Welcome!

Today’s Agenda• Welcome/Introduction —Bill Gibbs• Presentation—Dr. Jim Marion, PMP• Questions and Answers• Upcoming Webinars and Webinar Plus

Degree BriefingBill Gibbs

Director Campus Outreach& Webinar Coordinator

Dr. Jim Marion• Assistant Professor, ERAU-WW• PMP• Multiple project launches in U.S.,

Europe, and Asia• Significant experience with Japanese

companies (Panasonic)• PM Discipline Chair, and Department

Chair, MS Project Management• Ph.D. in Organization and Management

Information Technology• Master’s degree in Engineering,

Strategic Planning, and Business Administration

Cross-Cultural Project Management

Dr. Jim Marion, PMPDiscipline Chair, Project ManagementProgram Chair, MS in Engineering ManagementAssistant ProfessorDepart of Management SciencesCollege of Businessmarionj@erau.edu

What is so special about managing cross cultural projects?

“Managing projects across cultures can be a productive, rewarding experience, or a series of costly mistakes. Join us as we look at how to successfully manage projects across cultural

and language barriers.”

Added Complexity!

The Issues

• The practical• The cultural• The exchange of information• The “macro”

The PMBOK and International Projects

International projects

impact every aspect of the

PMBOK!

But keep in mind, there are many PM standards throughout the world…

http://globalpmstandards.orgGlobal Alliance of Project Management Professionals

The Practical

• Where are your teams and team members located?• How will they work together?• When and where do you schedule meetings?• What language will you use?• To what extent can you use common processes?• Other:– Holiday schedules?– Food?– Culture shock!

MintzbergHow to think about managing

globally distributed

teams…Coordination

Norms

Skills & knowledge

Outputs

Mutual adjustment

Work processes

Informal Coalitions

Direct Supervision

Standardization of …

https://www.provenmodels.com/17/six-coordination-mechanisms/henry-mintzberg

Food anyone…?

Holidays, Observances, Practices

• Europe in August• Japan: “Golden week”• Chinese New Year• Ramadan• Halal• Kosher• Alcohol• Vegetarian

It’s not just about what you do—but

also about what you don’t do….

• Prepare: Visit a country a couple of weeks prior to extended assignment.• No “Open ended” expat assignments!

https://www.communicaid.com/cross-cultural-training/blog/what-is-culture-shock/

P.J.Lu 14

Time Considerations • Coast-to-Coast in the United States is a 3 hours difference• Coast-to-Coast in Russia is a 12 hours difference • 9:40 am (Monday) in LA is

– 12:40 pm (Monday) in New York– 2:40 am (Tuesday) in Tokyo– 1:40 am (Tuesday) in Shanghai– 5:40 pm (Monday) in London– 6:40 pm (Monday) in Frankfurt– 8:40 pm (Monday) in Moscow

The Cultural

• Cultural dimensions– Hofstede– Trompenaars– GLOBE Studies– Edward T. Hall

• The World Values Survey

Trompenaars

Hofstede

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hofstedes-dimensions-culture-tool-global-marketing-jeffrey-foster

GLOBE

Edward T. Hall

http://www.supplychainquarterly.com/figures/?filename=scq200901china_fig3.jpg&article=scq200901china

World Values Survey

Geography and culture linked?USA

Wide-open spacesUnlimited natural resources

Pioneering the WestEuropean agricultureRugged individualism

Japan

Little space availableFew natural resourcesRice-paddy agriculture

CooperationCollective effort

Malcom Gladwell’s “Outliers” has much to say about the influence of rice-paddy

agriculture on Asian Culture.

Japanese Experience• Honne: The real and unspoken truth• Tatamae: The “face” you put on things• Leadership: “The eagle must never show its claws”• “Cho-re-bo-kai”: “I make a policy in the morning, I

change it in the afternoon”• “Yes, I have no bananas”: Yes can mean no!

The Exchange of Information

• Language subtlety• Gestures• Communications media– Meetings– Reports

• Leadership, power and influence• Negotiation

Non-Native English

Sounds funny to Western ears—but don’t forget that you sound funny too—and YOU may also be

hard for non-native speakers to understand.

Funny English-Avoid idiomatic expression

Hurry Up!

Calm Down

Down in the dumps

Hands down

Keep your chin up

Catch up!

Gestures

CENSORED

Learn about local gestures to avoid!

Note: A backwards “peace sign” is not a good idea in

former commonwealth countries!

Differences in Language and Nonverbal Behaviors

Verbal Negotiations Tactics – The What of Communications

Differences in Language and Nonverbal Behaviors

Linguistic Aspects of Language and Nonverbal Behaviors (How Things Are Said)

Sorry to say this but…..

In my experience, Americans tend to “blow it” in international negotiations by talking too much!

The Macro

• SWOT the PEST• Exchange rates• Import/Export Duties• Commercial terms• Safety

PEST

• China– Taiwan– Google/Gmail versus Microsoft/Hotmail

• Travel between countries• Security concerns

– Brazil– Philippines

• Medical issues– Food safety– Malaria– Tetanus– TB

Keep your political opinions to yourself in totalitarian countries!

Especially don’t talk about present or former leaders in

public

Tomb of Ho-Chi-Minh, Hanoi 2014

Mao Propaganda Message, Beijing, 2015

Open Food Market in Hanoi

The simple method of comparing exchange rates and living expenses-The Economist’s Big Mac Index

INCOTERMS

1. Global projects are far more complex than local projects

2. There are many pitfalls to avoid3. Know your stakeholders—and over-

prepare4. Don’t take anything for granted-pay

attention to the details.

Lessons learned

Let’s go global!

Questions

Dr. Jim Marion, PMPmarionj@erau.edu

Upcoming Webinars:Apr. 13 10 Traits Every Leader Should HaveMay 11 An Introduction to Human Factors in AviationJun. 22 How to Create a Career Enhancement Toolkit

webinars.erau.edu

Join us for a Webinar+ Degree Briefing!Thursday, March 23(Two weeks from today)

2 p.m. Eastern (USA) Covering:

• Bachelor of Science in Project Management• Master of Science in Project Management

webinars.erau.edu