TWO CONTINENTS - TWO WORLDS? (End Case)

Q1. Where
do you see the differences in communication style between the US-American and
Germans?
Project managers need to adapt their managerial style to different
cultures of diverse stakeholders and use different forms of communication. In
this case, international communication will bring specific challenges. Here, it's difficult to manage the communication
of remote teams when it comes to time differences, technological preferences, cultural
norms, and language. Therefore, the role of both PM is to find which
communication methods will work best for each project and each team member. The
PM in the US might prefer a weekly
project summary, while the PM in Germany works better with a detailed project
specification. Despite that, if it's done right then an international project
with combined cultural approaches can offer better solutions than a local
homogeneous project.
Q2. Create a suitable communication governance system on
behalf of the American project manager.
Answer:
Q3. What reasons for the conflicts between the US and German
project administration offices can you identify?
An international project can either create
teamwork or conflict depending on the kind of people involved. Even if the
organizational structure is solid and develops teamwork, individual differences
can still generate conflict. The main reason of the conflict among both project teams are
based on project goals that are not
agreed on, disagreement of project priorities, week adaptation and conflicting work schedules.
Main conflicts that occurred and can be identified in the
case between both parties were raised from the American side. Especially when the
Americans kept requesting many product changes through overcoming the German
company standards therefore creating many extra work for the Germans. Also, the
Americans kept asking for commercial information which Germans didn't know why
they should disclose such information. Moreover, Germans had to deal with
different time zones and work late at night leading them to family issues.
Q4. Outline the ground rules for efficient co-operation in
the international development team that could have avoided the conflicts.
To avoid conflicts, the main rules to achieve an efficient
co-operation in an international development team should be based on :
1-
Overcoming language diversity.
2-
Understanding different communication styles.
3- Using
agreed on communication and protocols.
4-
Identifying conflict reason.
5- Being aware of different views on conflict.
5- Being aware of different views on conflict.