Global Project Management

1. Global Project Management Dr. Lauren Talia, D.B.A.

2. What is Global Team? • A global team is when the Project Manager (PM) or leader is managing his/her team in minimum of two or more countries. • When the distance among the team members in which, travel is required for physical contact. • The use of direct phone calls, conference calls, and video conferencing become essential cost-saving tools. Project Management -Best Practices: Achieving Global Excellence, 2nd Edition. Harold R. Kerzner John Wiley & Sons Nov 4, 2010‬

3. Global Project Management • The single-region world we used to know has became more global. • Technology builds bridges by preventing unnecessary travel and saves time. • Allows customers and companies to work together in more efficient and profitable manner. • Conference Calls, multiple people to join call in remote locations. • Video Conferencing, avoids unnecessary travel and cuts cost. • Instant Messages (IM), avoids distraction of face-to-face Q&A. • Short Message Service (SMS),is a text messaging service component for cellular phone. • Email, prevents the use of mailing letter or sending faxes.

4. Managing Global Teams • PM’s Must Track. • Performance-how is project coming along. • Communication-prevents miscommunication and tracks progress. • Accuracy-correctness of quality. • Productivity-production and return on investment (ROI). • Deadlines-targets, short-term goals/long-term goals. • Attendance-employee presences at work.

5. Have Respect for Everyone • No matter, what you do always have respect for each cultures • Holidays, each country has different Government holidays. • Activities, your team members should participate. • Do not let, work boundaries filter into home and/or life boundaries. • Showing that you have respect for your team • Recognizing, that there is a life outside work. Employees who feel you care, will work that extra mile when needed. 

6. Time Zones • When managing global team you will be making conference call at all hours of the day. • India as late as 11 p.m. • Egypt as earlier as 4 a.m. • Prepare for conference call. • Have all necessary documents at reach, to issue any concerns immediately. • Always be well-rested to think clearly and critically. • Be Prepared to answer difficult to challenging questions. • Escalate those questions or concerns to the appropriate party. • Scheduled for two meetings at the same time • Leverage the calls to your team members. • Stress the importance to your team about jotting notes on “ACTION ITEMS” and “QUESTIONS UNANSWERED”.

7. Different Language Barriers • International companies usually establish a common language for the exchange of information. • English • Spanish • Mandarin • The effectiveness of communication by most non-English speakers. • Understanding non-verbal communication • Vocabulary • Ability to make analogies • Tell stories • Understand jokes

8. Create Team Synergy • No matter where your teams are located. • Conduct virtual live meetings. • Have a few strategic gatherings for all the members on each team to meet. • Build the bridge on trust. • Investing upfront in your team will also go a long way toward success. Especially, when the tasks or timelines become critical.

9. Leadership by Exception Some Successful PM’s use Tracking Tools • By creating the right metrics, gathers the right information. • Keeps everyone apprised of the status of the program. There is no reason to have an exorbitant amount of status meetings. Stop doing it! Project Management -Best Practices: Achieving Global Excellence Harold R. Kerzner John Wiley & Sons 2nd Edition. Nov 4, 2010‬

10. Set Goals & Celebrate Achievement Regardless, of where your Global Team is located have: • Vision, of what needs to be accomplished. • Goals, are articulated. • Follow-up, the goals are being met. • When there are challenges: • Reach out, to the team virtually, to gather brainstorming ideas. • Suggestions,always offer solutions and comments to improve processes and streamline procedures.

11. Questions Arises • If something goes wrong? The PM or Superior, must be made aware, ASAP.NO EXCEPTIONS! • Provide your PM or Superior with choices of solutions to solve the problem or challenge. • Provide brisk evaluation of the Pro’s and Con’s to each solution. • Attain approval prior to informing the Customer or Sr. Management, and Executive Management of the situation. • Do not go over your superiors head,without making them aware of the situation. • Who would you recommend to escalate the task or questions. • When trying to attain answer quickly. • Send SMS, send IM, send email, and contact individuals directly by phone. For example, sitting in meeting you silently send email, SMS, or instant message to attain prompt response fast.

