VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – HO CHI MINH CITY

UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

FACULTY OF ENGLISH LINGUISTICS AND LITERATURE

COURSE SYLLABUS
I. General information

1. Course title BUSINESS CULTURE

2. Course code NVA044

3. Type of course (compulsory, optional) Compulsory

4. Level of course Bachelor

5. Year of study (if applicable) 4

6. Semester when the course is delivered 7

7. Number of course credits allocated 3 credits (2 theoretical credits + 1 practical credit)

Independent study: 90 hours
8. Name of lecturer(s) N/A

9. Mode of delivery (face-to-face, distance 10 face-to-face sessions

learning) 2 online sessions

10. Prerequisites Students are expected to have successfully completed

the courses of Language Skills 1, 2, 3, & 4, Introduction
to Culture and Society, and Introduction to Vietnamese
Culture.
11. Language of instruction English

12. Work placement(s) N/A

II. Course overview

The course is designed to provide learners with:
● knowledge about business culture in terms of business environments and business organizational
structures;
● awareness of corporate social responsibility and business ethics;
● application of appropriate cross-cultural business behavior and business protocol & etiquette around
the world.
III. Course learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. define business environments;
2. interpret different business organizational structures; cross-cultural business behavior and business
protocol & etiquette around the world;
3. develop verbal and non-verbal communication skills in the business world;
4. appreciate business cultural differences and business ethics;
5. integrate into cross-cultural working environments.
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 II. Recommended or required readings: (available at English Resource Center, Faculty of English
Linguistics and Literature)
Required readings
● Ebert, R. & Griffin, R. (2013). Business. 9/e. Pearson. New York.
● Gesteland, R. (2006). Cross-cultural Business Behaviour. 4/e. Copenhagen Business School Press.
● Bratton, J. et al. (2010). Work & Organizational Behaviour. 2/e. Palgrave Macmillan. China.
Optional readings
● Hofstede, G, J, & Perdersen, P. B. & Hofstede, G. (2002). Exploring Culture: Exercises, Stories and
Synthetic Cultures. USA: Intercultural Press.
IV. Course contents and schedules

Sessions Course contents Required readings Planned learning activities

and teaching methods
Syllabus
Introduction to course & grading
policy
Lesson Contributions:
Course Assignments + Group
Ready to participate in class
organization
activities, contribute to the Q&A
1
lesson, give critical comments Discussion
- Reading &Reflection on: Game
on issues discussed in class.
“Văn hóa kinh doanh, văn hóa
doanh nghiệp, văn hóa doanh
nhân” (Trần Ngọc Thêm, 2014,
pp. 504-551) (handout)
2+3 Overview of Business Culture Q&A
- The Concept of Business Lecture
Culture Class discussion
Lesson Contributions: Group assignment
- Components of Business
Ready to participate in class
Culture
activities, contribute to the
- Factors Affecting Business
lesson, give critical comments
Culture
on issues discussed in class.
- Roles of Business Culture

