We are all the same... only different. How many times on your project do you hear conversations of proclamations from team members that include something along the lines of "Why can't they just do it the way I want", or "That is not what I asked for" These comments are... read more →
Dec
27
Jul
12
When you need to send your people overseas for extended expat project deployments, how do you pick the right ones? Much of the early part of my career was spent working as an expat representative of my parent company in various parts of the world. Working amongst small, tight knit... read more →
Jul
10
I am delighted to say that I have had an article published in ICCPM Connect, the quarterly journal of the International Centre for Complex Project Management. In the article, which you can find on pages 16-18 at this link. In the piece I discuss some of the attributes and skills needed to successfully... read more →
Jun
28
Something which comes up quite frequently in discussions I have with colleagues, particularly those new to working in virtual teams, is whether there is a protocol for establishing contact at the start of participation in a new project. I have discussed this with a number of colleagues and given it... read more →
Jun
21
Often, during the process of initiating new projects, it seems that agreed budgets come under pressure. This occurs particularly when the newly appointed project manager and client are reviewing where the monies are to be spent when one of the the first things to be questioned and, often subsequently removed, is the... read more →
Jun
14
In many conversations, discussions and meetings, the language and words spoken generally do not convey the whole story. Some would say that only 10 to 20% of the message in any conversation is actually conveyed through spoken words. There are facial expressions, tones of speech, hand gestures and, of course,... read more →
Jun
07
One of the most readily apparent challenges facing the development of a communications plan for any international project is determining the best way for the project to communicate across time zones. This is a problem which changes in complexity and impact as the time zones spread out, but, regardless of... read more →
May
31
So, here is a question for you to ponder, do you have communications equality in your project? does your project and corporate hierarchy, structure and access to communications tools and technology match your project's communication aims and processes... Many projects make bold claims of being open to input and contributions... read more →
May
24
Within communications in international projects, one often overlooked facet which can be easily addressed, requires complex and committed effort and can cause substantial damage if handled badly is the management of communication silos and other barriers affecting communications between the various international parties. One of the biggest influences on a... read more →
May
17
For most of the time the virtual teams approach has been used in the modern industrial world, which is really since the internet and computer technology reached a point where it could support multi centre work, one of the key aspects most heavily exploited has been the outsourcing of more labour... read more →