PM%20in%20Practice%281%29.pdf

Read Project Management in Practice (p. 123): Why does a Project Manager need to have local knowledge?

a. Why is it important for PMs to consider knowledge and cultural nuances?

b. How does local culture influence the outcome of a project.

c. How can a foreign project manager become aware of local practices and culture which can affect project delivery?

Project Management in Practice Why Project Managers Need to Have Local Knowledge Despite globalisation many different calendars and Plastering masons from the states of Bihar and clocks coexist and will most likely continue to do so in the future. It is very improbable that centuries Rajasthan are known for their long working of history will be completely changed by the pres. hours and high productivity. Starting with the sures of current commerce. Project managers need Ayudha Puja day during Dussher, a the work- to aware of such local knowledge and nuances while ers may not use their tools for nearly a week, scheduling projects. For example, the beginning depending upon the region from which they of the lunar New Year is the same for many peo- come. On this day people decorate and worship ple from the Indian states of Karnataka and Andhra the tools of their trade. Pradesh, but it is different from the days for those Similarly, while a project's events may be marked from the states of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. Hence, on the Gregorian calendar, many social, personal, and even when a person is located in a different state, he even professional events are likely to be marked on or she may celebrate the New Year on the day it is or driven by the local calendar. Some of these latter celebrated in that person's state of origin. events embody deep-rooted beliefs and traditions, In India, where large construction projects are as illustrated in the examples above. Violating them undertaken in cities, most of the workers come would be a taboo; complying with them, on the other from villages in different parts of the country. hand, would require local knowledge, some of which Many of these workers have very strong cultural may be elusive even to a native. ties with their villages. Accordingly, the construc- While the multitude of calendars and clocks may tion workers return to their village to attend to a vil- appear to pose an unbearable burden on a project lage festival or to help during the harvesting. This manager if one has to accommodate all of them, there time is specific to the region from where the person is a brighter side to the same picture. Adherence to comes. Most of these festivals are based on the lunar a clock or calendar, albeit different from the west- calendar and hence do not fall on the same day of the em ones, often reflects a social discipline and a deep Gregorian calendar each year. One has to consult the commitment to core values critical for project man- local almanac to determine their date. Other local agement. A worker not wanting to start a project on nuances to be taken into account while determining a particular day or at a particular time of day may be project delivery include the following examples: an inconvenience. At the same time underlying that behaviour may be an implicit commitment to finish- Most workers will not commence work at an ing the project on time by beginning at a propitious inauspicious period of day called rau kala. This time. Would it be worthwhile to sacrifice the start date period varies by the day of the week and the and time for the sake of psychological commitment geographical location and can be found by con from, and satisfaction of the employee? Could a proj- sulting a local almanac. Similarly, no important ect manager elicit such cooperation by harmonising work is started on a Tuesday because it is con- with the local context but yet not compromising on sidered inauspicious the overall goals? Despre grown unterent calendars and clocks coexist and will most likely continue to do Plastering masons from the states of Bihar and Rajasthan are known for their long working so in the future. It is very improbable that centuries of history will be completely changed by the pres- hours and high productivity. Starting with the sures of current commerce. Project managers need Ayudha Puja day during Dussher, a the work- to aware of such local knowledge and nuances while ers may not use their tools for nearly a week, scheduling projects. For example, the beginning depending upon the region from which they of the lunar New Year is the same for many peo- come. On this day people decorate and worship ple from the Indian states of Karnataka and Andhra the tools of their trade Pradesh, but it is different from the days for those Similarly, while a project's events may be marked from the states of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. Hence, on the Gregorian calendar, many social, personal, and even when a person is located in a different state, he even professional events are likely to be marked on or she may celebrate the New Year on the day it is or driven by the local calendar. Some of these latter celebrated in that person's state of origin events embody deep-rooted beliefs and traditions, In India, where large construction projects are as illustrated in the examples above. Violating them undertaken in cities, most of the workers come would be a taboo; complying with them, on the other from villages in different parts of the country. hand, would require local knowledge, some of which Many of these workers have very strong cultural may be elusive even to a native. ties with their villages. Accordingly, the construc- While the multitude of calendars and clocks may tion workers return to their village to attend to a vil- appear to pose an unbearable burden on a project lage festival or to help during the harvesting. This manager if one has to accommodate all of them, there time is specific to the region from where the person is a brighter side to the same picture. Adherence to comes. Most of these festivals are based on the lunar a clock or calendar, albeit different from the west- calendar and hence do not fall on the same day of the er ones, often reflects a social discipline and a deep Gregorian calendar each year. One has to consult the commitment to core values critical for project man- local almanac to determine their date. Other local agement. A worker not wanting to start a project on nuances to be taken into account while determining a particular day or at a particular time of day may be project delivery include the following examples: an inconvenience. At the same time underlying that behaviour may be an implicit commitment to finish- Most workers will not commence work at an ing the project on time by beginning at a propitious inauspicious period of day called rau kala. This time. Would it be worthwhile to sacrifice the start date period varies by the day of the week and the and time for the sake of psychological commitment peographical location and can be found by con- from, and satisfaction of the employee? Could a proj- sulting a local almanac. Similarly, no important ect manager elicit such cooperation by harmonising work is started on Tuesday because it is con- with the local context but yet not compromising on sidered inauspicious. the overall goals? Carpenters from Rajasthan take off only once a Source: Arkalgud Ramaprasad and AN Prakah. Emergent Project fortnight. They do not work on a new moon or Matement: How Foreign Project Managers curt Leerge Lecal full moon day Kwide, International Journal of Project Management, Vol. 21. pp. 199-205, 2003