4 Understanding the Business Reading: Lecture

Environments Ebert, R. & Griffin, R. Group presentation
- The Concept of Business and Business. 9/e. Pearson. New Class discussion
the Concept of Profit Q&A
York: 2013. (pp. 1-29)
- The External Environments of
Lesson Contributions:
Business
- Ready to participate in class
+ Domestic Business
activities, contribute to the
Environment
lesson, give critical comments
+ Global Business Environment
on issues discussed in class.
+ Technological Environment
- Presentation of Group 1:
+ Political-legal Environment
Case study: The group chooses
+ Sociocultural Environment
a successful businessperson
+ Economic Environment
and analyzes his/her role in
shaping the company culture.
5 Understanding the Reading: Lecture
Environments of Business Group presentation
(cont.) Class discussion
- Economic Systems Q&A
2
 + Factors of Production Ebert, R. & Griffin, R. Case study
+ Types of Economic Systems Business. 9/e. Pearson. New
- The Economics of Market York: 2013. (pp. 1-29)
Systems
Lesson Contributions:
+ Demand and Supply in a
- Ready to participate in class
Market Economy
activities, contribute to the
+ Private Enterprise and
lesson, give critical comments
Competition in a Market
on issues discussed in class.
Economy
- Presentation of Group 2:
- Economic Indicators
Case study: The group chooses
+ Economic Growth, Aggregate
a company and analyzes the
Output, and Standard of Living
economic, technological,
+ Economic Stability
political-legal, and
sociocultural environments of
the countries in which it
operates.
6 Business Ethics & Social Reading: Lecture
Responsibly Ebert, R. & Griffin, R. Group presentation
- Ethics in the Workplace Business. 9/e. Pearson. New Class discussion
+ Individual Ethics Q&A
York: 2013. (pp. 30-57) Group assignment
+ Business and Managerial
Lesson Contributions:
Ethics
- Ready to participate in class
+ Assessing Ethical Behavior
activities, contribute to the
+ Company Practices and
lesson, give critical comments
Business Ethics
on issues discussed in class.
- Social Responsibility
+ The Stakeholder Model of
Responsibility
+ Contemporary Social
Consciousness
- Areas of Social Responsibility
+ Responsibility toward the
Environment
+ Responsibility toward
Customers
+ Responsibility toward
Employees
+ Responsibility toward
Investors
- Implementing Social
Responsibility Programs
+ Approaches to Social
Responsibility
+ Managing Social
Responsibility Programs
7 Organizational Design Reading: Lecture
- Organizational Structure and - Bratton, J. et al. Work & Group presentation
Design Organizational Behaviour. 2/e. Class discussion
- Dimensions of Structure Palgrave Macmillan. China: Q&A
- Typologies of Organizational 2010. Chapter 10 (pp. 277-306)
Structure Lesson Contributions:
- Ready to participate in class
activities, contribute to the
3
 - Determinants of lesson, give critical comments
Organizational Structure on issues discussed in class.
Making Strategic Choices - Presentations of Groups
3+4: Case Study (Business
Ethics). Each group reports to
class a case in which a
company breached the
business ethics.
8 Organizational Design (cont.) Reading: Lecture
- Organizational Structure: A - Bratton, J. et al. Work & Group presentation
Conceptual Framework Organizational Behaviour. 2/e. Class discussion
- Traditional Design of Palgrave Macmillan. China: Q&A
Organizational Structure: 2010. Chapter 10 (pp. 277-306)
Bureaucracy Lesson Contributions:
- Emerging Organizational - Ready to participate in class
Design: Post-bureaucracy? activities, contribute to the
- Gender, Sexuality, and lesson, give critical comments
Organizational Design on issues discussed in class.

9+10 Organizational Culture Readings: Lecture

- National Culture and Culture - Bratton, J. et al. Work & Group presentation
Dimensions Organizational Behaviour. 2/e. Class discussion
- Understanding Organizational Palgrave Macmillan. China: Q&A
Quiz
Culture 2010. Chapter 12 (pp. 328-357)
- Perspectives on Organizational Lesson Contributions:
Culture - Ready to participate in class
- Managing Cultures activities, contribute to the
lesson, give critical comments
on issues discussed in class.
- Presentation of Group 5
(Bratton, J. et al. Work &
Organizational Behaviour. 2/e.
Palgrave Macmillan. China:
2010. Chapter 10 (pp. 303-
304))
11 Cross-cultural business Reading: Lecture
behavior: - Gesteland, R. Cross-cultural Group presentation
- Patterns of cross-cultural Business Behaviour. 4/e. Q&A
behavior Copenhagen Business School Case study
- The “great divide” between Press, 2006: Part 1 (pp.15-45)
business cultures Lesson Contributions:
- Deal first or relationship first? Ready to participate in class
- Communicating across the activities, contribute to the
great divide lesson, give critical comments
on issues discussed in class.
- Presentation of Group 6
(Bratton, J. et al. Work &
Organizational Behaviour. 2/e.
Palgrave Macmillan. China:
2010. Chapter 12 (pp. 353-
354))
12 Cross-cultural business Readings: Lecture
behavior (cont’d): Group presentation
Q&A
4
 - Formal vs. informal business - Gesteland, R. Cross-cultural Case study
cultures Business Behaviour. 4/e. Quiz
- Time & scheduling Copenhagen Business School
- Nonverbal business behavior Press, 2006: Part 1 (pp. 46-83;
- Selling across cultures 113-123)
- Presentation of Group 7:
Case Study (Managing HR
across cultures). The group
analyzes the way a company
has successfully managed its
HR across cultures.
- Presentation of Group 8:
Case Study
(Advertising across cultures).
The group analyzes why some
advertisements are successful
or unsuccessful across
cultures.
Lesson Contributions:
Ready to participate in class
activities, contribute to the
lesson, give critical comments
on issues discussed in class.
13 Midterm: Business protocol & Reading: Class discussion
etiquette around the world: - Gesteland, R. Cross-cultural Q&A
Northeast Asia + Southeast Business Behaviour. 4/e.
Asia + Africa + North America Copenhagen Business School
+ South America Press, 2006: Part 2
Oral report of
Midterm Project on business
etiquette & protocol of
selected countries in the
regions (G1-5)
14 Midterm: Business protocol & Reading: Class discussion
etiquette around the world: - Gesteland, R. Cross-cultural Q&A
Australia & New Zealand + Business Behaviour. 4/e.
Eastern Europe + Western Copenhagen Business School
Europe Press, 2006: Part 2
Oral report of
Midterm written paper to be Midterm Project on business
submitted etiquette & protocol of
selected countries in the
regions (G6-8)
15 Review for final test

