3.23 Business & Society in Europe
Language of instruction: English
Course type: Subject course, B-Track
Contact hours: 48 (6 per day)
Course days: Tuesday & Friday
ECTS credits: 5
Course fee: € 1,300
Can be combined with all A-Track courses
Course Description
Europe encompasses the world’s largest and most complicated market. Recent events, particularly those following the ongoing economic crisis on the continent, raise profound questions about the future of Europe. This course will focus on present and future business issues facing the entire continent. Under this focus, we will examine the following questions: Should a “European” management style be developed instead of the national practices that frequently characterize companies originating in different European nations? How and under what circumstances should the European Union expand to Turkey, Ukraine and other countries in the East? What has been the impact of the Treaty of Lisbon, in effect since 2009, on European economic, political and social issues? In order to provide essential background and context for these issues, we will also review key events in modern European History, including the recent Brexit vote and the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
Globalization, the internet, social media, and access to cheap travel have connected people across geographies, but differences in worldviews and perspectives have given rise to a fractured “disconnected” world. Understanding Culture is crucial for building trust and engagement in professional and interpersonal relationships. In class, we will utilize a variety of approaches, including small-group study, lectures, and case-study analysis, to develop a comprehensive understanding of European Management practices and explore how to handle the challenges of managing multicultural teams in Europe. The course will also feature guest speakers on different topics in business and society in the European context.