Understanding cultural differences, and effectively managing these differences are critical to working, communicating and transferring knowledge in multi-cultural and international business environments. The aims of this course are to provide conceptual and theoretical frameworks for developing an understanding of the ways in which cultures differ, how these cultural differences impact on organisations and how they constrain communication and knowledge transfer. The course also considers strategies for managing and valuing the diversity within organisations. Topics include the nature and dimensions of culture, challenges in managing cultural differences, issues relating to cross-cultural problem solving, the dynamics of multi-cultural teams, leadership across cultures, cross-cultural perspectives to motivation and decision making, the nature and management of knowledge within different cultures and across cultures, and global approaches to managing conflict and conducting business negotiations. Further topics include human resource development across cultures and issues unique to global management including cross-cultural entry and re-entry transitions, problems relating to expatriation and the challenges of managing global careers.