International Business and Cultures (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

The course takes place in spring semester 2025 from 3.2 until 26th of March.
Meetings in class are constructed from engaging activities and discussions. Online meetings are partly lectures, partly group discussions in small groups on the day´s topic.
This course is in English, material and lectures will be in English.

Objective

The aim is to increase the students' awareness of the content and significance of selling and marketing communications in general in international business and prepare them for an understanding of the concept of the international marketing mix. A further aim is to make the students understand cultural differences and customer behaviour in international business life. The student can work in International Business environment.

Content

- Elements of international marketing mix
- International marketing communications and selling
- Understanding cultural differences in international business

Materials

Any relevant book on Cross-cultural Communication, International Business and Multicultural Management. There are several in the library.
Recommended: Lewis, Richard. 2006: Multiculturalism observed: Exploring identity.
+other books from Richard Lewis. Daniels&Radebaugh.International Business. Various version available.

Good examples of e-books available at Turku UAS library:

1) Paliwoda, Stanley, Turnbull .2013.Research in International Marketing. available as an e-book in FINNA.

2) Kim, Young Yun. 2001. Becoming intercultural : an integrative theory of communication and cross-cultural adaptation
3) Cotton, Gayle. 2013. Say anything to anyone, anywhere : 5 keys to successful cross cultural communication.
4) Warren, Thomas L. 2017. Cross-cultural Communication: perspectives in theory and practice. Introduction and chapter 3.
5) Sigala, Marianna ; Christou, Evangelos. 2006. Global trends and challenges in services
6) Niemeier, Campbell and Dirven. 1998. The cultural context in business communication.

7) Books on International Marketing or Global Marketing.
Hofstede: https://www.hofstede-insights.com/product/compare-countries/

Teaching methods

Key lectures, class activities (learning by doing), flipped learning (students prepare and come to class prepared.

Exam schedules

There is no exam in this course. Participation and continuous evaluation during the course.

International connections

This course follows partly traditional lecturing, partly Innopeda-style teaching methods.
Students are expected to prepare for the meetings (both contact session as well as online meetings) by reading given material and extending key-lecture notes aspects through own research.

Student workload

This course is 130 hrs of student work and is estimated as follows:
Teacher guided lectures and meetings 28hrs
Research, reading and preparing for discussions and activities 30 hrs
Report on Doing Business in xx (a chosen country) and reading a peer evaluation of 2 reports, total of 70 hrs

Further information

Material and instructions in Its-learning Platform.
Communication with the teacher preferably via email.