Leadership and management in intercultural contexts
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The increasing intercultural and globally connected nature of 21st century business and organisations brings with it new challenges for leading and managing. B848 examines conceptions of leadership and management in different cultures and the contested and value-laden nature of the terms and of the expectations they raise in different cultural settings. This includes examination of visual and other media representations of leadership. The course provides opportunities for practising leaders and managers to develop intercultural leadership competence through a combination of critical engagement with theory and practice, through collaborative and experiential learning in cross-cultural groups and through a focused research project.
Course facts
A postgraduate course in Business and Management.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | B848 |
| Credits | 0 |
| OU Level | Postgraduate |
| SCQF level | 11 |
| FHEQ level | 7 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 2 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.
What you will study
This course provides opportunities for you as practising managers/leaders to question and reflect on your own practice and to develop ways of leading and managing which are appropriate for your own intercultural (or intracultural) contexts. It addresses issues facing managers and leaders working in (and across) increasingly intercultural contexts and provides you with skills, competencies and knowledge to thrive and to get the best from colleagues, partners and associates. It will also help you develop as an intercultural mediator who is able to engage with the complexities and multiple identities of the global arena by recognising, appreciating and working with difference, challenging your own assumptions and avoiding stereotyping.
Contemporary theories of both leadership and culture are examined. Ideas about cultural difference and how bringing different cultures together can stimulate creativity, effectiveness, innovation and competiveness are explored.
Questions addressed include:
- how can managers and leaders make the most of intercultural opportunities?
- what management and leadership challenges might they face?
- what are the implications for you as a practicing manager/leader and for your organisation?
Collaborative experiential learning helps you to reflect on and question what it means to learn and manage in and across different contexts and what skills and attitudes you need to develop. This will involve an investigation based on your own organisational contexts and relevant to your own practice as a leader.
You will explore the following themes:
- approaches to the study of leadership
- approaches to the study of culture
- approaches to intercultural communication
- cross cultural leadership issues and challenges
- related topics including globalisation, post colonialism, power and influence, role of the media, diversity ethics and identity.
Vocational relevance
The course is relevant to any managerial career. It has particular relevance if you are considering or already have an international career or if your managerial and leadership role involves interaction with or within intercultural or intracultural organisations or contexts.
Entry
This course is an elective module in stage 2 of the MBA (F61). You will need to have already completed MBA stage 1: management: perspectives and practice (B716) and the compulsory stage 2 modules Corporate finance (B831) and The dynamics of strategy (B835).
The course requires 150 hours of study over six months.
You will also need an appropriate facility in English language, sufficient to be able to work effectively at postgraduate level; generally this means capability equivalent to an International English Language Test System (IELTS) score of 6.5. To assess your English language skills in relation to your proposed studies you can visit the IELTS website. If you are unsure whether your skill level in English is adequate you may find it helpful to look at our Skills for OU Study site.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Qualifications
B848 is an optional module in our:
Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a module towards a qualification if you have already taken another module with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this module, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Elements of this course are delivered online and include the use of real-time online discussions and an interactive whiteboard space; consequently time spent using a computer and the internet will be extensive. If you use assistive technology or have a hearing or speech impairment and have concerns about accessing this type of virtual environment and materials you can visit the system provider's website for information and contact the Open University to discuss it further before registering.
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. Alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to study using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website . It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
An extensive variety of specially-written resources presented in different media (print and online) and designed exclusively for this course, audio-visual material, published articles, case-studies, a set of interactive tools to help you develop your management thinking abilities and access to the Open University library.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you cannot use an Apple Mac or Linux computer unless it is running Windows using Boot Camp or similar dual-boot system.
You will need a headset, with a microphone and earphones, to talk to your tutor and other students online during some of the course activities.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your assignments and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. You will contact your tutor by telephone, email or via your tutor group forum on the B848 website.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details can be found in the facts box above.
You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).
Once you have successfully completed 450 study hours from optional modules you will take the 45-credit assessment module, Integrating learning (B837) planned for first presentation in November 2012.
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in May 2013. We expect it to be available twice a year, in May and November.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
Course facts
A postgraduate course in Business and Management.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | B848 |
| Credits | 0 |
| OU Level | Postgraduate |
| SCQF level | 11 |
| FHEQ level | 7 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 2 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Course
- - a module of study that can count towards a qualification.
- Credits
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Your questions
We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.
Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
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