Managing International Projects: Key Challenges and Strategies

This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of international project management. It begins by defining project management and highlights the challenges associated with international projects, including environmental factors, cross-cultural considerations, and global expansion complexities. The presentation delves into the impact of cultural shock and offers strategies for mitigation, such as developing stability zones and adjusting expectations. It emphasizes the importance of selecting and training employees for international assignments, covering factors for selection and essential training areas. The presentation then explores project oversight, outlining its activities at both organizational and project levels, and discusses current and future trends in project management. The scope of project management and system integration, including portfolio project management and the role of the project office, is also examined. The presentation concludes by summarizing the key issues in managing international projects and suggesting techniques for successful project completion in foreign countries. References to academic sources are included to support the information presented.

S T U D E N T D E T A I L S
International Projects

Introduction
This presentation will discuss about:
 International Projects
 Management of International Projects
 Challenges involved in managing International
Projects
 Cultural Shock
 Strategies to deal with Cultural Shock
 Training for employees to work on
International Projects
 Cross-cultural considerations

International Projects Management
Project management is:
 Efficient implementation of multiple
projects(Kerzner & Kerzner,2017)
 Managed in coordinated way
Challenges in international projects
management:
 Global expansion considerations
 Affects of Environmental factors on projects
 Cross cultures issues(Harrison & Lock,2017)
 Selection and training of overseas personnel

Challenges in Managing International Projects
Environmental:
 Infrastructure: transportation systems, unique local technologies,
telecommunication networks, power distribution grids, and
educational systems(Cicmil, 2009)
Cross-cultural Considerations:
 Culture: social standards and customs, language, philosophies and
values, multicultural environments
 Differences in Culture: geographic regions, economic, religious
groups(Andersen,2010).
 Ethnocentric Perspective: it is tendency of making believe that one’s
cultural values are superior to others which causes problems of
stereotyping, ignorance of people factor(Ojiako et al., 2011)
 Adjustments required: relativity of punctuality and time, balancing
personal and professional relationships, and perspective toward life
and work.

Cont..
Global expansion considerations:
 Dependence on local intermediaries: social connections,
translators, cultural guides, expeditors, and
advisors(Lientz & Rea, 2012).
 Culture Shock: breakdown in effective interpretation
system and selective perception of a person.
 Coping with culture shock: develop stability zones,
modify behaviour and expectations, develop realistic
expectations, redefine priorities, give preference to most
important task and appreciate small accomplishments,
consider project work as bridge until gets comfortable in
new environment, and participate in regular physical
activities and meditation practices(Ika,2009).

Cont..
Selection and training for international projects
 Factors for selection include(Grisham,2010):
Work experience of different cultures
Travelled overseas previously
Host nation’s language knowledge
Good physical and emotional health
Background of recent immigration
Ability of adjusting and functioning in new culture.
Training areas to enhance foreign culture’s
understanding(Meredith,2011)
 Religion, dress code, holidays, family life, education system,
social etiquette, business protocols, and equal opportunity.

Cont...
Learning Approaches to cultural ease
include:
 Affective approach
 Information giving approach(Kelly &
Moogan,2012)
 Experiential/behavioural approach

Project Oversight
Set of processes and principles(Luthans & Doh, 2012)
Aims to direct and advance management of projects.
Purpose of project oversight includes (Cicmil &
Hodgson, 2009):
 Ensures needs of the organization are meet by
projects
 Proficient resources’ allocation
 Enhance accountability of organization
 uninterrupted improvement in management of
projects
 Assist project manager(Burke,2013)

Activities of Project Oversight
At organizational level (Meredith & Mantel, 2011)
 Selection of projects
 Management of Portfolio
 Enhancing the way in which all projects are managed over time
 assess and uplift the maturity level of project management system of
organization
 Review of progress on strategic priorities by using balanced scorecard
approach.
At project level(Ojiako et al., 2011)
 Review objectives of projects
 Decision on problems highlighted by project manager.
 Tracking and assistance to resolve problems in the project.
 Analysis of status reports shared by project manager
 Review and evaluate lessons learned
 Approve major deviations from the original scope
 Cancel the project

Current and future trends in Project Management
Forces for change:
 Knowledge explosion, global competition,
shortened product life cycles, time to market,
and innovation (Cicmil & Hodgson, 2009).
Two key outcomes:
 Enhancement in project management scope.
 Increase control in the way projects are
managed.

Oversight’s importance for Project
Managers
Functions of Oversight(Andersen, 2010)
 Provide support to project manager
 Determine environment for the project
 Influence performance measures (Meredith &
Mantel, 2011)
 Provide oversight group.

Scope of Project Management and System Integration
Portfolio Project Management(Burke, 2013)
Project Office
Responsibilities of Project Portfolio Management:
 Review project options
 Select, prioritize, and balance the risks associated
with organizational projects(Kerzner & Kerzner, 2017)
 Sets macro time, requirements, and cost
 Ensure resource and competencies availability
 confirm business case and connection to
organizational strategy
 Reviews gating outcomes

Conclusion
Managing international projects have several
issues
These issues can be resolved by various
techniques
These techniques will eliminate or reduces
the challenge level to great extend(Cicmil &
Hodgson, 2009)
Hence, projects can be completed
successfully in foreign countries.

Any Questions?

1. what will be the project management in
the long run?
2. Future trends in Project Management?

References
Andersen, E. S. (2010). Toward a project management
theory for renewal projects. Project Management
Journal, 37(4), 15-30.
Burke, R. (2013). Project management: planning and
control techniques. New Jersey, USA.
Cicmil, S., & Hodgson, D. (2009). New possibilities for
project management theory: A critical engagement. Project
Management Journal, 37(3), 111-122.
Grisham, T. W. (2010). International project management:
Leadership in complex environments. John Wiley & Sons.
Harrison, F., & Lock, D. (2017). Advanced project
management: a structured approach. Routledge.
, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.

Cont..
Ika, L. A. (2009). Project success as a topic in project
management journals. Project Management Journal, 40(4),
6-19.
Kelly, P., & Moogan, Y. (2012). Culture shock and higher
education performance: implications for teaching. Higher
Education Quarterly, 66(1), 24-46.
Kerzner, H., & Kerzner, H. R. (2017). Project management:
a systems approach to planning, scheduling
Lientz, B., & Rea, K. (2012). International project
management. Routledge
Luthans, F., & Doh, J. P. (2012). International management:
Culture, strategy, and behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Cont..
Meredith, J. R., & Mantel Jr, S. J. (2011). Project
management: a managerial approach. John Wiley
& Sons.
Morris, P. W. (2010). Research and the future of
project management. International journal of
managing projects in business, 3(1), 139-146.
Ojiako, U., Ashleigh, M., Chipulu, M., & Maguire,
S. (2011). Learning and teaching challenges in
project management. International Journal of
Project Management, 29(3), 268-278.