People in Projects

Preparing for the Inevitable

The types of obstacles listed are inevitable in projects carried out across national and cultural boundaries. Significantly, most of these difficulties are predictable; business anthropologists and cross-cultural researchers have devised ways of reducing or even avoiding their negative effects. Now, at the turn of the millennium, IPMs have an unprecedented number of resources that can help them plan wisely for managing across mindsets.

To draw on these resources, an IPM and his direct reports must become educated about what is known from research and experience. However, learning to think about project management in a culturally sophisticated way cannot, by itself, reduce risks. The IPM and his firm must commit time, ...