VI. Assessment scheme

Assessment tasks Scores Weighting

ask
(A1) Group project 30 %
100 pts Mid-term score

(A2) Quizzes/Assignments 20 70 %
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(A3) Oral presentation 30 pts Final score
(A4) Final test (START-UP PROJECT) 50 pts
100 pts
100% (Passing Grade: 5/10)

(See detailed rubrics attached.)

GUIDELINE FOR START-UP PROJECT
THE BUSINESS
➢ Background
➢ Information of start-up
➢ Legal structure (Limited company, partnership, etc.)
➢ The product/ service/ idea
➢ The technology behind the product/ service
THE EXECUTIVE STRATEGY
➢ Organizational structure
➢ Function of each department
➢ Business culture (Vision, mission, core value, etc.)
THE MARKETING MIX STRATEGY
➢ Product, Price, Place and Promotion
THE PROJECT ANALYSIS
➢ SWOT
➢ Project feasibility
➢ Solutions
THE STARTUP MANAGING TEAM
➢ Brief description of each member of the team stating qualification and other details
➢ Function of the team (responsibility for staff recruitment, employee deployment, etc.)
➢ Name and qualification of the mentor
➢ Whether any preliminary discussion has been done with the mentor
THE FINANCIAL PLAN
➢ Costs of entrepreneurship, development and consultancy, and any other expenditures
➢ Projected monthly turnover
➢ Plan for profits
THE PLAN FOR BUSINESS EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT
➢ Possible innovation at a later stage
➢ Scalability
➢ The market (the size of the market and growth potential)
THE IMPLIMENTATION PLAN

VII. Course alignment matrix

Course learning outcomes Programme learning Teaching and Assessment tasks

(CLOs) outcomes (PLOs) learning activities
CLO 1 - Define business PLO2– L3 L, D & GP A1 + A2 +A3 +A4
environments.
CLO2 - Interpret business PLO2 – L3 L, D & GP A1 + A2 +A3 +A4
organizational structures; cross-
cultural business behavior and
business protocol & etiquette
around the world.
CLO 3 - Develop verbal and non- PLO3 – L3 D, GP & P A1 + A3
verbal communication skills in
the business world.
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 CLO4 - Appreciate business PLO5 – L3 D, GP & P A1 + A3 + A4
cultural differences and business
ethics.
CLO 5 - Integrate into cross- PLO5 – L3 D, GP & P A1 + A3 + A4
cultural working environments.

