multicultural working, apm programme management sig conference 2017, 02 march 17, derby

© 2017 www.businessevolution.co All rights reserved Helping organizations improve performance Slide: 1

Multicultural working

Sarah ColemanFellow & Former Non-Executive Director, APM

Director, Business Evolution Ltd

Visiting Fellow Cranfield University

Author “Project Leadership” (Gower, 2015)

Editor “Organizational Change Explained” (Kogan Page, 2017)

Does anyone know where we keep the unwritten rules?


diversity is …..

…. difference, variety, multiformity, experiences,

perspectives, “nature” as well as “nurture”

“…. against everything that makes for a

monotonous and puerile world”Amin Maalouf “On identity” (2000)


World of Warcrafters, LARPers, Settlers of Catan? Weird.

Beliebers, Swifties, Directioners? Weirder.

Paleos, vegans, carb loaders, ovolactovegetarians? Definitely

weird.

Face it. We're all weird.


“….. we tend to be intuitive and instinctive when making our

judgements on who to trust and who we respect. Those judgements

are often grounded in what we consider to be familiar and safe from

our perspective. ”

Lucy MarcusProfessor of Leadership and Governance at IE

Business School, Madrid, Spain


• Are differences becoming more submerged, as we work in

extended and virtual multicultural teams and supply chains

for non-UK clients?

• Are programme working practices and ideas converging, and

increasingly based, on Western ideas?

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=jT-lmrodOgKpuM&tbnid=5gfLQ3_DAutRbM:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mynamesnotmommy.com%2Fyes-there-are-dumb-questions%2Fquestion-mark%2F&ei=WNBTUviDDKTE0QWKvoDAAg&psig=AFQjCNHkkTgmvMtIsjQrBcFpjXw4ClfQ5Q&ust=1381310936231855



culture …..

“ ….. the collection of

habits and beliefs that

determine how we do

things around here”Variously attributed


“….. the inhabitants of any

country possess certain core

beliefs and assumptions of reality

that will manifest themselves in

their behavior.”

“…..there are exceptions …

there is, however, such a thing as

a national norm.”


Lewis Cross-Cultural Communication Model

Linear-Active: • task-oriented, planners, facts, figures

• talks to exchange information

• truthful rather than diplomatic; do not fear

confrontation; stick to logic rather than emotions

• results-oriented; like to move quickly forward;

compromise when necessary to achieve a deal.

Multi-Active: • talkative, impulsive types

• attach great importance to feelings,

people and relationships

• like to do many things at the same time

and tend to feel confined by agendas

• conversation is roundabout and

animated; try to speak and listen at the

same time; interruptions are frequent

• uncomfortable with silence.

Re-Active:• rarely initiate action or discussion,

preferring first to listen to and establish

the other’s position, then react to it and

formulate their own

• listens, concentrating on what the

speaker is saying; rarely interrupts

• does not reply immediately:

o a decent period of silence after

the speaker has stopped shows

respect

o often asks questions on what has

been said in order to clarify the

speaker’s intent and aspirations.


• Which non-UK country(ies) have you worked with/in?

• What have you noticed about working with a particular

culture?

• What would be your words of wisdom to others about working

successfully with this culture?

• How would different cultures describe UK programme

managers?




if culture is …..

“ ….. the collection of

habits and beliefs that

determine how we do

things around here”Variously attributed

• What is cultural intelligence?

• As part of the programme community should we become culturally

intelligent?

• How can Programme Managers be understood and accepted by people of

different cultures spanning thousands of miles, time-zones and

perspectives?


thank you ….. ….. contact

Sarah Coleman BSc MBA FAPM CMgr FCMI

Director, Business Evolution Ltd

+44 (0)1636 893716 ext 302

+44 (0)7999 879870

[email protected]

www.businessevolution.co

http://uk.linkedin.com/in/sjcoleman

@business_evolve

Join us at our next Project Leadership Masterclass at

the Globe Theatre, London

Tuesday 7 March 2017. Ask for more details!

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at an APM event

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