12. Benefits of Global Project Management • Companies that used to operate in only one country in the 90’s and earlier. • In the 21st century companies operate globally. • The benefits for operating globally. • Helps to increase the consumer bases. • Increases sales. • Decreases operational costs. • Manufacturing for product • Labor • Employee Benefits • Healthcare, Dental, and Vision • 401k, Pension, and Purchase of Company Stocks • Personal-Time-Off (PTO), Sick Leave, and Vacation Leave

13. CONT. Benefits of Global Project Management • Satisfied customers, whether you are the customer of your own project. • Completing project on-time,by staying on budget. • Recruiting subject matter experts for specific areas.

14. Benefits for Managing Global Teams • Accesses New Skill Levels • New perspective on situations. • Local knowledge of distant users. • Provides 24-hour coverage using normal shift workers • More gets done, as other countries sleep. • Overseas few specific projects for the organization. • Lower Operational Costs • Lower taxes • Employee wages • Lower benefits costs

15. Project Management Historical • In the1940’s • Line Managers (LM) functioned as PM’s used the concept “over-the fence”to manage projects. • Each LM • Would perform the work necessitated by his/her team. • When completed • The LM would throw the ball (project) over the fence for the next team to complete their section. • Once, the ball was thrown over the fence • The LM would wash their hands of any responsibility from that project. Project Management -Best Practices: Achieving Global Excellence, 2nd Edition. Harold R. Kerzner John Wiley & Sons Nov 4, 2010‬

16. How did the Project Fail? • If a Project Failed? • The blame was immediately placed on whichever LM that had the ball, at the that time. • What are the Problems with this Scenario? • The LM’s are at fault for other LM’s mistakes and errors. • The wrong LM’s are answering the questions, from the customers. • There is no Quality Assurance (QA) in affect. • QA would have verified the work was completed in accurately fashion to the customers expectations. Project Management -Best Practices: Achieving Global Excellence, 2nd Edition. Harold R. Kerzner John Wiley & Sons Nov 4, 2010‬

17. Problems with Line Managers • Responsibility Customer had no Signal Point of Contacts to Ask Questions. • Customers wanted first-hand explanation from the specific LM, who had the ball. • Once, that ball was thrown that LM is no longer associated to that project or would answer any questions. Bad Management and Customer Service! Project Management -Best Practices: Achieving Global Excellence, 2nd Edition. Harold R. Kerzner John Wiley & Sons Nov 4, 2010‬

18. Challenges with Managing Global Team • Global Team Communication is Hard • Involves multiple languages. • Can be expensive. • Time Differences are Inconvenient • Being located in India and calling the United States • In India time is 11 p.m. and the United States its 1p.m. • In Dubai its 1 a.m. and the United States its 1p.m. • Australia 4 a.m. and the United States its 8 a.m. • Work Styles • Cultural variations may lead to difficulties. • Prevent misunderstandings by following-up with emails.

19. Jobs in Global Project Management • Global Project Manager • Global Logistics Analyst • Global Marketing • Global Supply Chain • Global Sales and Marketing • Global Operations Excellence • Global Training and Development • Global Hosting-Storage Job • Global Tax Accounting • Global IT Service Manager • Global Risk Management • Global Sales

20. Questions, Comments, or Suggestions?

21. REFERENCES • Kerzner, H. (2010). Project management - best practices: Achieving global excellence . (2nd ed.). United States of America: John Wiley & Sons. • Kendrick, T. (2010). The project management tool kit: 100 tips and techniques for getting the job done right. (2nd ed.). United States: Amoncon.

22. REFERENCES • PMI. (2013). Global project management . Retrieved from http://www.pmi.org/Knowledge-Center/Knowledge-Shelf/Global-Project-Management.aspxhttp://www.pmi.org/Knowledge-Center/Knowledge-Shelf/Global-Project-Management.aspx • Sabitino, J. (2012). Successful project management . (5th ed.). United States of America: South-Western-Cengage Learning.