Course coordinator
Dr Andre Pekerti
Consultation Hours: Mondays 14:15 to 15:15; other times by appointment only.
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Business School
This course introduces students to essential principles and challenges that managers encounter across different cultures. Using a micro approach, the course introduces students to theories and practices of management in a global economy. It offers students a unique cultural perspective on the roots of behaviour and management around the world. It takes a cross-cultural approach rather than focusing on any single country, enabling students to understand and apply the impact of culture in various cross-cultural settings.
The course offers a variety of learning opportunities, including presentations, exercises, case discussions, role-plays, other experiential activities, and peer learning, to help apply the concepts covered. By participating in both collaborative and individual research, students will assess how culture influences management and its practices. The insights gained will then be applied to diverse cross-cultural settings. Students will engage with each other as peer learners through presentations and quizzes. Therefore, the research conducted during the course will play a crucial role in enhancing the learning experience for everyone. Given the research assignment’s broad scope, the topics covered will span a wide range of areas related to culture and diversity.
Understanding Cultures in International Business: This course, offered in various formats, consistently receives positive feedback for its valuable cross-cultural content. The material stands the test of time and becomes particularly relevant when individuals face challenges outside their cultural comfort zones. Students have shared unsolicited feedback, highlighting how the knowledge gained remains highly valuable and relevant today.
Sustainable Development Goals - UQ Business School is a proud supporter and Advanced Signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (UN PRME). As part of the largest global collaboration between business schools and the UN, the school emphasises its role in empowering students to drive societal transformation through the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs highlight that a thriving economy relies on a healthy environment, aiming to balance economic growth, social well-being, and environmental protection for a sustainable future.
Course requirements
Companion or co-requisite courses
You'll need to complete the following courses at the same time:
IBUS2301
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
IBUS3309 or MGTS7329
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Tutor
Ms Renae Agrey
Teaching assistant
Ms Renae Agrey
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Please note: Teaching staff do not have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you email business.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:
- Full Name
- Student ID
- Course Code
Aims and outcomes
Students will be encouraged to synthesise knowledge from other business courses to develop their knowledge and skills to:
a) Understand how national and sub-cultures differ, moving beyond sophisticated stereotyping.
b) Comprehend multiple cultural perspectives, including intercultural communication, and achieve greater self-awareness and understanding of cultural expectations and goals.
c) Be familiar with alternative practices in international business and organisational settings.
ﾠ
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Reflect on the significance of national and sub-cultures, including Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
LO2.
Develop convincing arguments and experiential learning activities based on independent research.
LO3.
Collaboratively manage multicultural groups to identify the value of diverse communities.
LO4.
Apply relevant theories and/or frameworks to analyse the relationship between culture and management.
LO5.
Recommend best practices to avoid ethical and social issues in operating an international business.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay/ Critique, Participation/ Student contribution, Presentation, Quiz, Reflection, Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Cultural Immersion Reflection, Presentation, Quiz
|
50% There are multiple parts. Membersmust contribute to all parts ofassignment; Group (35%); IndividualQuiz (15%) |
Group Written Essay - 13:00 1/08/2025 - 4/09/2025 Individual Contribution - 13:00 1/08/2025 - 4/09/2025 Group Oral Presentation Slides, 1 week before presentation 10/09/2025 - 27/10/2025 In-Tutorial Individual Quiz 10/09/2025 - 27/10/2025 |
| Essay/ Critique, Practical/ Demonstration, Project |
Cross-Cultural Incident Analysis
|
30% |
23/10/2025 1:00 pm |
| Examination |
Final Examination
|
30% |
End of Semester Exam Period 8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025 |
Assessment details
Cultural Immersion Reflection, Presentation, Quiz
- Team or group-based
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique, Participation/ Student contribution, Presentation, Quiz, Reflection, Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 50% There are multiple parts. Membersmust contribute to all parts ofassignment; Group (35%); IndividualQuiz (15%)
- Due date
Group Written Essay - 13:00 1/08/2025 - 4/09/2025
Individual Contribution - 13:00 1/08/2025 - 4/09/2025
Group Oral Presentation Slides, 1 week before presentation 10/09/2025 - 27/10/2025
In-Tutorial Individual Quiz 10/09/2025 - 27/10/2025
- Other conditions
- Time limited, Peer assessed, Longitudinal.