(Note: L = Lecture, D = Discussion, GP = Group Presentation, and P = Practice)

VIII. Course policies

1. The course will be conducted in different modes including lecturing, discussion, practice, and group
presentation.
2. Attendance in all sessions is strongly recommended. Participants are required to give advance notice of
their absence in case of illness or any other situations. 80% is the minimum attendance required for a
student to take the final test.
3. Participants are expected to be well prepared and take an active role in class discussions and work
collaboratively with their peers.
4. Forms of plagiarism and cheating will lead to a failing grade or zero on the assignment or test.
5. For late submitted work, 5% of the component grades will be deducted per day.
6. Slides for presentation should be emailed to the instructor at least three days before the presentation
date.
Date of approval:
Approved by
DABCAL

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 Appendix 1: Written Project Grading Rubric
Requirements Indicators Exceptional Acceptable Marginal Unacceptable Total
100/100
90-100 70-80 40-60 0-30 pts

Does not adhere to

Format Approximately 10 The format met all Format met criteria, but One or two format format
pages double-spaced, criteria and was had some inconsistencies. element(s) were requirements and more
than two elements
12-point font and APA accurate. missing and some were
6 format inconsistencies. missing.

Overall content
Content Content is well- Overall content Overall content appeared Overall content appeared
completely inaccurate
researched, focused, appeared accurate accurate and was appeared somewhat and
insightful, and was presented with
coherent. and was presented presented thoughtfully; accurate and was little
Evidence of thoughtfully; statements were generally presented thought or reflection;
statements were
understanding, analysis statements were precise and explicit; thoughtfully; imprecise
and synthesis of course consistently precise minor inconsistencies statements were fairly and not explicit; major
inconsistencies
content. and explicit; no between content, precise and explicit; between
content, statements
apparent statements, and actions. more than a few and
actions. Demonstrates
inconsistencies Demonstrates an inconsistencies no
understanding,
between content, acceptable level of between content, analysis or
statements and understanding, analysis statements and synthesis of course
actions. Content and and synthesis of course actions. Demonstrates learning objectives.
research learning objectives. an acceptable level of
demonstrates understanding but
significant little analysis or
understanding, synthesis of course
analysis and learning objectives.
synthesis of course
learning objectives.
Organization Organization is clearly Extremely well Well organized; most Somewhat organized; Disorganized and
confusing; ideas
structured and planned. organized; logical transitions were logical at times ideas were illogical
Reflects an and easy to follow; and easy to follow; ideas not logical or easy to and difficult to follow;
transitions to ideas
understanding of the flowed smoothly were generally presented follow; ideas were not were
development of the from one idea to the clearly and consistently. presented very clearly abrupt and lacked
project. other; presented or consistently; the continuity.
thoughts clearly, transitions were not
logically and always smooth.
consistently.
Presentation Demonstrates a clear Presentation of Presentation of project Minimal evidence of Not cohesive or
and professional tone project was was adequate, included a cohesive voice and professional.
and style as well as a professional; consistent voice and not well designed.
cohesive voice. included a coherent appropriate design.
and consistent voice,
and was very well
designed.

Weak mechanics.
Writing Mechanically sound and Sentence and Sentence and paragraph Sentence and More
than four grammatical
effective writing. paragraph structures structures were paragraph structures and
Mechanics
were technically technically correct were technically spelling errors.
correct throughout throughout most of the correct in some of the
the document. No document. No more than document. No more
grammatical or two grammatical and two than three
spelling errors. spelling errors. grammatical and
three spelling errors.

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 Appendix 2: Oral Presentation Scoring Rubric
Total
Category Scoring Criteria Points Score
The type of presentation is appropriate for the topic and 1
audience.
Organization
Information is presented in a logical sequence. 3
(5 points)
Presentation appropriately cites requisite number of references. 1
Introduction is attention-getting, lays out the problem well, and 2
establishes a framework for the rest of the presentation.
Technical terms are well-defined in language appropriate for 2
the target audience.
Content Presentation contains accurate information. 3
(15 points) Material included is relevant to the overall message/purpose. 3
Appropriate amount of material is prepared, and points made 3
reflect well their relative importance.
There is an obvious conclusion summarizing the presentation. 2
Speaker maintains good eye contact with the audience and is 2
appropriately animated (e.g. gestures, moving around, etc.).
Speaker uses a clear, audible voice. 2
Good language skills and pronunciation are used. 2
Presentation
Visual aids are well prepared, informative, effective, and not 2
(10 points) distracting.
Delivery is poised, controlled, and smooth. 1
Information was well communicated. 1
Score Total Points 30