Retail Management and Cross-Cultural Perspectives

GRET 6333: Retail Management and Cross-Cultural Perspectives

Instructor Name:        Dr. Marcella Norwood

Email:                        Please use Blackboard Learn email for this class.

Office Location:        Cameron Building, Room 110

Office Hours:        Generally in the office Monday through Friday from 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM for appointments

Phone:        713-743-4125 (Office) – This is not as good as the class web site email since Dr. Norwood reads email most week days and doesn’t check the office phone on the weekend.

Course Location and Time: Cameron Building, Room 109, 5:30 – 8:30 PM on January 14, January 21, January 28, February 4, and February 11

January

Course Description (from UH Catalog): Global retail management practices with cross-cultural perspectives.

Additional Description: Management is getting things done through people. This course will look at the individual perspective of management and its facets through the eyes of diverse cultures.

Required Textbooks:

Minkov, Michael. Cross-Cultural Analysis, The Science and Art of Comparing the World’s Modern Societies and Their Cultures. 2013. Sage. 978-1-4129-9229-9. DO NOT PURCHASE INTERNATIONAL VERSIONS.

Suggested/Required Content:

• Culture Matters, The Peace Corps Cross-Cultural Workbook. Peace Corps Information Collection and Exchange. ISBN: 0-9644472-3-1.  (available online)
• eDiplomat. http://www.ediplomat.com

Course Objectives:

During this course, each student will develop an ability to:

1. Be sensitive to interrelationships, interpersonal processes, and perceptions affect the individual on the job and in life with a global perspective.
2. Comprehend the five major dimensions described by Hofstede that form the basis for work-related attitudes.
3. Describe the dimensions of cultural differences in societies that affect work-related attitudes.).
4. Reinforce a critical and questioning attitude.
5. Communicate effectively in oral and written formats.
6. Recognize cultural differences and how to cope with those differences.
7. And, recognitize of the need for lifelong learning in many dimensions.

Students With Disabilities: Those persons who may be in need of additional help under the Americans With Disabilities Act should contact Dr. Norwood personally for consideration. Reasonable accommodation will be made as appropriate. Proper forms must be provided to Dr. Norwood.

Grading:

• The professor is aware that most students want to do their best and meet the highest expectations both for themselves and the professor. Grading will be based on the quality of the work, not the quantity.

• The composition of the final grade is:

• Individual/Team Assignments = 50% - teams will work on Part III. Major Cross-Cultural Studies. Individual assignments will be developed around the handout provided on the first day of class.
• Class Discussions = 30% - This will include both in-class and Blackboard online discussions.
• Quizzes = 20% - These will be given at the beginning of each class. The first quiz will take place on the second class date.

• Percentages for letter grades:

• A = 94 – 100%
• A- = 90 – 93%
• B+ = 87 – 89%
• B = 84 – 86%
• B- = 80 – 83%
• C+ = 77 – 79%
• C = 74 – 76%
• C = 70 – 73%
• D+ = 67 – 69%
• D = 64 – 66%
• D- = 61 – 63%
• F = 60 and below

• Individual Assignment Grades: