Using Outsourced to Teach Cultural Differences: an Integrated Exercise

Movies, films, and TV shows have been widely adopted for business management teaching and learning. They are particularly relevant in teaching cultural topics by providing cross-cultural experiences in the classroom. This article focuses on the use of the movie Outsourced as an effective teaching tool to apply the cultural dimension frameworks of Hofstede, Trompenaars, and the GLOBE project in analyzing cultural differences, as well as to compare across three frameworks to enhance student learning and knowledge retention. An integrated exercise is presented in this study, detailing the procedures, handouts, suggested discussion focuses, a thorough discussion reference, and guides to specific sections of the film. An overview of the film is provided as well. The purpose is to allow a quick and easy adoption and adaptation of the exercise presented by other educators in teaching relevant topics.