Chapter List

Introduction

Work has begun on the project. Given that this is going on in multiple locations, a key issue relates to the techniques for effectively and efficiently managing both the people and the work. If this was a simple, single-culture and -location project, then you would be provided with guidelines to cover the entire project so as to be complete. Forget it. You cannot be complete or cover all bases. There are too many people, locations, and managers to deal with. This gives you your first guideline:

Be selective in terms of how you manage the people and the work in an international project.

There will be times when you feel guilty because you could not talk to all of the team members in a given week. Some things are bound to fall through the cracks.

A related question to ask is What is success in managing the work and people? Is it that you do project administration well? No. Is it that you are aware of the status of the project at all times? Getting closer. Here are some measures of success in management:

• Management never comes to you with an issue. You always go to them and keep them up-to-date. This shows that you are on top of the project.

• You take time to analyze the issues...