Introduction to Multinational and Cross-Cultural Teams

This course is part of Management of Multinational and Cross-Cultural Teams Specialization

Instructors: Daniel Student

Access provided by ExxonMobil

5,085 already enrolled

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

39 reviews

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

39 reviews

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Explain the concept of culture, how it affects your approach to work, & the opportunities and challenges in multinational and cross-cultural teams.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

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Assessments

6 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Management of Multinational and Cross-Cultural Teams Specialization

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There are 4 modules in this course

Do you (or do you want to) work on a multinational team? Do you want to become a manager or improve your current management style to get better results? Are you unsure if culture is impacting your ability to communicate and collaborate? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this course – and its associated specialization – is for you! We have entered an era where multinational and cross-cultural teams are now the norm. As a result, it is nearly impossible to conduct business without interacting with people from places far from home. In order to be an effective manager, one must understand the challenges that arise because of culture, how to navigate them, and, most importantly, turn them into opportunities for success. Thankfully, this is not new. We all have a culture that is unique to ourselves and we have all been part of a team with people different than ourselves. The secret truth is that this has always been an essential tool. We are lucky that now we have incentive to examine it and build the skills to use it. So if you’re ready to learn all about how to be a more effective and valued manager of multinational teams, join us and fill your cross-cultural toolbox!

In this module, you will be able to define culture and identify your own culture. You will be able to demonstrate how your culture shows up differently depending on the setting that you are in. You will be able to discuss cultural practices and how those practices can be perceived. You will be able to discuss where culture shows up in your organization and illustrate how it can impact an organization.

What's included

8 videos10 readings1 assignment8 discussion prompts

8 videos Total 42 minutes

Course Introduction 8 minutes
Module Introduction 3 minutes
Why Culture Matters 6 minutes
Examples of Cultures 4 minutes
How Does Culture Show Up In Your Life? 5 minutes
The Onion Model 6 minutes
Culture In Organizations Is Complex 6 minutes
The Iceberg Metaphor 5 minutes

10 readings Total 65 minutes

A Note From UC Davis 10 minutes
Professional Panelist: Anneli Adams 5 minutes
Professional Panelist: Manisha Gupta 5 minutes
Professional Panelist: Donald James 5 minutes
Professional Panelist: Maheedharan Thiagarajan 5 minutes
Professional Panelist: Pankaj Mehta 5 minutes
Professional Panelist: Renato Junqueira Santos Pereira 5 minutes
Professional Panelist: Karine Salanon 5 minutes
Professional Panelist: Yu-Chao (Justin) Wang 5 minutes
Why Culture Matters 15 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Module 1 Quiz 30 minutes

8 discussion prompts Total 115 minutes

Learning Goals 10 minutes
Defining Culture 10 minutes
Culture Hub and Spokes 20 minutes
Your Cultures 10 minutes
Culture of Whales 20 minutes
Using the Onion Model 20 minutes
Culture In Your Organization 10 minutes
The Iceberg Metaphor 15 minutes

In this module, you will be able to define the role of team within diverse cultures and identify opportunities and challenges of such a team. You will be able to analyze the importance of teams and define various personality traits that show up in teams. You'll be able to explain how the Hawthorne Effect and Maslow's Hierarchical needs play into teams and discuss the role diversity has on a team.

What's included

7 videos1 reading2 assignments7 discussion prompts

7 videos Total 32 minutes

Module Introduction 4 minutes
What Makes a Good Team? 4 minutes
Defining a Good Team 5 minutes
How Teams Develop 4 minutes
The Development of Teams 5 minutes
Diversity On Teams 5 minutes
In Summary 6 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

The Big 5 Personality Dimensions 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Module 2 Quiz 30 minutes
Personality Traits 10 minutes

7 discussion prompts Total 110 minutes

Defining Good Teams 10 minutes
Applying The Lencioni Model 30 minutes
The Evolutionary Roots of Human Teamwork 15 minutes
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs 10 minutes
Tuckman's Stages of Group Development 20 minutes
Personalities 15 minutes
Reflection 10 minutes

In this module you will examine use cases of real teams and be able to analyze how different cultures define good teamwork. You will be able to describe what a high-functioning multinational, cross-cultural team looks like and recognize the opportunities and pitfalls of a multinational, cross-cultural team. You will be able to define the concepts of linear versus flexible time and high-context versus low-context in regards to culture.

What's included

4 videos1 reading1 assignment9 discussion prompts

4 videos Total 22 minutes

Module Introduction 3 minutes
What is a Multinational, Cross-Cultural Team? 5 minutes
The Multinational, Cross-Cultural Team 8 minutes
Challenges of a Multinational, Cross-Cultural Team 6 minutes

1 reading Total 19 minutes

TedTalk: The Danger of a Single Story 19 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Module 3 Quiz 30 minutes

9 discussion prompts Total 120 minutes

Your Team 5 minutes
Does Your Global Team Lack a Teamwork Culture? 20 minutes
High Functioning Teams 5 minutes
Benefits of International Teams 15 minutes
Challenges of Multinational, Cross-Cultural Teams 15 minutes
Solutions To Managing International Teams 20 minutes
Write Your "Single Story" 20 minutes
Reflection 10 minutes
Reflection: Now Describe a High Functioning Team 10 minutes

In this module, you will be able to identify who the stakeholders are in your multinational, cross-cultural team and explain why you need multinational and cross-cultural team skills in your team. You will be able to discuss why communication is essential to multinational, cross-cultural team success and identify how technology is the future of teams. You will be able to define the qualities of a successful cross-cultural leader and practice three tools for enhancing multinational, cross-cultural teams.

What's included

7 videos1 reading2 assignments7 discussion prompts

7 videos Total 31 minutes

Module Introduction 3 minutes
Becoming Culturally Aware 5 minutes
Skills to Respond to Cultural Differences 4 minutes
SPLIT Framework - Part 1 6 minutes
SPLIT Framework - Part 2 5 minutes
SPLIT Framework - Part 3 4 minutes
Course Summary 4 minutes

1 reading Total 3 minutes

YouTube Video 3 minutes

2 assignments Total 35 minutes

Module 4 Quiz 30 minutes
What Do You See? 5 minutes

7 discussion prompts Total 160 minutes

What Are We Doing Here? 5 minutes
Fun With Ambiguous Images 10 minutes
Social Media Experiment 30 minutes
Interviewing Teammates 60 minutes
Temporary Tattoo 30 minutes
SPLIT Framework 15 minutes
Self-Reflection 10 minutes

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Instructors

Instructor ratings

(5 ratings)

Daniel Student

University of California, Davis

4 Courses 10,654 learners

Offered by

University of California, Davis

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Reviewed on Apr 28, 2025

this course was actually soooo good. i learned so much. it was also very entertaining with all the activities and discussions. It made it so engaging.

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