Syllabus

Title
2523 Intercultural Business Communication (Group 2)
Instructors
Ass.Prof. M.A.Dr. Regina Göke, Univ.Prof. Dr. Nadine Thielemann, M.A.
Contact details
nadine.thielemann@wu.ac.at
Type
VUE
Weekly hours
2
Language of instruction
Englisch
Registration
09/02/26 to 10/06/26
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Die Lehrveranstaltung wird nur im Wintersemester angeboten.
Subject(s) Master Programs
Intercultural Business Communication
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Wednesday 10/07/26 08:00 AM - 10:30 AM D5.1.001
Wednesday 10/07/26 10:30 AM - 01:00 PM TC.5.02
Wednesday 10/14/26 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM TC.2.03
Thursday 10/15/26 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM D2.0.326
Wednesday 10/21/26 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM TC.2.03
Thursday 10/22/26 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM D1.1.078
Wednesday 10/28/26 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM EA.6.026
Wednesday 11/04/26 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM TC.3.08
Wednesday 12/09/26 08:00 AM - 11:00 AM TC.2.02

On this page:

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Contents

In the age of globalization, the success of organizations depends on their capacity to navigate a culturally diverse world. The course provides students with theoretical concepts of culture, with models of intercultural communication and accounts of cultural diversity within business settings. Case studies are used to show what characterizes intercultural business communication at the interpersonal, organizational and societal levels. In doing so, the course addresses the challenges and opportunities arising from these intercultural business environments and familiarizes students with different tools/instruments to manage them in practice.

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Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will:

1) be able to explain why culture is a multi-layered and dynamic concept

2) be able to identify the complex processes underlying intercultural communication

3) be aware of the opportunities and challenges of intercultural communication in organizational contexts

4) be able to make culturally sensitive decisions in organizational communication.

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Attendance requirements

at least 70% attendance

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Teaching/learning method(s)
  • lecture style input (theoretical concepts)
  • problem-based learning
  • group work
  • simulations and games
  • group discussions
  • case studies
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Assessment

1) individual assignment (40 %): reading & reflection assignment

2) Group assignment (40 %): case study & production of a video presentation

3) final exam (20%): pencil & paper in the last session (covering the content of the whole course, including the video presentation)

Grades will be based on the final score, as follows: 100-90%: excellent (1); 89-80 %: good (2);  79-70%: satisfactory (3); 69-60%: sufficient (4); <59% fail (5)

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Readings

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Availability of lecturer(s)

by e-mail

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Unit details
Unit Date Contents
1 7.10.2026

Introduction - Nadine & Regina

Why intercultural business communication matters in the age of globalisation, digitalisation, and migration & what will this course be about?

Tree of Life - learning about each other / team building activity

practical information

  • course design & methods
  • teaching materials & readings
  • assignments & attendance

What is intercultural communication? - Navigating the VUCA-world

An intercultural simulation - Experiencing intercultural situations

  • adaptation / acculturation strategies
  • intercultural competence

 

Individual Reading & Reflection Assignment: Interculturality and Strategies to deal with it

(Deadline: 31st October)

 
2 14.10.2026

Conceptualizing Culture - Regina

What is culture?

  • Key characteristics
  • Concepts

Open and closed concepts of culture 

  • Comparative Cross-Cultural Management (Case Study) 
  • Poly-collectivity and multi-collectivity
  • Cultural Identity: Multiple identities and intercultural individuals
  • Identity and Society: Intersectionality, Diversity & Inclusion

Tools, Resources and Activities

  • Inclusion Nudges 
  • Boundary Spanning & boundary spanners
3 15.10.2026

interactive exercises (Nadine)
4 21.10.2026

Organisational culture (Regina)

What is organisational culture?

Research Insights: Office lore as an expression of contemporary workplace culture

Dealing with interculturality in organizations

  • The interpretive approach
  • Case study - group work
  • Transcultural Learning 
5 22.10.2026

interactive exercises (Nadine)
6 28.10.2026

Multicultural teams (Nadine)

Intercultural teams

  • The impact of cultural diversity on teams - risks & benefits
  • Leadership models & Managing culturally diverse teams
  • The MBI-Model - A cross-cultural interaction tool

Case study - Group Project - kick off

Group Project: Edutainment Video on intercultural concepts in context

(Deadline: 4th December)

 
7 4.11.2026

Counselling session

During the first counselling session, we will focus on how your team understands the task and how you plan to approach it. Specifically, we expect you to be ready to discuss:

  1. The essential content you plan to cover (so far)

  2. The readings you intend to draw on

  3. An initial idea of the overall structure of your video

At this stage, it is not advisable to divide the task into subtasks and assign them too early, as this often results in fragmented or incoherent presentations. Instead, the session should help your team develop a shared understanding of the task and a coherent approach.

Kindly come at the time indicated for your group (--> information on canvas!)
8

Consulting & Feedback - groups work towards their case studies (asynchronous & virtual)

The purpose of the second consultation session is to discuss any questions, problems, or challenges you encounter while working on the project. Since pace and progress may vary across teams, we leave the scheduling up to you. However, our expectation is that you proactively contact us—at least for a brief check-in—about how your work is progressing.
9 9.12.2026

final exam & general feedback

 
Last edited: 2026-09-02



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