Purpose

The purpose of this course was to prepare students for management positions in today’s organizations, by: 

1. sensitizing them to the scope and nature of cross-cultural business, 
2. elevating their knowledge of cross-cultural business, and 
3. cultivating their proficiency in cross-cultural business.
   

More concretely, the course aimed to provide students with a collection of cross-cultural business ‘tools’—models, theories, frameworks, perspectives, concepts, ideas, etc.— which are required for success in the global economy. 

The course also provided students with opportunities to practice these tools through hands-on experiential activities in which they worked in a multicultural team of students from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, American University in Cairo, and students from Libya. 

Format & Content

This semester-long course operated as a virtual exchange, bringing together professors and students from Egypt, Libya, and the United States. Students were in their own institution’s classroom, but simultaneously be in class virtually with fellow students from the other three countries.

The class also connected individuals with teammates from other countries to collaborate on specific aspects of cross-cultural business.

The course combined traditional classroom sessions with hands-on experiential activities. The classroom sessions focused on culture and cultural competence, plus specific cultural practices of each of the participant countries. The course also employed a consulting project in which students researched and planned the internationalization of a company. 

Benefits

• Get equipped to communicate, problem-solve, and collaborate in a global team environment—all essential skills in an interconnected world.
• Learn a framework to develop cultural competence and acquire skills for practicing cultural competence in business and life. 
• Improve collaboration abilities working virtually with a cross-cultural team to complete a substantial team project. 
• After taking this course: have a great experience to share with friends, family members, and job recruiters!
• Earn a certificate from the William Davidson Institute for participating in the program. 

More questions?

Please email wdi-virtual@umich.edu.