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

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

“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.

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

Why Discuss Culture?  Lack of “soft skills” preparation to manage cross cultural teams  Impact of culture on triple constraints

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

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

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

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

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

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

What’s A PM To Do? 1. Know thy culture 2. Gain cultural competency 3. Be a cultural leader within your project team and organization

What’s A PM To Do? 4. Observe some language basics:  1 st 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

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!

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