By Udara Cumaratunga
Studying at Griffith University, Queensland, Australia, I was able to undertake a number of unique modules that explored a wide variety of disciplines within business. Some of the modules that I took over the two semesters were: International Marketing, Organisational Behaviour, Inter-Cultural Management, Public Relations, Human Resource Management Principles, Market Structure and Business Strategy, International Accounting and Business Processes. These modules were structured in a similar way to the modules that I undertook at the Management School in my first year in terms of the delivery of the subject content and assignments. Most of the modules included a group work assignment component that allowed me to engage with other students from across the world and gain from their knowledge and experiences.
One of the most memorable group assignment I completed was for International Marketing, for which I was allocated to a group of 6 people and delegated the task of preparing an advert for a Horticulture Convention that was to be held in Brisbane, Australia later that year. My group members were of different nationalities, with students from France, America, the UK and Australia backgrounds. During the course of the assignment my group and I explored our creative flair and incorporated different marketing techniques presented to us during the module and also from the techniques practiced in our home countries, to develop an advert that was then presented to a representative of the Horticulture Convention, a lecturer, a tutor and other students undertaking the module. This experience was really motivating as I now have a better understanding of the different marketing techniques practiced in different countries of the world for variety purposes.
A module that I was very interested in was Inter-Cultural Management. In this module we explored the impact of cultural differences across countries on business operations. The lecturer and tutors had lived in many different countries and were able to reflect on their personal experiences of negotiating business proposals and adapting business operations to different cultures. These examples were fascinating, as they highlighted the relationship between the smallest of differences, such as the perception of punctuality, to have the biggest of impacts on business operations.
During tutorials we were assigned a case study and several questions. The lecturers selected a random group of students to prepare and present their arguments and opinions on the situation within the case. This was an opportunity for us to apply the theoretical perspectives that were explored in lectures to operations of the business discussed in the case study and develop effective solutions. Having undertaken a summer internship and many part time jobs I have been able to identify the cultural differences that have influenced
the operations of these business.
I have also been able to apply the knowledge and experiences I acquired from the modules that I took during my study abroad year to the modules that I have since taken at the Management School in my final year. I am able to better understand the operations of international businesses, the influences on their strategies and operations when diversifying operations across national borders, I’m able to develop effective solutions to the challenges of operating internationally.