Task description
Your task in this assignment (as a multicultural group) is to abstract concepts from the cultural immersion and analyse the issue(s) from a cross-cultural perspective, then develop a topic that is relevant to international business/management (IB/M). Please see the IBUS2309 Assignment Guide for detailed instructions and criteria, which is available on Blackboard. Assignments will be discussed in the seminars and tutorials. Students must follow the criteria found in the assignment guide provided on Blackboard or risk failing the assignment.
This entire group assignment is worth 35% of your final mark. The assignment consists of multiple parts, and all team members must participate in all aspects of the assignment. Individual in-tutorial quizzes worth 15% of your final mark are linked to the tutorial presentations.
All aspects of this assignment relate to employability-building skills.
Groups will randomly be created by the course coordinator/facilitator. Once the teams are created, you must contact your group by the end of week 3 or risk receiving a poor peer review that impacts your marks. You are not allowed to change groups yourself; the group change deadline is week 3. All are in the same situation, so please take note of your presentation time and adjust your schedule accordingly.
Students must submit all assessments to pass the course.
Peer Evaluation: The purpose of this evaluation is to assess a member’s contribution to the group effort. Group members may contribute to the group along various dimensions. These include their organisation/project management, knowledge/research, communication, and responsibility, including supporting the group and members in any way. Use the 9-point rating scale given below to rate yourself and members of your group. Please be as objective as possible, taking behaviours rather than personal style into consideration. Peer reviews are compulsory to ensure that a contribution score is available for all moderation.
Instructions: You are required to assess your peers on their contribution to the group assignment by allocating each group member a mark in each of the four criteria. For each criterion, allocate a mark between one and six, where a mark of one (1) indicates no contribution or submitting a contribution past the agreed group deadline, and a mark of nine (9) indicates that they made the maximum contribution possible.
- 1 = Person demonstrated no contribution in this criterion or submitted contributions past the agreed-upon group deadline.
- 1.01 – 1.99 = Person demonstrated a low contribution to the group in this criterion.
- 2 – 3.99 = Person demonstrated a medium-low contribution to the group in this criterion.
- 4 – 5.99 = Person demonstrated a medium-level contribution to the group in this criterion.
- 6 – 8.4 = Person consistently demonstrated a medium-high level of contribution to the group in this criterion.
- 8.5 - 9 = Person consistently demonstrated a high-level contribution to the group in a criterion.
A mark of six (6) or less (1 to 6), based on the above guide (out of 9) for any criteria, requires a comment; otherwise, it is invalid.
To take account of the possibility that a student does not contribute to one or all criteria, 1 signifies that a student has not contributed.
Peer reviews are compulsory and must be submitted within five days of the assessment due date; not submitting peer reviews may decrease marks. If no peer review is received from a student after 5 days, then no contribution scores are calculated and are not available for all moderation. No exceptions!
Important Mark Moderation Based on Peer Review – highest score is 9, see explanation below.
The moderation of individual marks will be based on the following overall average review:
- 8.5 to 9.0 (consistently demonstrated full contribution to group), no deduction from group mark.
- 8.0 to 8.4 (demonstrated medium-high level contribution) 5% deduction from group mark.
- 6.0 to 7.99 (demonstrated medium level contribution), 15% deduction from group mark.
- 3.0 to 5.99 (demonstrated medium-low contribution), 25% deduction from group mark.
- 1.01 to 2.99 (demonstrated low contribution in several criteria or submitted contribution passed agreed group deadline), 50% deduction from group mark.
- 1 no individual mark will be awarded.
Criteria 1: Organisation/Project Management
Role in contributing to the process needed to complete the assignment. Consider their approach to setting up meeting times and work submission deadlines as well as their willingness to listen to other group members' opinions.
Criteria 2: Knowledge/research
Contribution of research, knowledge, opinions, and skills to group discussions and work completion.
- Maintaining academic integrity (ensuring original work; no plagiarised and/or AI-generated materials).
Criteria 3: Communication
How well one collaborated and communicated with others in the group and fulfilled their roles within the group. To determine your mark, consider if each group member:
- was present at all meetings, as long as feasibly possible (either in person or via phone/online) (barring legitimate reasons),
- played an active role in facilitating agreement and resolving conflict and,
- provided timely responses to all communications and queries.
Criteria 4: Responsibility
Taking responsibility for the group’s outcome, and consistently acting in a manner that demonstrated they were keen for the group to perform well (e.g., supporting the group).
- This includes ensuring that the English language is used in all forms of communication. Since the official language of Australia is English, non-compliance can lead to assessments awarded the mark of zero, and non-compliance in group settings be interpreted as exclusionary behaviour, a form of bullying and a serious offence.
