1. Assessment Recap

• Requires you to reflect on and analyze a personal weakness in intercultural interactions, drawing on your experiences and course theories. 

• The essay should be 1200 words (+/- 10%), individual work, and include at least five academic references.

Suggested structure:

1/ Introduction (suggested 100 words)

2/ Reflection (suggested 350 words)

3/ Interpretation (suggested 350 words)

4/ Action Plan (suggested 300 words)

5/ Conclusion (suggested 100 words)

6/ References and Appendices (if applicable)

2. Definition/ Slide summary

1. Cross-Cultural Management: The study and application of management practices in a multicultural environment, focusing on understanding and managing cultural differences in international business settings.

2. Conflict Resolution in Multicultural Settings: Techniques and approaches used to resolve disagreements in a way that respects cultural differences.

3. Cultural Diversity: The presence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society or organization.

4. International Business Etiquette: The accepted manners and practices in international business settings, which vary widely across cultures.

3. Detailed Outline

1/ Introduction (suggested 100 words)

• Briefly introduce the concept of intercultural effectiveness.

• State your identified weakness in intercultural interactions.

• Outline the structure of your essay.

2/ Reflection (suggested 350 words)

Hint

The flow you should follow: Description of Specific Instances → Personal Attitudes and Behaviors →  Cultural Impact Analysis → Initial Self-Assessment 

• Detailed Description of Specific Instances

  • Event Selection: Choose incidents that vividly showcase intercultural challenges or miscommunications.

  • Contextual Detailing: Describe the setting, background, and events leading up to the interaction, including any relevant cultural or social context.

• In-depth Personal Attitudes and Behaviors Analysis

  • Self-Reflection on Mindset: Examine your emotional state during these interactions (e.g., frustration, curiosity).

• Thorough Cultural Impact Analysis

  • Cultural Contrast: Highlight specific cultural norms or practices that were different and influenced the interaction.

• Comprehensive Initial Self-Assessment

  • Skill Evaluation: Gauge your intercultural communication skills, awareness of cultural differences, and ability to adapt to new cultural contexts.

  • Critical Honesty: Acknowledge areas of ignorance or misunderstanding about the other culture that affected the interaction.

• Integration of Theory and Practice

  • Theoretical Connections: Correlate your experiences with intercultural communication theories or models.

  • Practical Application: Demonstrate how understanding these theories could have changed or improved the interaction.

Example

In a group project with diverse cultural backgrounds (Vietnam, Germany, Brazil, India), my direct Vietnamese communication style clashed with the indirect approach of Brazilian and Indian team members. This led to misunderstandings, highlighting the importance of adapting to various communication norms. Applying Hall's high-context and low-context communication theory (Hall, 1976) would have improved understanding and team dynamics, emphasizing the need for adaptability in intercultural interactions.