Courses

Academic Level: 400

Seminar, 6 ECTS, 250 hours per semester

offered in spring/summer, fall/winter

Lecturer: Dr. Christian Carstensen, NN

In a world that is growing ever closer together, it is becoming more and more important for young professionals to qualify themselves through intercultural competence. Besides the positive aspect for the career, participation in this module enables students to get to know other cultures as well as to become sensitive to other cultural groups combined with social sciences topics and the acquisition of important key qualifications.

The module Cross-Cultural Experience consists of three components, i.e. an Intercultural Competence seminar, a course on Social Sciences, and participation in one of the programs listed below:

• Tandem and School Program
• Service Learning Program, or
• Intercultural Training Program (only available in spring/summer)

In the Intercultural Competence seminar, various culture concepts are introduced (Hofstede, Schein, Hall, Trompenaars, etc.). The concepts of intercultural conflict and intercultural communication will be analyzed. Students will then play through the concepts by applying them to their own experiences (e.g., while studying abroad). In addition, students will explore the cultures of different regions and countries and their impact on business. Students will become aware of the impact of country and corporate cultures on international business activities. They will recognize that business activities are often culturally bound and will be able to apply their knowledge to practical examples. By participating in one of the above mentioned programs, students will be able to reflect on their experiences there and will be able to make connections to the content learned in the Intercultural Competence seminar and the content learned in the Social Sciences course. The Social Sciences course takes place in interculturally mixed groups and is designed to provide a first insight into the topics, methods and theories of the social sciences. Topics such as social change, modern family development, social action, social stratification, and inequality will be examined from the perspective of sociology. Global social inequality will be analyzed in more detail. Students will learn how to use common statistical indices and reports. The seminar is based on texts by modern sociologist Anthony Giddens, but students will also learn about classical theorists such as Weber and Marx. To connect the course with their intercultural experiences in service learning, with their tandem partners and within the school program, or in the Intercultural Training students will give a presentation about their engagement with the German or foreign partner.

Assessment: Coursework project (presentation, seminar paper)
Prerequisite: a good level of English is required (at least B2)
Undergraduate students, Graduate students

Academic Level: 400

Lecture, 6 ECTS Credits (150 hours per semester), 4 hours per week (45 hours per semester)

offered in fall/winter

Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Carsten Herbes

This course will give students an in-depth induction to the major issues, techniques, and challenges of developing, formulating and implementing strategies in a MNC. Students will learn how to analyze the corporation’s environment in foreign market, become aware of risks and opportunities and how they influence internationalization strategies. They are familiarized with the most important market entry strategies including partnering strategies such as JV and M&A. A comprehensive case will give students the opportunity of applying their market entry strategy know-how. Moreover, this module will help students understand the requirements that international business activities pose to organization, sales & marketing, as well as business ethics. Students will be assigned research tasks on a regular basis and will present and discuss their results with the class. Presentations by international business practitioners will offer ample opportunity for getting insights into the methods and practices of leading companies. Part of the course (2 hours) will be held as a compact course (not weekly), most probably on one or two weekends. This allows evoking the feeling of a real life consulting project.

Assessment: Written exam, presentation
Prerequisites: Background in Business / Economics and Management (intermediate level) and a good knowledge of English is required. The professor reserves the right to refuse students whose English is not sufficient to pass the course and/or whose participation is less than 80%.
Undergraduate students

Academic Level: 500

Lecture, 3 ECTS Credits (75 hours per semester), 2 hours per week (25 hours per semester)

offered in fall/winter

Lecturer: Thomas Schommers

The course introduces theories and concepts of cultures and intercultural management. It enables students to evaluate theories and do further research on theories beyond those introduced in class. The class will introduce different concepts of culture (Hofstede, Schein, Hall, Trompenaars etc.). Concepts of intercultural conflict and intercultural communication will be analyzed. Students will then test the concepts by applying them to their own experience (e.g. gathered while studying abroad). Moreover, we will look at the cultures of various regions / countries in detail and their implications for doing business. Students become aware of the implications of national and corporate cultures for international business activities. They recognize that activities of companies are often culturally bound and can apply their knowledge on practical examples.

