Decision making is a key function for managers.  Culture influences the ways managers make decisions and solve problems.  Culture also impacts the type of decisions to be made, the stakeholders considered in making decisions, and the regulatory/social constraints under which decisions can be made.  Learning how to make effective decisions in real time, taking into consideration the stakeholders, the context, the risks, as well as the objectives is imperative.  But decision making happens in a cultural context and managers themselves bring their cultural lens to the decision making process.
 
This course focuses on managerial decision making and stakeholder analysis in the context of a foreign culture, thus providing students the opportunity to understand how culture influences managerial practice.  Specifically, the course examines the role of managers as decision makers in a foreign context.  Students will learn about the concepts of managerial decision making, and how culturally conditioned values, attitudes, beliefs and norms of behavior influence managerial and decision making styles.  Students will have an opportunity to explore these concepts further in Scotland where they will learn about the management of an historic educational residential estate focused on fiscal and environmental sustainability as well as a local golf course, whisky distillery, oil company and bakery supply business.  In addition, students will visit cultural heritage sites; travel to different cities to learn more about Scotland; have an opportunity to play golf at St. Andrews and Edzell golf courses. 

Syllabus: GBE790 Scotland 2023 Syllabus.pdf
Itinerary: GBE790 Scotland 2023 Itinerary Brief.pdf

Please contact Professor Iris Berdrow for additional details.