Chapter 15 Flashcards
International Projects
Types of Projects Domestic Overseas Foreign Global
Issues in Managing International Projects
Environmental factors affecting projects
Global expansion considerations
Challenges of working in foreign cultures
Selection and training of overseas managers
International Assignments
Positives
Increased income Increased responsibilities Career opportunities Foreign travel New lifetime friends
International Assignments
Negatives
Absence from home and friends, and family
Personal security risks
Missed career opportunities
Difficulties with foreign language, culture, and laws
Environmental Factors Affecting International Projects
Economic Legal/Political Security Infrastructure Culture Geography
Legal/Political
Political stability National and local laws and regulations Government, state and local bureaucracies Government interference or support Government corruption
Security
International terrorism
National and local security
Local crime and kidnapping
Risk management
Geography
Climate and seasonal differences
Natural obstacles
Economic
Gross domestic product (GDP)
Protectionist strategies and policies
Balance of payments
Currency convertibility and exchange rates
Inflation rates
Local labor force: supply, educational and skill levels
Infrastructure
Telecommunication networks Transportation systems Power distribution grids Unique local technologies Educational systems
Culture
Customs and social standards
Values and philosophies
Language
Multicultural environments
Culture Definition
A system of shared norms, beliefs, values, and customs that bind people together, creating shared meaning and a unique identity.
Cultural Differences
Geographic regions
Ethnic or religious groups
Language
Economic
Ethnocentric Perspective
The tendency to believe that one’s cultural values and ways of doing things are superior to all others
- Wanting to conduct business only on your terms and stereotyping other countries.
- Ignoring the “people factor” in other cultures by putting work ahead of building relationships.
Adjustments Required
Relativity of time and punctuality
Culture-related ethical differences
Personal and professional relationships
Attitudes toward work and life
Cross-Cultural Orientations
Relation to Nature
- How people relate to the natural world around them and to the supernatural.
Time Orientation
- The culture focus on the past, present, or future.
Activity Orientation
- How to live: “being” or living in the moment, doing, or controlling.
Basic Nature of People
- Whether people viewed as good, evil, or some mix of these two.
Relationships Among People
- The degree of responsibility one has for others.
The Hofstede Cultural Dimensions Framework
Individualism versus collectivism
- Identifies whether a culture holds individuals or the group responsible for each member’s welfare.
Power distance
- Describes degree to which a culture accepts status and power differences among its members.
Uncertainty avoidance
- Identifies a culture’s willingness to accept uncertainty and ambiguity about the future.
Masculinity-femininity
- Describes the degree to which the culture emphasizes competitive and achievement-oriented behavior or displays concerns for relationships
Working in Different Cultures
Relying on Local Intermediaries Translators Social connections Expeditors Cultural advisors and guides
Culture Shock
The natural psychological disorientation that people suffer when they move into a different culture.
A breakdown in a person’s selective perception and effective interpretation system induced by foreign stimuli and the inability to function effectively in a strange land.
Coping with Culture Shock
Create “stability zones” that closely create home
Modify expectations and behavior
Redefine priorities and develop realistic expectations
Focus on most important tasks and relish small accomplishments
Use project work as a bridge until adjusted to the new environment
Engage in regular physical exercise programs, practice meditation and relaxation exercises, and keep a journal
Selection and Training for International Projects
Selection Factors
Work experience with cultures other than one’s own
Previous overseas travel
Good physical and emotional health
Knowledge of a host nation’s language
Recent immigration background or heritage
Ability to adapt and function in the new culture
Selection and Training for International Projects
Areas for Training to Increase Understanding of a Foreign Culture:
Religion Dress codes Education system Holidays—national and religious Daily eating patterns Family life Business protocols Social etiquette Equal opportunity
Selection and Training for International Projects
Learning Approaches to Cultural Fluency
The “information-giving” approach—the learning of information or skills from a lecture-type orientation.
The “affective approach”—the learning of information/skills that raise the affective responses on the part of the trainee and result in cultural insights.
The “behavioral/experiential” approach—a variant of the affective approach technique that provides the trainee with realistic simulations or scenarios.
