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| Communicating across the cultural divide – project management | The Internet era has shrunk the earth, making it possible to manage fast moving projects across continents and time zones. But technology doesn’t wipe out the invisible barriers of culture that run across the globe. The best way to bridge the cultural divide is to understand and respect different cultures as all parties work towards a common goal. The key to this is effective communication.
Even when all parties can speak the same language, business methods and expectations of relationships differ between different cultures. This can make working together quite a complex affair.
Cultural misunderstandings and intolerance can dampen the scope of lucrative international business options. Cross cultural project management depends on the ability to understand and benefit from these differences, by exploring new markets and utilizing the best talent from each culture.
The success of any international project depends on an understanding of the products and service requirements of the countries involved, the ability to source suitable resources, and the ability to adapt to suit the needs of the different markets.
Take for example the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) industry. EMS companies now often have facilities in more than one country and they service clients internationally. While communication is the basis of a successful EMS project, that communication may be face to face, through emails or through phone calls or video calls. While written communication is easy to work with across time zones, tone and mood are not easily conveyed.
Word choices in emails, expectations for hospitality, the level of detail of communication, and many other factors, are all impacted by different cultural norms. Project partners might find that even the definition of respect and rudeness differ across cultures. Some cultures may not be forthcoming in expressing their views freely, or clearing up small issues. Understanding these sorts of details of different cultures makes it easier to handle situations that arise in project management.
Aprogreen Tech is an EMS provider offering comprehensive development and manufacturing solutions in computing, networking, and consumer electronics products specifically tailor made for their global customers. The company is well positioned to take up the challenges of communicating across any cultural divide in managing global projects. |
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