Intercultural Communication

Only available during the Spring semesters.

1. COURSE JUSTIFICATION:
The implementation of internationalization strategies by private and public
organizations has brought to light the relevance of interpreting international context
elements. Among all elements coordinating, supporting and managing this kind of
processes the cultural sphere is one of the most complex element to understand
accurately.
Thus, the efficiency in managing internationalization strategies, as well as the
diversification of international relations hangs heavily on developing cultural
intelligence skills. These skills allow the interpretation of implicit knowledge myths,
believes, values, rituals as well as the explicit knowledge negotiation styles, business
etiquette, organization structures in other words, cultural elements.

The ongoing globalization processes as well as the population diversity at the
workplace lead managers to be more sensible and aware of cultural merits in
international business. This sensibility can turn future challenges into opportunities
within a global business context. This intercultural communication course has been
thought for students to develop their social and communicational skills to identify,
understand and face the challenges generated in a multicultural and multilingual
international business context.
This program also seeks for students to handle several cultural implications within
effective communication in aspects such as: management and leadership so they can
access the knowledge to develop international management practices in multilateral
environments.
2. COURSE OBJECTIVE(S):
For students to identify cultural elements embedded in human communication. Going
through a general analysis of cultural traits across the main regions of the world
Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and America students will be able to put into practice
theories, concepts and ideas to develop a critical thinking approach upon their own
culture.
Specific objectives
• To integrate cultural dimensions in international business negotiations.
• To be familiar with the main thinking streams in cultural studies especially within
the western tradition.
• To understand communication as a complex system and its integrative
dimensions
• To recognize implications of verbal and nonverbal communication as part of the
social construct called cultural identity and its influence in multicultural business
negotiations.
• To embrace the multilingual character of communication for business and
organizations in their internationalization strategies.
• To recognize the impact of the Information and Communication Technologies
for the multiple communication processes in international business.
3. CONTENTS DESCRIPTION:
1. Culture and its definions
key study points
• Relevant definitions of culture in the western world
• Cultural identity process
• Iceberg or Onion models of culture
• The punctuation principle
• Organizations, cultures and international relations.
Specific Objective:
To get a better understanding on the definition of culture and how cultural identities
are being formed.
Learning strategies:
Workshops and activities for students to identify their own cultural identities.
Bibliography:
• Deresky, Helen. (2006). Understanding the role of culture. Prentice Hall (Eds),
International Management (pp. 79-115). New Jersey, NJ.
• Leung, Kwok. (2005). Culture and international business: recent advances and
their implications for future Research. Journal of International Business
Studies, 36, 357–378.
• Klyukanov, I. (2005). Principles of Intercultural Communication: Pearson A and
B, chapter 1: Creating Cultural Boundaries: Punctuation Principle
• Moll, M. (2012). The Quintessence of Intercultural Business Communication.
Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. Retrieved from
https://ezproxy.eafit.edu.co:2183/book/10.1007%2F978-3-642-28238-6
2. An overview on the spheres shaped by culture
Key study points
• Family
• Gender roles
• Age.
• History.
• Religion.
• Brief explanation on Christianism, Judaism, Islamism, Hinduism, Budism and
Confucianism.
(Jimmy Nelson) Before they passed away.
Specific Objective:
To gain a better understanding on the mayor regions of the world according to their
mainstream religions.

