Syllabus

Title
5835 Intercultural Communication and Area Studies
Instructors
Ass.Prof. M.A.Dr. Regina Göke, Univ.Prof. Dr. Nadine Thielemann, M.A.
Type
PI
Weekly hours
2
Language of instruction
Englisch
Registration
02/01/24 to 03/01/24
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Wednesday 03/06/24 08:00 AM - 10:30 AM TC.4.04
Wednesday 03/13/24 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM TC.4.04
Wednesday 03/20/24 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM TC.4.04
Wednesday 04/10/24 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM TC.4.04
Wednesday 04/17/24 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM TC.4.04
Wednesday 04/24/24 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM TC.4.04
Wednesday 05/08/24 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM TC.4.04
Wednesday 05/15/24 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM TC.4.04
Wednesday 05/22/24 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM TC.4.04
Wednesday 05/29/24 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM TC.4.04
Wednesday 06/05/24 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM TC.4.04
Contents

Transnationally operating organizations as well as highly mobile individuals working in communications need to be aware of and flexibly orient themselves to the specific local environment. The course will equip students with theoretical frameworks to assess in which ways culture is relevant at the different levels of intercultural PR and global communications. Furthermore, students will be familiarized with analytical tools and resources which enable them to characterize the specific framework conditions for a region.

The students will explore the impact of culture in case studies in relation to examples of countries, regions, and fields of communication (e.g., CSR communication, crisis communication, place branding or public diplomacy, etc.) of their choice.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to: 

1) recognize the impact that the socio-cultural environment can have on organizations and their communication with various stakeholders.

2) discuss the challenges organizations and their members face when they are communicating with or in different national cultures.                                                                                                                                

3) describe common approaches and tools used by organizations to address these challenges, and use them appropriately.                                                                                                                                                   

4) implement culturally sensitive communication strategies and tools for different areas of organizational communication.

Attendance requirements

minimum of 80 % attendance

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

1) Individual assignment (20%): reading & reflection tasks

2) Individual assignment (40%): Country dossier ("PESTLE-analysis" of a region/country by choice)

3) Group assignment (40%): group project

  • Students work in groups of 3-4 on their project, which will be presented during one of the last three sessions

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)

Readings

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Availability of lecturer(s)

Göke, Regina ; Thielemann, Nadine

Unit details
Unit Date Contents
1 06.03.2024

Introduction — Why does expertise in areas and intercultural communication matter for global PR?

  • Review of relevant concepts & models from the previous course in intercultural business communication
  • Practical information
    • Course design & methods
    • Teaching materials & readings
    • Assignments & Attendance

 

2 13.03.2024

Theoretical foundations of intercultural PR and global communication (Part I)

  • Effects of globalization on PR
  • Global-Local Dilemma 
  • The Generic/Specific-Theory of PR

 

 

3 20.03.2024

Theoretical foundations of intercultural PR  and global communication (Part II)

  • The five / seven dimensions of Public Relations Practice in a global environment
  • How do you prepare a “country dossier”? — Doing research to systematically assess relevant framework conditions for PR (e.g., PESTLE-Analysis & resources for research)

 

4 10.04.2024

Relationship management: How organizations engage with international and culturally diverse audiences

  • Theoretical framework for intercultural relationship management 
  • Analysis and discussions on cases of cross-cultural & intercultural relationship management (e.g., cross-cultural social media communication; health communication in multicultural societies – the case of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign)

 

5 17.04.2024

Managing and preventing crisis & conflict communicatively across cultures

e.g., analysis of a crisis using the framework of global public relations (e.g. Danesh & Krishnamurthy 2018); cultural appropriation and moral outrage: what can organizations do?

6 24.04.2024

Challenged by climate change — CSR, energy and environmental communication across cultures

  •      CSR communication & culture
  •      Analysis and discussions on cases from controversial industries
7 08.05.2024

Public diplomacy and place branding

  • Soft power
  • Public Diplomacy
  • Nation Branding
  • Analysis and discussion of cases (e.g., Sputnik V on social media)
8 15.05.2024

Consultation sessions for group projects (flexible & asynchronous)

 

9 22.05.2024

Presentations

Relationship Management: Hotel Baía
Crisis Communication: Starbucks

10 29.05.2024

Presentations

Crisis Communication:
Abercrombie & Fitch
Nestlé
11 05.06.2024

Presentations

Crisis Communication: ICRC

Public Diplomacy, nation/place branding: Australia

Last edited: 2024-04-16



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