20110 Transnational Management

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Business: Finance
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

This subject introduces concepts and capabilities that are critical to navigating the complexities of managing in transnational contexts. It integrates frameworks and practices from diverse disciplinary areas, such as cross-cultural psychology, social psychology, organisational behaviour, and international human resource management, to help students address the major challenges (and opportunities) of global management.

An important learning outcome of this subject is how culture influences students' (and others’) assumptions, perceptions, attributions and behaviours, and therefore how it shapes managerial practices. The content and activities in this subject are designed to help students develop awareness and competencies to more effectively communicate, collaborate, manage and lead in culturally-diverse transnational settings.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

1.	Examine the impact of culture on themselves and others, and the cross-cultural capabilities needed to bridge cultural differences
2.	Apply a range of management approaches to suit different transnational settings and functions, including communicating, collaborating, managing and leading
3.	Discuss the impact on global careers of the challenges and opportunities which exist in transnational contexts

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the following program learning objectives:

• Communicate information clearly in a form appropriate for its audience (2.1)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

Globalisation is probably the defining phenomenon of our lifetime. It shapes every aspect of our lives from where, how and why we work, to the composition of our communities, companies and classrooms. Students studying Transnational Management develop a global outlook and capabilities that make them more effective managers in a globalized world. It does this by contributing to the development of the following graduate attribute(s):

• Intellectual rigour and innovative problem solving
• Communication and collaboration
• Social responsibility and cultural awareness

This subject also contributes specifically to develop the following Program Learning Objectives for the Bachelor of Business International Business major:

• Demonstrate ability to work independently and with others as a member of a team to achieve an agreed goal (2.2)

Teaching and learning strategies

The teaching approach in this subject is designed to help you create a vision for yourself as a transnational manager and to provide you with the knowledge, skills and experiences to progress towards that vision. We focus on the micro-level interpersonal knowledge and skills needed to understand, work with, and lead people from different cultural backgrounds.

Pre-class, in-class and assessment activities and learning materials are designed from evidence-based principles of ‘what works’ in developing people’s transnational capabilities.

The content in this subject is designed to complement the subject "Introduction to International Business" (20108), which deals with the macro-level environment of international business practice. In combination, these subjects - and others in the international business major – aim to help you develop the global knowledge, skills and mindset needed to succeed in international settings.

Content (topics)

The subject content is structured around three core themes, each linked to one of the subject’s learning outcomes. Classes will be devoted to unpacking and exploring the latest research and key concepts relating to each theme:

• Being a transnational person (the impact of one’s own enculturation, patterns of cultural differences, transnational capabilities in a global world)
• Managing in transnational settings (understanding and applying different approaches to communicate, collaborate, manage and lead in transnational settings)
• Managing and succeeding in transnational careers (living and working overseas, managing international assignments)

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Team Project (Group)

Objective(s):	This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1 and 2
Weight:	20%
Length:	20-25 minutes
Criteria:	Preparation (evidence that all team members were involved in planning the discussion and were well prepared during the discussion) Facilitation (evidence that the discussion was well structured and facilitated in a way that led to equitable, respectful and productive involvement by all participants) Quality of discussion (evidence that the discussion was a valuable and engaging learning experience for all participants in relation to this subject’s key outcomes)

Assessment task 2: Applied Analysis and Reflection (Individual)

Objective(s):	This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1 and 2 This addresses program learning objectives(s): 2.1
Weight:	40%
Length:	Up to 2400 words excluding references
Criteria:	Accurately apply and integrate relevant subject concepts in appropriate ways Demonstrate depth and quality of analysis Present written analysis and reflection that is clear, accurate and appropriate for the task Formulate and present recommendations or conclusions that are clear, logical and appropriate

Assessment task 3: Final Examination (Individual)

Objective(s):	This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3
Weight:	40%
Length:	2 hours
Criteria:	Apply and integrate relevant concepts in a manner appropriate to address questions or cases Demonstrate depth of understanding through the quality of analysis, supporting detail and integration of concepts

Minimum requirements

Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks.

Required texts

There is no required textbook for this subject. However there are required learning materials for each class. These centre on a set of customised Briefing Notes which are available for download from the subject’s Canvas website. These Briefing Notes summarise core concepts that will be discussed and explored further in class. They also include activities and reflection questions, links to relevant websites and academic articles, and some activities and case studies that students are expected to review before class. Several of the questions, cases, and activities that are in the Briefing Notes are former exam questions.

References

The Briefing Notes include details of some targeted (optional) academic reading articles. The details of these (including some information to help you understand their relevance to the subject content) can be found at the back of the Briefing Notes, while the articles themselves can be downloaded via the Reading List in the subject’s Canvas site.

In addition to the Briefing Notes, the 'Class materials' pages of Canvas have links to relevant additional materials relating to the topics we cover. These include videos, podcasts, news articles, corporate reports, and other resources to help you understand and/or apply the core concepts in the Briefing Notes.

A range of quality academic journals publish research relating to this subject. An example of these can be found in the 'Subject Resources' page of the 'Orienting Yourself' module of Canvas. All of these journals can be accessed through the UTS library databases. You are encouraged to explore these during the session and to use relevant additional articles from these sources as part of your assignment work.