Cultural Challenges in the Workplace

Lesson Content

• Lesson Plan Template:

  CTE Lesson Plan

• CTE Course Info and Benchmark Notes

  
  

  Career Cluster: Business, Management and Administration
  Course Number & Title: 8216110: International Business Systems
  CIP Number: 0552110110
  Course Type: High School – Career Preparatory
  Program Name: International Business
  

• Unit Outline

  
  

  This lesson is designed to be used with case Study, “The Three Language Tango.” See CPALMS Resource ID# 221568

• Career Connection

  
  
  • Students will critically analyze a complex scenario and develop realistic, evidence-based solution strategies.
  • Students will practice the durable skills of communication as they craft clear, respectful and culturally sensitive digital presentations.
  • Students will learn to collaborate in diverse groups to evaluate a case study and communicate their perspectives through presentations.

• Learning Objectives

  
  

  Students will be able to:

  1. Identify social and cultural barriers affecting global businesses.
  2. Create and present a digital presentation that communicates proposed solutions using reasoning and evidence.

• Prior Knowledge

  
  

  It will be helpful if Students:

  1. Are familiar with using basic digital presentation tools such as Google Slides, Canva, or PowerPoint.
  2. Can identify key elements of effective communication such as tone, clarity, and audience awareness.
  3. Can collaborate respectfully in small groups to solve problems and share responsibilities.

• Guiding Questions

  
  

  How can international organizations effectively address social and cultural factors that influence workplace relationships?

• Procedure

  
  

  1. Begin class by asking students:

  • Why do misunderstandings happen even when we’re all speaking the same language. What can cause misunderstandings in the workplace between people of the same culture and language?

  2. Connect this discussion to the real-world importance of cross-cultural communication. Introduce the case study “The Three Language Tango” and explain that they will be using this case to explore how organizations manage communication across multiple languages and cultures.

  3. Have students work in small groups (3-4 students) to:

  • Review the case study, identifying the key challenges and stakeholders.
  • Brainstorm at least two communication strategies that are culturally sensitive and realistic.

  4. Create a digital presentation that includes the following information. Students can use the attachment for reference.

  • Have each group focus on a social or cultural challenge from the case study.
    • Teachers can choose to have students explore the case study and find their own factor, or the teacher can provide a list to students. Some social and cultural factors presented in the case study include language barriers, communication styles, cultural norms, business relationship styles, and time management styles.
  • Have the group discuss and propose solutions using supporting evidence from the case study.
  • Have the group discuss how the proposed solution is socially and culturally feasible.
    
    

  5. Once the presentations are completed, have each group pair with another group to exchange and review each other’s work. During this peer feedback session, remind students that their feedback should focus on two key areas:

  • Whether the proposed strategies are culturally appropriate and sensitive to the stakeholders described in the case.
  • Whether the presentation clearly communicates the group’s findings and includes reasoning as well as evidence in a way that improves understanding.

  6. The teacher gathers everyone together and asks the following questions to end the class:

  • How can knowledge of distinctive social and cultural factors support career success?
  • How can the continued development of digital and communication skills support the preparation for future careers?

• Teacher Notes

  
  

  Teachers can choose to have students explore the case study and find their own factor or provide a list to students. Some social and cultural factors presented in the case study include language barriers, communication styles, cultural norms, business relationship styles, and time management styles.
  
  Teachers can use this as 2 lessons if necessary.