subject: How To Deal With International Projects? [print this page] At present, we work in the time of intensification of international collaboration in many realms. That is why also in transnational corporations (TNCs) and any other companies which conduct transnational business, cultural differences between lands are more and more observed. It occurs because it has been absolutely proved that styles of running projects and even styles of carrying on projects all over the world are completely different. Certainly, this situation has got a lot of consequences also in project management. It causes the issue of managing project in this sophisticated, intercultural environment.
Nevertheless, if we want to understand and conduct both national and international projects, first of all, we should achieve any primary knowledge about theories of culture analysis. Well-known in this field are so called 4 types of culture created by G. Hofstoede:
- Individualism and collectivism - in individual society each human being is a primary part of a nation, in common one - an association of people is the crucial element.
- High or low power distance - higher one is distinctive for communities where public dissimilarities are acceptable, lower one for countries where it is well-recognized that these distinctions should be defeated.
- Masculinity and femininity - in civilizations which are masculine it is considered that a man must rule. The most significant values are: money, autonomy and aspiration. Female cultures societies are concentrated on helping individuals. Each human being is essential and more important than roles in a group. High standard of life is also significant.
- High or low uncertainty avoidance - higher one is characteristic for regions where individuals feel fear because of any changes in the future. Lowerone can be found in lands where existence is taken with smile. There is no worry about the future. In these kinds of communities risk tendency is also bigger.
Cultural differences in projects can be seen in all phases of them. Nevertheless, the most crucial ones are observed in the implementation process. Due to the fact of that, each project manager ought to, firstly, assay which 'types' of people (for example in comparison to four types of cultures) he could be forced to work with and, with that basic knowledge, he is able to conduct his international project.
It is obvious that, particularly in international projects, web based project management software is truly helpful. Essential advantages of these kinds of web project management tools are highly connected with net operations which are commonly known in modern businesses. It helps team members with cooperation and communication wherever they stay, whatever they do.
