attitudes towards teamwork, goal setting and performance? How can
managers counteract this?
Rubrics
Rubrics Part 1-Short answer questions
Excellent 90-100
Good 80-89
Fair 70-79
Marginal fail 60-69
Fail <60
Knowledge & Understanding
(20%)
Student demonstrates excellent understanding of key concepts and uses vocabulary in an entirely appropriate manner
Student demonstrates good understanding of the task and mentions some relevant concepts and demonstrates use of the relevant vocabulary
Student understands the task and provides minimum theory and/or some use of vocabulary
Student understands the task and attempts to answer the question but does not mention key concepts or uses minimum amount of relevant vocabulary.
Student does not understand the task, or does not attempt the question, but fails to mention key concepts fails to use any relevant vocabulary
Application (30%)
Student applies fully relevant knowledge to the situation provided
Student applies mostly relevant knowledge to the situation provided
Student applies some relevant knowledge to the situation provided. Some minor misunderstandings may be evident.
Student applies little relevant knowledge to the situation provided. Misunderstandings are evident.
Student applies no or extremely limited relevant knowledge to the situation provided. Major misunderstandings are evident.
Critical Thinking (30%)
Student assembles a coherent response to the question, providing a range of support and justification that leads to a well- reasoned conclusion
Student assembles a good response to the question, providing support and justification that lead to a well-reasoned conclusion
Student assembles a fair response to the question, providing some support and justification that lead to a well-reasoned conclusion. Minor misunderstandings may be evident
Student’s response to the question lacks coherence. Limited support and justification are provided that may or may not be well linked to the conclusion
Student’s response lacks coherence, support or justification. Conclusions are non-existent or extremely poor, demonstrating major misunderstandings
Communication (20%)
Student communicates ideas extremely clearly and concisely
Student communicates ideas clearly and concisely
Student communicates ideas fairly clearly and concisely
Student attempts to communicate ideas clearly and concisely, with some problems
Student fails to communicate ideas clearly
Rubrics. Part 2. Analytical questions
Exceptional 90-100
Good 80-89
Fair 70-79
Marginal fail 60-69
Identification of main
Issues/Problems
34%
Identifies and demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the main issues / problems raised
Identifies and demonstrates an accomplished understanding of most of the issues/problems raised.
Identifies and demonstrates acceptable understanding of some of the issues/problems raised
Does not identify or demonstrate an acceptable understanding of the issues/problems raised
Analysis and Evaluation of Issues
/ Problems
33%
Presents an insightful and thorough analysis of all identified issues/problems
Presents a thorough analysis of most of the issues identified.
Presents a superficial analysis of some of the identified issues.
Presents an incomplete analysis of the identified issues.
Development of Ideas
and Opinions
33%
Supports diagnosis and opinions with strong arguments and well- documented evidence; presents a balanced and critical view; interpretation is both reasonable and objective.
Supports diagnosis and opinions with limited reasoning and evidence; presents a somewhat one-sided argument; demonstrates little engagement with ideas presented
Little action suggested and/or inappropriate solutions proposed to the issues in the case study.
No action suggested and/or inappropriate solutions proposed to the issues in the case study