Assessment: Written exam, presentation
Prerequisites: Business/Economics, Management (intermediate level) and a good knowledge of English is required. The professor reserves the right to refuse students whose English is not sufficient to pass the course and/or whose participation is less than 80%.
Undergraduate students, Graduate students

Academic Level: 300

Lecture, 1 ECTS Credits (25 hours per semester), 2 hours per week (25 hours per semester)

offered in spring/summer, fall/winter

Lecturer: Dr. Michael Geiger

The course helps students to understand the different dimensions of culture. They will explore the difference between national and organizational cultures, the relationships and rules, managing time, and they will analyze different case studies.

Assessment: Presentation
Prerequisites: Academic/Business Writing
Undergraduate students

Academic Level: 500

Lecture, 2 ECTS Credits (50 hours per semester), 2 hours per week (25 hours per semester)

offered in spring/summer, fall/winter

Lecturer: Thomas Bartz

In this course we will think about all the topics HR is responsible for. This means, we will not only talk about HR as an “administrative” function, but try to grasp what value HR can add to the “business”. We will also link every topic to the ledership skills and abilities of Managers. Lectures, classroom discussions, and exercises/cases will center around: Contemporary leadership discussions involving transactional vs. transformational leadership approaches on the basis of motivation theories, Fundamentals of Labor Relations (Workers Councils, Unions, Collective Agreements), Equality and Diversity, International HR, Discipline, Grievance and HR Planning, Personnel Development and Talent Management Programs, Recruitment and Selection, Performance Management (from objective setting to performance rating), Rewarding (Compensation & Benefits), including bonus and incentive scheme.

Assessment: Written exam, presentations
Prerequisites: Background in Business/Economics and a basic understanding of business processes
Undergraduate students (number of Undergraduates is limited to 6), Graduate students

Academic Level: 500

Lecture, 2 ECTS Credits (75 hours per semester), 2 hours per week (25 hours per semester)

offered in spring/summer, fall/winter

Lecturer: Dipl.-Kfm. Lars Hauschild

This course is offered as a mix between lecture and case study discussion. It provides theory and case studies of international management. The students deal with the impact of the cultural, economic, political and legal environment on management of multinational enterprises. They learn to consider the specifics of international trade. Furthermore, the influence of regional economic integrations like NAFTA and EU on organisation's success in business will be studied. The consequences of factor mobility and foreign direct investments for international trade will be discussed. The course concludes with international business strategy.

Assessment: Written exam
Prerequisites: Background in Business/Economics and introductory classes in Marketing and Management
Undergraduate students (number of Undergraduates is limited to 6), Graduate students

Academic Level: 500

Lecture, 2 ECTS Credits (50 hours per semester), 2 hours per week (25 hours per semester)

offered in fall/winter, spring/summer

Lecturer: Cristina Bardelli

The purpose of this intercultural competence lecture is to gain a better understanding of cultures. It provides an overview of themes and issues in German culture and communication style as well as in foreign cultures. Finally provides help dealing with the different way-of-life’s and integrating in case in the different way-of-life’s. Another focus of the lecture is global strategy and global management and the intercultural challenges associated with it. Finally, current megatrends are highlighted and discussed to find out, which intercultural competencies are necessary to deal with these megatrends successfully today and in the futur.

Assessment: Written exam
Prerequisites: Business/Economics, Management (intermediate level)
Undergraduate students with special permission (number of Undergraduates is limited to 6), Graduate students

Academic Level: 500

Lecture, 6 ECTS Credits (150 hours per semester), 4 hours per week (45 hours per semester)

offered in spring/summer

Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Erskin Blunck, Prof. Dr. Christian Arndt

The goal of this Business Challenge Module is to develop a successful business model for a real life challenge for a company or other organization using methods of open innovation. Each year, the challenge will be defined in cooperation with a local organization prior to the start of the module. Students will set up and use a Design Thinking process (problem understanding, solution, and value proposition). They will acquire competencies in the necessary methodologies, such as tools for project management, the business model canvas, co-working, co-creation, and, if feasible, a high level business plan. Finally, students will work together with innovation experts from the organization and pitch their business model in front of experienced business managers.

