International Business and Culture

In this course, students develop a deep understanding of how national cultures shape international HRM, international marketing, and international business in general. The course provides an overview of international culture, human resource management (HRM), and marketing. This may seem like an unusual combination of topics, but successful international HRM and marketing are heavily dependent on national culture. Without an understanding of a nation’s culture, managing and selling to that nation is fraught with problems. In the first module, we look at the many determinants of national culture, as well as the dimensions or characteristics of national culture. In the next module, we look at the various organizational structures appropriate for international business, and then turn to the HR challenges associated with a diverse international workforce. In the final two modules, we explore the many challenges of international marketing across countries and cultures.