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Cross Cultural Project Management

Cross Cultural Project Management. Nora Colliton, MBA, PMP PMI-NH Chapter September 19, 2007. AGENDA. Introduction Why Discuss Culture in Project Management? Levels of Cultural Study What Is Cultural Competence? Why Should PMs Care About Culture? What’s a PM To Do? Future Steps.

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Cross Cultural Project Management

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  1. Cross Cultural Project Management Nora Colliton, MBA, PMP PMI-NH Chapter September 19, 2007

  2. AGENDA • Introduction • Why Discuss Culture in Project Management? • Levels of Cultural Study • What Is Cultural Competence? • Why Should PMs Care About Culture? • What’s a PM To Do? • Future Steps

  3. Introduction • About the presenter • Why a Diplomat? • Goal: Better communication within projects with multicultural teams

  4. “The single greatest cause of difficulties in global business transactions is not a lack of technical expertise, hard work, or good intentions – it is a lack of ‘people skills’ for relating successfully with counterparts from other countries and cultures.” Gundling, Ernest, Working GlobeSmart: 12 People Skills for Doing Business Across Borders, page xi.

  5. Why Discuss Culture? • Number of PMs staying in country of origin with multicultural teams • Increase in number of projects with multicultural team members

  6. Why Discuss Culture? • Lack of “soft skills” preparation to manage cross cultural teams • Impact of culture on triple constraints Scope Schedule Cost

  7. Impact on Triple Constraints • Miscommunication on scope • Misunderstanding on exact form of deliverables • Attitudes toward schedules result in missed deadlines, long delays • Poorly estimated durations • Over budget projects • Sub par product

  8. Levels of Cultural Study • Culture – shared pattern of ideas, emotions and behavior, crossing national boundaries • Cultural Knowledge – familiarization with characteristics, history, values, of another ethnic group • Cultural Awareness – developing sensitivity and understanding of another ethnic group • Cultural Sensitivity – knowledge that cultural differences and similarities exist without judgment • Cultural Competency

  9. What is Cultural Competency? • Development of skills and programs that allow individuals and groups to function effectively and appropriately in diverse cultural interaction and settings. • “Ability of people of one culture to understand, communicate, operate, and provide effective services to people of other cultures” from Wikipedia

  10. Why Should A PM Care? • Communication – different formats for expression and information exchange • Time – use and views of time: single vs. multi focus

  11. Why Should A PM Care? • Culture’s Hiring Practices – hiring for today’s needs vs. future potential or relationship • Education Style – Thinker vs. Doer

  12. Why Should A PM Care? • Power Structure – Hierarchical vs. Equality • Environment – Control vs. Harmony

  13. What’s A PM To Do? • Know thy culture • Gain cultural competency • Be a cultural leader within your project team and organization

  14. What’s A PM To Do? 4. Observe some language basics: • 1st 300 words learned in first year of language study. • Use words with single meaning • Beware of expressions, slangs and references 5. Place team members in position of strength

  15. What’s A PM To Do? 6. Build impact of culture on Project plan • Time differences • Identify in risk assessments • If there are language differences, take time to explain scope, deliverables, etc. • Communication Plan – decision makers 7. Do NOT underestimate the importance of building individual relationships!

  16. Future Steps • Continue to learn about cultures along with PM-related courses. • Build relationships. • Mentor team mates. • Share your culture.

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