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Knowledge Area Module 2

Learning Agreement

 

 

 

Sociocultural Human Development

Vis-à-vis

Global Management

 

 

 

 

Steven R. Van Hook

 

 

November 24, 2002

 

 

 

Walden University

 

 

 

Ph.D. in Education Program

Specialization: Transcultural Distance Learning

 

 

 

 

Dr. Lilburn P. Hoehn, KAM Assessor

 

Dr. Iris Yob, Faculty Mentor

 


 

Overview

 

 

For KAM 2, I will apply a sociocultural perspective to the subject areas in theories of human development, current research in international human development, and professional practice and international human development, within a context of the particular problems these issues pose to global managers working in cross-cultural settings. For Breadth, I will analyze and compare human development theories and principles ranging from a Western sociobiological perspective, to a European psychological perspective, to an Eastern spiritual perspective, along with integrated contributions from cultural development theorists. For Depth, I will evaluate how various human development theories play out in practical cross-cultural settings. For Application, I will critique and revise my earlier master’s work in cross-cultural management communications within the framework of varied and conflicting sociocultural human development theories.

 

Breadth

Breadth Preliminaries

 

SBSF 8210: Theories of Human Development

 

 

Breadth Objectives

 

Analyze and contrast the theoretical foundations of human development; compare and assess these theories within the context of how global managers must be prepared to understand and address various dynamics of human development in cross-cultural workplaces. Within the breadth analysis, I will integrate various human development theories including those of Montagu, Wilson, Jung, Maslow, Rogers, Frankl, Hofstede, Mead, and Hall.


 

Breadth Reference List

 

 

Frankl, V. (1973). Man’s search for meaning. New York: Pocket Books.

 

Hall, E. (1989). Beyond culture. New York: Doubleday.

 

Hofstede, G. (1997).  Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind. New York: McGraw-Hill.

 

Jung, C. (1970). Analytical psychology: Its theory and practice. New York: Vintage Books.

 

Maslow, A. (1954). Motivation and personality. New York: Harper & Brothers.

 

Mead, G. (1967). Mind, self, & society. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

 

Montagu, A. (1983). Growing young. New York: McGraw-Hill.

 

Montagu, A. (1980). Sociobiology examined. New York: Oxford University Press.

 

Montagu, A. (1951). On being human. New York: Henry Schuman.

 

Rogers, C. (1961). On becoming a person. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

 

Smith, H. (1965). The religions of man. New York: Harper & Row.

 

Wilson, E. (2000). Sociobiology: The new synthesis. Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.

 

Wilson, E. (1979). On human nature. New York: Bantam Books.

 

 

 

Breadth Demonstration

 

In a scholarly paper of about 25 pages, I will define and contrast a spectrum of human development theories and examine how they have withstood the tests of fundamentally transforming management systems, laying a foundation for the depth examination of how sociocultural human development issues impact cross-cultural management practices.

 


Depth

Depth Preliminaries

 

SBSF 8220: Current Research in International Human Development

 

 

Depth Objectives

 

Analyze, critique, and contrast the theoretical human development foundations from the breadth component with contemporary realities of human development as management models change, particularly in Asia and Eastern Europe. 

 

Preliminary Depth Reference List

 

 

Bruffee, K. (2002). Taking the common ground: Beyond cultural identity. Change. 34 (1), 10-17.

 

Conescu, J. (1995). Mythos and logos: Parallel accounts of sociocultural evolution. The Social Science Journals. 32 (3), 289-298.

 

Fernandez, D., Carlson, D., Stepina, L., & Nicholson, J. (1997, February 1). Hofstede's country classification 25 years later. The Journal of Social Psychology. Retrieved May 13, 2000 from the Electric Library database.

 

Harris, D. (2002, November 20). Expanding alliance: A dream achieved. New York Times. Retrieved November 20, 2002, from http://www.nytimes.com

 

Hill, J. (1997). Biology and socioculture in human evolution. Journal of Social and Evolutionary Systems. 20 (2), 157-170.

 

Holtzman, M. (2002, August 8). Privatize public diplomacy. New York Times. Retrieved August 8, 2002, from http://www.nytimes.com

 

Matusov, E., & Hayes, R. (2000). Sociocultural critique of Piaget and Vygotsky. New Ideas in Psychology. 18 (2-3), 215-239.

 

Muravchik, J. (2002, August 19). Democracy's quiet victory. New York Times. Retrieved August 19, 2002, from http://www.nytimes.com

 

Oguri, M., & Gudykunst, W. (2002). The influence of self construals and communication styles on sojourners’ psychological and sociocultural adjustment. International Journal of Intercultural Relations. 26 (5), 577-593.

 

Schatzki, T. (2001). On sociocultural evolution by social selection. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour. 31 (4), 341-364.

 

Selmer, J. (2001a). Coping and adjustment of Western expatriate managers in Hong Kong. Scandinavian Journal of Management. 17 (2), 167-185.

 

Selmer, J. (2001b). Adjustment of Western European vs. North American expatriate managers in China. Personnel Review. 30 (1), 6-21.

 

Selmer, J. (1999). Career issues and international adjustment of business expatriates. Career Development International. 4 (2), 77-87.

 

Ward, C., & Kennedy, A. (1999). The measurement of sociocultural adaptation. International Journal of Intercultural Relations. 23 (4), 659-677.

 

Ward, C., Okura, Y., Kennedy, A., & Kojima, T.  (1998). The U-Curve on trial: a longitudinal study of psychological and sociocultural adjustment during Cross-Cultural transition. International Journal of Intercultural Relations. 22 (3), 277-291.

 

Zakaria, N. (2000). The effects of cross-cultural training on the acculturation process of the global workforce. International Journal of Manpower. 21 (6), 492-510.

 

 

Depth Demonstration

 

In a scholarly paper of about 25 pages, I will analyze and critique the theoretical foundations from the breadth component with contemporary realities as human development and management models change. I will also prepare an annotated bibliography of approximately 15 current research and investigative articles addressing human development models and management reconfigurations. 

 


Application

 

Application Preliminaries

 

SBSF 8230: Professional Practice and International Human Development

 

 

Application Objectives

 

Apply the breadth and depth analysis of sociocultural human development to critique and revise a master’s thesis on the human communication process as it relates to managing workers in former republics of the USSR.

 

Application Reference Materials

 

 

Belton, C., & Fairlamb, D. (2002, November 18). Moscow: A bear hug for Europe. Business Week. Retrieved May November 18, 2002 from http://www.businessweek.com

 

Hofstede, G. (1980).  Culture's consequences: International differences in work-related values. Newbury Park CA: SAGE Publications.

Monaghan, P. (2002, November 22). A cultural hero of the Soviet era looks to the future. Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved May November 22, 2002 from http://chronicle.com

 

Saloner, G., Shepard, A., & Podolny, J. (2001). Strategic management. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

 

Trompenaars, F., & Hampden-Turner, C. (1998). Riding the waves of culture: Understanding diversity in global business. New York: McGraw-Hill.

 

Wilson, E. (2002). The future of life. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

 

 

Application Demonstration

 

Use the research and findings from breadth and depth in the review and revision of a Master’s thesis on human communications in a cross-cultural setting, with a scholarly paper of about 10 pages and an attached addendum of the thesis totaling 17 pages. The original thesis will be attached to the KAM as an addendum, titled Melding mindsets: A survey of transnational, transcultural and trans-ideological communication issues facing American managers in former socialist states of Central and Eastern Europe.

 

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