Managing Projects across Cultural Boundaries

Managing Projects across Cultural Boundaries Why have a topic about this? How does this affect projects? What defines ‘culture’? Implications for leadership, communications and effective team working What can we do about it? Working within another culture

Bibliography • When cultures collide • Richard D Lewis • Cross-Cultural Communication • Richard D Lewis • Exploring Culture • Gert Van Hofstede, Paul B Pederson, Geert Hofstede

Why should we have a topic about this? • Many projects require project resources with a range of skills and experience • We may have to find these resources wherever we can • This may mean multi-cultural project teams • This can bring difficulties

Blame, recrimination, stress, loss of ‘team’ spirit Potential effects on project management • Communications don’t go as we hope • Work falls behind schedule • Decisions don’t get made, or are made 12 times • We find it difficult to get facts about progress, issues and problems

Dimension one extreme other extreme Identity collectivism individualism Hierarchy large power distance small power distance Gender femininity masculinity Truth strong uncertainty tolerance weak uncertainty tolerance Virtue long-term orientation short-term orientation Mass emigration, cultural change, international education What defines ‘culture’? – the 5 dimensions

An adaptation to wealth • Easier for people to take responsibility for themselves • An adaptation to fewer resources • Individual identity and needs repressed in favour of the group ‘Old’ Russia, third world USA, Canada, UK Dimension 1 - Identity Individualism Collectivism

Some people are better leaders than others, but will not make a show of their abilities • People are not equal • Hierarchies are understood and respected Eastern & Southern Europe Northern & Western Europe Dimension 2 - Hierarchy Small Power Distance Large Power Distance

Small is beautiful • Emphasis on caring and compromise • Aggressive society • Clear differences between the roles of the sexes USA, Germany, Switzerland Scandinavia, Netherlands Dimension 3 - Gender Feminine Masculine Also called ‘care-oriented’ versus ‘achievement-oriented’

Ability to cope with the unpredictable and ambiguous • Tolerant of strangers • Belief in order, self-discipline, rules and ‘Truth’ • Different is dangerous Balkans, Japan, Korea, France, Germany China, Denmark, most English-speaking countries Dimension 4 - Truth Weak Uncertainty Avoidance Strong Uncertainty Avoidance

Now, now, now • Want to see the benefits of today’s actions today • Hard work and persistence are important virtues • Sacrifice the pleasures of today for the future China, Japan, Netherlands Most European and American countries Dimension 5 - Virtue Short-term Orientation Long-term Orientation

Some Implications Cultural differences have implications for:… • Leadership • Communications • Team working

Insular, qualified disagreement, humour, under-statement, debate Individualistic, deal-makers, blunt and direct in speech Autocratic, logical, analytical Democratic, non-confrontational, consensus, slow decision-making Politeness, consensus, face, will not openly disagree Let’s get personal…. Some common nationalities and their characteristics • British • American • French • Japanese • Swedes

Open Versus Face When to make reports When to make decisions Some General Tactics - 1 Meetings

Polite versus direct Respect versus enthusiasm Power distance Uncertainty avoidance Some General Tactics - 2 Creativity Team-work

Honeymoon • Disorientation • Irritability & Hostility • Adjustment & Integration • Biculturality • Recognise the phenomenon • Expect the 5 stages • Allow for behaviour modification Working within another culture Five stages of Culture Shock How to Endure Culture Shock

Managing Projects across Cultural Boundaries