90014 - Management of Cultural Diversities in the Internationalization Processes

Learning outcomes

The course aims to explain how cultural and religious diversities affect internationalization processes and the consequent supply of services, proposing to students the management practices able to manage these processes in their globality. Starting from the analysis of the phenomenon of globalization and its relationship with the internationalization processes, through the teaching of the Hofstede's theories, the man in his key dual role as employee and consumer is analyzed and explained. The main purpose of the teaching is to provide students with the tools to apply management theories in different cultural contexts: at this purpose, a special focus is put to the discipline of human resources and strategic marketing. The study of the collectivist and individualist cultural dimensions will also contribute to provide the students with the necessary knowledge to customize any type of internationalization activity on the basis of the different perceptions of social interactions. A whole scenario of the international activities will be also provided.

Course contents

To achieve these goals, teaching activities will focus on four main topics:

-analysis of the globalization and internationalization phenomena and their historical origins;

- flow chart of the decision-making processes of the internationalizing companies;

- strategies, policies, and techniques for organizing and managing human resources, selling, marketing and production activities in a multicultural context: relationships between these activities and different cultures and religions; topics, criticalities, evolutionary paths;

-different options of internationalization according to the diverse size, financial capacity and internationalization knowledge of the companies

Special focus will be put on the analysis of cultural and religious diversities.

Readings/Bibliography

Slides of the lectures, extracts of books and scientific articles will be indicated and distributed throughout the course.

Additional bibliography:

Ferdinandi M., 2009, Internazionalizzazione: le sue forme analisi delle diversità e gli investimenti diretti esteri, McGraw Hill.
Hofstede G., Hofstede G.J., Minkov M., 2010, Cultures and Organizations - Software of the mind, McGraw-Hill.

Teaching methods

The discussion of diversities impacting internationalization processes is based on the most recent management anthropological theories, on significant case studies and the personal professional extended experience of the teacher. The approach, based on the professional experience of the teacher will be based on his current role of Ambassador in Vietnam and at the ASEAN and past experience as the CEO of multinational companies. This approach will allow students to better understand the real world of business and how to use different theories to interpret organizational choices

Assessment methods

Written test composed of open questions. The student, basing on the theories introduced during the Course, have to be able to understand and interpret the main strategies, technicalities and choices affecting internationalization processes. The test covers both the theoretical part and the cases analyzed during the classes. It is not possible to bring books, personal notes or electronic devices in the exam. Registration (through AlmaEsami) for the exam is compulsory.

Mark range:

• 18-19: knowledge of a very limited number of topics covered in the course and analytical skills that emerge only with the help of the teacher, expressed in an overall correct language;
• 20-24: knowledge of a limited number of topics covered in the course and ability to autonomous analysis only on purely executive matters, expression in correct language;
• 25-29: good knowledge of a large number of topics covered in the course, ability to make independent choices of critical analysis, mastery of specific terminology;
• 30-30 cum laude: excellent knowledge of the topics covered in the course, ability to make autonomous choices of critical analysis and connection, full mastery of specific terminology and ability to argue and self-reflection.

Teaching tools

Frontal teaching and group exercises.

Office hours

See the website of Massimo Ferdinandi