Culture and Project Management ─ Managing Diversity in Multicultural Projects

The cultural diversity within many major projects require those managing them to adapt their project management approach to be in harmony with the preferences and behaviours of stakeholders from these cultures; failure to do so can lead to misunderstandings about the projecta€?s purpose and structure; significant difficulties in implementation and in some cases, to conflict or litigation. Omar Zein's Culture and Project Management explores the cultural impact on projects and their management, providing the reader with an understanding of the main elements of cross-cultural theory within the project context. These include our perception of context, achievement, power and group dynamics; and how we approach ambiguity and time. He then identifies key aspects of project management where cultural sensitivity is essential (for example, planning, risk management, project communication and leadership) and offers a structured plan for developing what he calls 'cultural tuning' within a project environment. The book draws on the authora€?s research, his professional experience of working on transnational projects and his own background. His review of the different theories alongside examples and stories of their practical application, offers project managers a new and extraordinarily rich perspective into the likely dynamics of their projects. Making appropriate adaptations to standard processes, choosing what, how and through whom you communicate with stakeholders may be signal elements in the success or failure of your projects; Culture and Project Management will show where to start.

Omar Zein is a project management consultant with an engineering background. He was born in Saudi Arabia to Syrian parents, moved to the United Kingdom at the age of 13 and is currently living and working between London, UK and Turin, Italy. During his higher education in 1993, Omar undertook a research on the cultural impact British organizations face when they operate in Saudi Arabia. His findings are part of the cultural dimensions still used today by multinational organizations moving to the country. Omara€?s experience combines project management in manufacturing, IT, finance and European Commission development programmes in the Middle East and Europe. He has directly delivered various large and complex initiatives involving multiple national and organisational cultures. He is Director of Projectize Ltd (UK) and President of the European School of Project Management (Italy).