Intercultural Management • Culture Matters

International Project Management

by: Chris Smit - September 10th, 2012 Add Comment

Most people I meet during a Cultural Awareness Training work in some sort of International Project Management way.

International Project Management also seems to be expanding since more and more organisations move (parts of) their business outside their own country.

Very often this off-shoring (leading to international project management) makes financial sense. And a decision like that is then easily taken. But the reality teaches us that it is not all that easy.

Different Cultures

Different Cultures have different ways of working when it comes to international project management. I have had the opportunity to work with a big International Bank that outsourced a big chunk of their IT to India. Again, financially that made good sense, however the people working on the projects were less happy. One quote I can remember from someone was “I get what I ask for, but I don’t get what I want”. Read More

International Management and Managing Expectations

by: Chris Smit - April 17th, 2012 Add Comment

What is International Management?

Checking the online encyclopedia Wikipedia does not give an answer (the page does not exist!). Still in Cultural Awareness Training, it is a real important issue. How do you manage internationally and/or how do you manage expectations of other people when working Internationally? Read More

Does Cultural Diversity make You Smile or Cry?

by: Chris Smit - April 9th, 2012 2 Comments

When giving a Cultural Awareness Training there is the question: Does Cultural Diversity make you Smile or Cry?

In order to answer this question, it makes sense “breaking” culture/diversity (in this case inter-changable words) into different layers.

Much like an Onion.

The comparison between Culture and an Onion is the following: “Have you ever cut an onion in your life?”. Most people will say yes! What happens when you cut an onion? Indeed, you start to cry. Read More

Humor in Cultural Awareness Training II

by: Chris Smit - February 29th, 2012 4 Comments

In a previous post on Humor in Cultural Awareness Training, I tried to make a point about humor not being culturally neutral. (Click here to read it).

I don’t think there are many people who will disagree with the above point. Read More

3 Things to consider when working Interculturally

by: Chris Smit - December 12th, 2011 2 Comments

After having done a presentation on Personal Cultural Awareness Training in Amsterdam last month for Talk about IT, I was asked to comment on what 3 things some one can do to better understand “the other” culture.

Watch this short 2 minute video… (please Click the Read More button) Read More

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