University of Alberta
SMO 437
Managing Culture
Instructor: F.W. [Rick] Brick; MBA, CPHR, IPMA-ACP, SHRM-SCP, PMP Fall Term 2018
Office: 1-29 Lec A1
Office Hours: by appointment Classroom 4-09 BUS
Time: Monday/Wednesday 2:00-3:20 pm E-mail: [email protected]
Course Description and Objectives
This course will explore the critical issue of culture. We will start by looking at culture from a macro point of view – looking at culture from an ethnic, geographic and country point of view.
We will then move our examination to a micro level looking at culture within groups, families, and most important for our learnings in this course – organizational entities.
Our objectives for this course will include the following:
a. understand concepts and theories of culture relevant to management and organization b. understand culture and its relevance to business and management
c. develop a knowledge base and enhance your skills to operate within various cultural settings
d. examine the linkage between culture and change management e. develop critical thinking on organizational culture
f. undertake research on organizational culture
Course Requirements
Regular attendance and punctuality are essential to get the best from this course. You must participate fully within any teams to which you are assigned.
Evaluation Criteria
a) Team Assignment – Proposal (September 28, 2018) 10%
b) Mid-term 1 Examination (October 17, 2018) 20%
c) Mid-term 2 Examination (November 21, 2018) 20%
d) Team Assignment – Written (November 26, 2018) 20%
e) Team Assignment – Presentation (November 26/28) 20%
f) Reflective Paper [December 5, 2018] 10%
TOTAL 100%
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Course Materials
Various readings which will be provided via the University library
Course Schedule [rough guide – subject to change]
Topic
Class 1 – September 5, 2018 Review Sep 5th PowerPoint Introduction to SMO 437
Expectations Guest Speakers
Introduction – Instructor and Class
Class 2 – September 10, 2018 Review Sep 10th PowerPoint Conceptualizing Culture
Class 3 – September 12, 2018 Review Sep 12th PowerPoint
Culture 101 Continued Groups Need to Be Formed
Patti Sherbaniuk – Winspear Business Library
Class 4 – September 17, 2018 Review Sep 17th PowerPoint Models of Culture
Class 5 – September 19, 2018 Read – ‘How Culture Shapes
Leadership the Office’
Class 6 – September 24, 2018 Group Work – Proposal
Class 7 – September 26, 2018
Group Work – Proposal
Class 8 – October 1, 2018 Review Oct 3rd PowerPoint
Culture Determination Tools
Class 9 – October 3, 2018
Communication
Class 10 – October 10, 2018 Review Oct 10th PowerPoint Review of two reading assignments Read – ‘Having a Difficult
Conversation with Someone from a
Different Culture’
Class 11 – October 15, 2018 Review Oct 22nd PowerPoint
Cultural Intelligence Read – ‘Irresistible Power of
Storytelling as a Strategic Business
Tool’
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Class 12 – October 17, 2018 First Midterm Exam
First Midterm Examination
Class 13 – October 22, 2018 Read – ‘3 Ways to Identify
Group Work Cultural Differences on
Global Team’
Class 14 – October 24, 2018 Review Oct 24th PowerPoint
Emotional Intelligence Read – ‘Quantifying Your
Social Intelligence Company’s Emotional
Big 5 Culture’
Class 15 – October 29, 2018 Review Oct 29th PowerPoint Organizational Structure
Class 16 – October 31, 2018 Review Oct 31st PowerPoint Organizational Culture
Class 17 – November 5, 2018 Review Nov 5th PowerPoint
Organizational Change Introduction
Class 18 – November 7, 2018 Review Nov 7th PowerPoint Models of Organizational Change
Class 19 – November 19, 2018 Review Nov 19th PowerPoint Globalization
Group Discussions
Class 20 – November 21, 2018 Second Midterm Exam
Second Midterm Examination
Class 21 – November 26, 2018 Written Group Projects are Due
Group Presentations Group Presentations
Written Group Projects are Due
Class 22 – November 28, 2018
Group Presentations Group Presentations
Class 23 – December 3, 2018 Individual Work
Class 24 – December 5, 2018 Reflective Papers are Due
Reflective Papers are Due
Grading System
Final grades will be determined by cut-off points rather than a particular distribution.
Consideration will be given to a raw score out of 100 points, possible natural breaks, university
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policy on class GPAs, and any relevant factor that relates to students’ performance. The instructor has some discretion in awarding final grades but, generally, cut-off points should fall quite closely to the following:
95+ = A+ 80+ = B+ 65+ = C+ 50+ = D+
90+ = A 75+ = B 60+ = C
85+ = A- 70+ = B- 55+ = C-
A grade of D will be used for borderline cases that for some reason should be given the minimum conditional pass of D. For the vast majority of cases, though, a score of less than 50 will be a fail and get a grade of F.
Marking Grievances
While all assignments and exams will be marked with due consideration and fairness, any dispute of marks must be brought to the attention of the instructor within one week of the assignment or exam marks being provided to the student. You may disagree with some
assessments and I will respectfully reconsider my whole assessment and comments on the basis that the student provides a written explanation of the dispute. I will not reconsider grievances after that time. The whole reassessment may result in an increase, decrease, or no change in your mark. Please, note that your entire assignment or exam will be reassessed in case you have any grievance. No special make-up assignments will be granted nor will re-writes of
examinations or re-marking of previous assignments/exams be considered.
Academic Integrity
“The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at
www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an
offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.” (GFC 29 SEP 2003)
University Policy on Course Outlines
“Policy about course outlines can be found in Section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar.” (GFC 29 SEP 2003)
Sample Exam Questions
Representative midterm and final exam questions are available from the following source:
the PowerPoint slides that I will post to ULearn after working through the sample questions in class prior to the midterm and final.