Students must follow the criteria found in the assignment guide provided on Blackboard or risk failing the assignment.
The week of the Oral Presentation will be assigned to each group early in Semester. Group Oral Presentation Slides due 1 week prior to presentation.
Not submitting the individual contribution materials implies you made no contribution(s) to the group assignment.
A hardcopy, handout of the presentation with reference list are to be handed to the marker(s) on the day of the presentation; all groups must be ready to present on the day of presentation with their presentation materials on a USB or alternative device to use the seminar room facilities. Please Note: The presentation will be recorded for marking purposes per UQ policy.
Peer reviews are compulsory and must be submitted within 5 calendar days of the assessment due date, not submitting peer reviews may decrease marks. If no peer review is received from a student after 5 calendar days, then is not included for all moderation. No exceptions!
AI Statement
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Only one electronic copy of the assignment per group must be submitted to Turnitin via Blackboard.
Feedback for the assignment will be provided in relation to the assignment criteria.
Checklist:
- Students must follow the criteria found in the assignment guide provided on Blackboard.
- Ensure you have consulted the assignment guide. Ensure that when submitting the assignment that all parts are included. Assignments should be typed, font size should be legible (12 point). Number all pages (except the title page) consecutively. A list of works consulted works must be included and referenced appropriately; see referencing style criteria in the assignment guide.
- Ensure that when submitting the assignment that all parts are included.
- The assignment must be submitted in Word doc. format electronically via Turn-it-in on the course Blackboard assessment link in Word format.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Cross-Cultural Incident Analysis
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique, Practical/ Demonstration, Project
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
23/10/2025 1:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Longitudinal.
Task description
Your task is to describe, propose causes and analyse an actual cross-cultural clash incident from your own experience or vicariously. The task is not simply a descriptive exercise! You must then conduct academic research to analyse the cross-cultural clash and the nature or underlying reasons for the clash by using appropriate theories and/or frameworks relevant to the course.
All aspects of this assignment relate to employability building skills. In particular, towards building cultural empathy and legitimising competing perspectives.
Please see IBUS2309 Assignment Guide for detailed instructions and criteria - available on Blackboard. This assignment should be approximately 2000 words.
Students must follow the criteria found in the assignment guide provided on Blackboard or risk failing the assignment.
AI Statement
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Only an electronic copy of your assignment must be submitted to Turnitin via Blackboard.
Please note that when you successfully submit an e-copy you should receive a receipt stating that you have submitted your assignment. If you do not receive a receipt, then you have NOT successfully submitted your e-copy. It is your responsibility to make sure that you have successfully submitted your assignment.
Feedback for the assignment will be provided in relation to the assignment criteria.
Checklist:
- Students must follow the criteria found in the assignment guide provided on Blackboard.
- Ensure you have consulted the assignment guide. Ensure that when submitting the assignment that all parts are included. Assignments should be typed, font size should be legible (12 point). Number all pages (except the title page) consecutively. A list of works consulted works must be included and referenced appropriately; see referencing style criteria in the assignment guide.
- Ensure that when submitting the assignment that all parts are included.
- The assignment must be submitted in Word doc. format electronically via Turn-it-in on the course Blackboard assessment link in Word format.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Final Examination
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
- Other conditions
- Time limited, Secure.
Task description
The final exam will cover all materials covered in the course and readings to be examined; the seminar objectives and class discussions are the basis for the exam questions. The Examination will have two sections, A) Multiple choice questions, B) Essay questions, in the form of short essays and extended essays or in the format of a case study (problem-solving) questions.
Students are responsible to learn all seminar, tutorial and other relevant course content.