Assessment: Coursework project (presentation, paper)
Prerequisites: Background in Business/Economics and introductory class in Management
Undergraduate students (number of Undergraduates is limited to 6), Graduate students

Academic Level: 500

Lecture, 3 ECTS Credits (75 hours per semester), 2 hours per week (25 hours per semester)

offered in spring/summer, fall/winter

Lecturer: Dr. Ulrich Schnelle

Different sections will introduce the students to the crucial aspects of International Commercial Law. The Section “Doing Business Abroad” offers the Choice of the appropriate marketing mode; The second section deals with “Negotiating and Drafting International Contracts”. The third section explores the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG); the Special Features of E-Commerce are content of the last section.

Assessment: Oral exam
Prerequisites: Introductory class in Business Law
Undergraduate students (number of Undergraduates is limited to 6), Graduate students

Academic Level: 500

Lecture, 2 ECTS Credits (50 hours per semester), 2 hours per week (25 hours per semester)

offered in spring/summer, fall/winter

Lecturer: Aleksandar Savanovic

Entry into foreign markets, typical contracts in the international commerce (distribution, agency, licensing, cooperation), typical commercial terms (Incoterms, negotiable instruments), dispute resolution, relationship between Civil and Common Law exemplified by the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, International Trade and Customs Law (WTO) and the Law of Supranational or Free Trade Organisations (European Union, Mercosur, APEC)

Assessment: Oral exam
Prerequisites: Introductory class in Business Law
Undergraduate students (number of Undergraduates is limited to 6), Graduate students

Academic Level: 400

Lecture, 3 ECTS Credits (75 hours per semester), 2 hours per week (25 hours per semester)

offered in spring/summer, fall/winter

Lecturer: Dr. Rudi Holz

This course delivers aspects on internationalization strategies like: Market Entry Strategies, Timing Strategies,  Export Strategies, Licensing, Internationalization Strategies, Country Risks with a focus on the automotive industry

Assessment: Written exam, presentations, paperPrerequisite: Background in Business/Economics, Introductory class in Marketing and Management Undergraduate students, Graduate students

Academic Level: 400

Lecture, 3 ECTS Credits (75 hours per semester), 2 hours per week (25 hours per semester)

offered in spring/summer, fall/winter

Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Wolfram Sopha

Students will be introduced to strategies and skills of intercultural communication enabling them to better understand and overcome cultural differences needed for conducting international business. They will gain insight into the communicative requirements for doing business abroad by: assessing own cultural themes and patterns, examining various geographic regions, identifying cultural themes and patterns of other geographical regions, identifying business conduct and business practices as well as the protocol of greetings, and titles/forms of address in other countries, understanding where potential obstacles may lie in intercultural communication

Assessment: Written exam
Prerequisite: Introductory class in Management
Undergraduate students, Graduate students

Academic Level: 400

Lecture, 3 ECTS Credits (75 hours per semester), 2 hours per week (25 hours per semester)

offered in spring/summer, fall/winter

Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Wolfram Sopha

Students in this course get comprehensive English language training for different business purposes. They learn how to negotiate in English across different cultures, applying the method of the Harvard Concept and use negotiating terms, phrases, and expressions. The students learn and practise the organisation and communication skills required in an environment with international business partners in different role plays. The course emphasises on cultural sensitivity in business and communicating across cultures with the help of rhetoric, style and body language. The students read articles on selected topics from relevant periodicals to evaluate and discuss the content. The goal is to improve the English language skills to enable students to negotiate in English, improve their non-verbal communication and to make them familiar with international business etiquette.

Assessment: Written exam, presentations
Prerequisite: Background in Business/Economics, introductory class in Management
Undergraduate students, Graduate students