Projet entrepreneurial et managérial

Intercultural communication

Course objectives and methods:

The overall objective of the course is to allow a full understanding of the existence and impact of cultural differences through reflection guides based on the main theoretical tools as well as numerous examples. The purpose of this training is to open the student to other cultures and to teach him not to judge others through his own cultural rules but rather to try to understand and develop an attitude of tolerance.

At the end of the training, the student will be able to:

Recognize the existence of cultural differences.
Measure the importance of a flexible approach to cultural differences.
Do not prioritize cultural differences according to your own culture.
Adapt to different cultural behaviors.
Have an interest in observing cultures.
Consider the importance of cultural differences to adapt your behavior and analysis.
Adapt his/her negotiation style and expectations to the cultural context

Students will therefore need to acquire the openness and cultural flexibility essential for rapid integration into the host culture and for acquiring a taste for mobility.

Specific objectives:

• Develop the students' analytical skills by confronting them with real situations and providing them with guides for reflection based on the main theoretical and practical tools of intercultural communication.

• Help the student to apply his new knowledge in a relevant way in different real contexts.

• Develop in the student a taste for mobility.

• Foster in the student a lateral thinking that can lead to a better intercultural understanding.

Content and educational materials

Teaching methods

In order to reconcile the objectives of acquiring theoretical knowledge, developing independent thinking and self-training skills, the pedagogy is structured as follows:

1. Theoretical presentations, supported by a PowerPoint presentation, cover all the different themes and concepts of intercultural communication. Examples constantly illustrate them.

2. Numerous advertisements and video reports are presented to the students during the theoretical sessions in order to materialize as much as possible the theoretical concepts exposed.

Prerequisites: No formal knowledge prerequisites, but openness and curiosity are valuable.

Educational materials

A complete PowerPoint presentation accompanied by multiple examples

Assessment

Written exam via multiple-choice questionnaire
PowerPoint presentation by small groups of students of the results of their research based on the differences in commercial culture and negotiation style between Belgium and a given country.

Projet entrepreneurial

Les étudiants travaillant par équipe, ont pour objectif la recherche d’un « business model » (modèle d’entreprise ou modèle d’affaire) d’une idée de produit ou service qu’ils doivent proposer. Le « business model canvas » est l’outil utilisé lors des séances. Au fil des séances animées par des coachs startech et enseignant, tous les étudiants sont amenés à explorer les différentes facettes du monde fascinant de la création d’entreprise, de l’idée au prototype quand c’est techniquement possible. Chaque équipe devra également présenter le résultat final de ses travaux devant un jury de professionnels (chefs d’entreprises, investisseurs, etc.).

Intercultural communication

• Cervera G. & Kosma C. (2016), La négociation internationale et interculturelle, de la connaissance de soi à la rencontre de l'autre, Editeur Génie des Glaciers, collection Les Mementos.
• Thoams Vulpe, Daniel Kealey, David Protheroe et Doug Macdonald, "Profil de la personne efficace sur le plan interculturel", Ministère des Affaires étrangères et du commerce international canadien, 2000.
• Gary P. Ferraro, "The cultural dimension of international business", Pearson, 2006.
• Edward T. Hall, "La langage silencieux", Edition Seuil, 1997.
• Marie-Joëlle Browaeys & Roger Price, "Understanding Cross-cultural management", Prentice-Hall, 2008.

Projet entrepreneurial

•  Business Model You, T. Clark. Business Model Generation, A. Osterwalder et Y. Pigneur. La Maison de l’Entreprise, Mons