AI Statement
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 46 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
Grades will be allocated according to University-wide standards of criterion-based assessment.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 |
Lecture |
1 - Introduction Course Overview, Assessment Briefing, Introduction to understanding cultures in international business. Introduction, a comprehensive overview of key academic content and skills, outlining its objectives and topics, Explanations of the teaching methods, learning resources, assessments, and staff information to guide students through engaging exercises and assignment formats. |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
No Tutorial in Week 1 No Tutorials in Week 1 |
|
Week 2 |
Lecture |
2 - Culture Systems Culture Systems, Meanings of Culture and International Management. This topic explores the meaning, influences, and theoretical frameworks of culture, emphasising its impact on management practices and organisational diversity. We encourage all to engage in active participation through tutorials and group collaboration. Compulsory integrity tutorial must be completed prior to any assessment submission in this course. https://www.itee.uq.edu.au/thesis/assessment/online-academic-integrity-tutorial) |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 1 Group Formation and Roles Allocation
|
|
Week 3 |
Lecture |
3 - Socialisation process Socialisation Process Across Cultures. This topic investigates how culture shapes individual identity and cognition through socialisation processes, highlighting theoretical frameworks and empirical findings that illustrate its effects in diverse cross-cultural contexts. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 2 Cultural Learning Through Reflection
Ekka Show Day - Wednesday 13 August 2025 - Check Blackboard for announcements about affected classes. |
|
Week 4 |
Lecture |
4 - Ethics across cultures Managing Ethics Across Cultures. This topic explores the multifaceted nature of ethics—including its cultural variability, distinction from morality, various theoretical approaches, and practical decision-making tools—while addressing ethical challenges faced by multinational corporations and global efforts like the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act to promote accountability. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 3 Appreciation of Values
|
|
Week 5 |
Lecture |
5 - Cross-cultural communication Cross-Cultural Communication. This topic explores the concept and functions of communication, emphasizing its cross-cultural dimensions through Hall’s low- and high-context theory, and highlighting its foundational role in international business behaviours supported by empirical insights and practical class exercises. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 4 Cognitivie Bias Awareness
|
|
Week 6 |
Lecture |
6 - Cross-cultural negotiations Cross-Cultural Negotiation. This topic presents negotiation as a collaborative and culturally influenced communication process, examining it as both scripted and dynamic, encompassing strategies, stages, and styles of negotiation, while exploring its role in managing productive conflict. *Group assignment due this week. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 5 Valuing Cultures Through Critical Incidents
|
|
Week 7 |
Lecture |
7 - Motivation Motivation Across Cultures. This topic examines motivation as a psychological process through three content and three process theories, emphasizing their cross-cultural relevance—such as differing views of achievement in different cultures—while incorporating exercises to reinforce understanding and application. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 6 Group Presentation & Cultural Take Away Lesson
|
|
Week 8 |
Lecture |
8 - Leadership Leadership Across Cultures. This topic explores the philosophical foundations and diverse styles of managerial leadership, emphasising how culture shapes leadership effectiveness through theories like Implicit Leadership Theory and the GLOBE study, while highlighting both universal traits and cultural differences as key influences. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 7 Group Presentation & Cultural Take Away Lesson
|
|
Week 9 |
Lecture |
9 - Managing Diversity Managing Diversity. This topic delves into the concept and assumptions of organisational culture, emphasizing the impact of globalisation on multiculturalism within multinational corporations and individuals, exploring strategies for managing n-Culturalism and diversity while challenging stereotypes through reflective case discussions. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 8 Group Presentation & Cultural Take Away Lesson
|
|
Mid Sem break |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
In-Semester Break No Lecture or Tutorials during In-Semester Break. Independent learning. |
Week 10 |
Lecture |
10 - International Human Resource Management International Human Resource Management. This topic explores International and Strategic International Human Resource Management (IHRM and SIHRM), focusing on aligning HR strategies with location-specific contexts, addressing cultural challenges, and managing key functions such as recruitment, selection, compensation, training, and repatriation within a global framework. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 9 Group Presentation & Cultural Take Away Lesson
|
|
Week 11 |
Lecture |
11 - Transpatriate skills Building Transpatriate Skills. This week we explore a unique case study on expatriate assignments, It emphasises the importance of cultural awareness and sensitivity, examining the influence of deeply held cultural assumptions and highlighting essential personal and process skills across four key stages—selection, cultural study, barrier navigation, and adaptation strategies—while linking effective training and performance to cross-cultural understanding. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 9 Group Presentation & Cultural Take Away Lesson
|
|
Week 12 |
Lecture |
12 - Transpatriate adjustment Transpatriates' Adjustment. This topic examines the complexities of acculturation and adjustment in international assignments, addressing career development challenges, critiques of culture shock models, and the importance of re-entry programs within structured career timelines. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 10 Group Presentation & Cultural Take Away Lesson
|
|
Week 13 |
Lecture |
13 - Course Review and Q&A This week, complete potential unfinished topics and provide a review of the course to prepare students for the final examination. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 11 Group Presentation & Cultural Take Away Lesson
|
Additional learning activity information
Sustainable Development Goals
This course integrates the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) throughout course learning activities.
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.