Learning strategies:
Research and presentations done by students.
Bibliography:
• Bolten, Jurgen. (1993). Life-World Games: the theoretical foundations of
training courses in intercultural communication. European Journal of Education,
28 (3).
• Dallmayr, Fred. (2009). Hermeneutics and inter-cultural dialog: linking theory
and practice. Ethics & Global Politics, 2, (1), 23-39.
• Walton, D. (2007). Introducing Cultural studies learning through practice. SAGE
Publications, chapter 7: Introducing Stuart Hall: The importance and reevaluation
of Popular Mass Culture.
3. Communication.
Key study points
• Human communication
• A contextual model of Intercultural Communication
• The cultural context
• individualism
• Collectivism
• Perceptual context
• Stereotypes
• Human information processing
Specific Objective:
Explore in depth the concept of communication and its dimensions such as the
cultural and perceptual dimensions revealing a series of essential aspects to
identify in international business.
Learning strategies:
Global simulation method
Bibliography:
• Landis, D., Bennet, J. M., & Bennet, M. J. (2004). Handbook of Intercultural
Training. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, chapter 9: Translating conflict
face-negotiation theory into practice.
• Klyukanov, I. (2005). Principles of Intercultural Communication: Pearson A and
B, chapter 7: Dynamics of intercultural communication: Pendulum Principle.
4. Language and Culture
Key study points:
• Verbal code
• Symbols
• Syntax and universal grammar
• Contextual styles
Specific Objective:
To understand the importance of language in human communication to use it in
international negotiations.
Learning strategies:
Workshop
Bibliography:
• Neulip, J. W. (2015). Intercultural communication: a contextual approach.
Thousand Oaks: Sage, chapter 7: The verbal code.
• Sinor, D. (1995). Languages and Cultural Interchange along the Silk Roads.
Diogenes, 43(171), 1-13. doi:10.1177/039219219504317102
• Jandt, F. E. (2012). An introduction to intercultural communication: identities in
a global community 7th edition. Thousand Oaks, California, United States of
America: Sage Publications, Inc., chapter 10: Culture and Gender.
• Landis, D., Bennet, J. M., & Bennet, M. J. (2004). Handbook of Intercultural
Training. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, chapter 6: Developing
Intercultural Sensitivity.
5. Non-verbal communication
Key study points
• Code systems
• Kinesics, Occulesics, Haptics
• Paralanguage
• Power distance
• High and low context
Specific Objective:
To understand the importance of nonverbal communication in human
communication and use it in international negotiations.
Learning strategies:
Case study
Bibliography:
• Neulip, J. W. (2015). Intercultural communication: a contextual approach.
Thousand Oaks: Sage, Chapter 8: The nonverbal code.
• Schinckus, C. (2010). Semiotics of Financial Marketplace. Journal of
Interdisciplinary Economics, 22(4), 317-333.
doi:doi:10.1177/02601079X10002200402
• Martin, I. M., Stewart, D. W., & Matta, S. (2005). Branding strategies, marketing
communication, and perceived brand meaning: The transfer of purposive, goaloriented
brand meaning to brand extensions. Journal of the Academy of
Marketing Science, 33(3), 275-294. doi:10.1177/0092070304271197
6. Language in International Business
Key study points
• The role of language in IB
• Language and internationalization processes
• Levels of communication in IB
Specific Objective:
To recognize the central role of language in IB especially in internationalization
processes
Learning strategies:
Case study
Bibliography:
• Welch, D. E., Welch, L. S., & Marschan-Piekkari, R. (2001). The Persistent
Impact of Language on Global Operations. Prometheus, 19(3), 193-209.
doi:10.1080/08109020110072180
• Brannen, M. Y., Piekkari, R., & Tietze, S. (2014). The multifaceted role of
language in international business: Unpacking the forms, functions and features
of a critical challenge to MNC theory and performance. 45(5), 495-507.
7. Communication Management
Key study points
• Why is Communication Management important in IB
• To learn how to design a CS in International Organizations
• To identify the main elements on a Communication Strategy for an
International Organization.
Specific Objective:
To develop a Communication Plan draft for an International Organization.
Learning strategies:
Workshop
Bibliography:
• Grosse, C. U. (2002). Managing Communication within Virtual Intercultural
Teams. Business Communication Quarterly, 65(4), 22-38.
doi:10.1177/108056990206500404
• Hamacher, B. (2008). Intercultural Communication Management and Lean
Global Supply Chains. In T. Koch (Ed.), Lean Business Systems and Beyond
(pp. 365-372). Boston, MA: Springer US.
• Landis, D., Bennet, J. M., & Bennet, M. J. (2004). Handbook of Intercultural
Training. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, chapter 4: Instrumentation in
Intercultural Training.
8. Multiculturality and Multilingualism in IB
Key study points
• The multicultural factor in International Business
• The multilingual factor in International Business
• Translation and Interpreting issues in IB communication
• EU as a laboratory of multilingualism in international governance.
Specific Objective:
To recognize IB communication as a multiannual phenomenon along with its
implications in international relations, governance and business.
Learning strategies:
Workshop
Bibliography:
• Chen, S., Geluykens, R., & Choi, C. J. (2006). The importance of language in
global teams: A linguistic perspective. Management International Review, 46(6),
679. doi:10.1007/s11575-006-0122-6
• Luo, Y. D., & Shenkar, O. (2006). The multinational corporation as a multilingual
community: Language and organization in a global context. Journal of
International Business Studies, 37(3), 321-339.
doi:10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400197
9. ICTs in IB
Key study points:
• Terminology and specialized communication
• The role of terminology in IB
• Terminology databases
• Thesauri and ontologies
• IB specialized vocabulary
Specific Objective:
To understand the importance of terminology for an accurate and effective
communication in International Business.
Learning strategies:
Workshop
Bibliography:
• Qin, Z., Chang, Y., Li, S., & Li, F. (2014). E-Commerce Strategy of Industries.
In E-Commerce Strategy (pp. 151-206). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin
Heidelberg.
• Introduction to the Semantic Web. (2006). In Semantic Web and Education (pp.
29-69). Boston, MA: Springer US.
• Davies, J., & Warren, P. (2011). Knowledge Management in Large
Organizations. In J. Domingue, D. Fensel, & J. A. Hendler (Eds.), Handbook of
Semantic Web Technologies (pp. 737-786). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin
Heidelberg.
4. EVALUATION
• Oral Presentations
• Workshop
• Global Simulation
• Case study