Practical Guide for Project Management Across Borders How

Practical Guide for Project Management Across Borders How to keep stakeholders engaged, break through cultural barriers, and develop strong virtual teams

Agenda Key Topics 1 Introduction 2 Virtual Team Management 3 Global Stakeholder Management 4 Tips for Navigating Different Cultures 5 Wrap Up Page 2

Introduction Background Originally from Louisiana Started my career in Sales and Marketing for pro baseball Moved to Argentina in 2012 Currently living in Bentonville with my fiance Project Experience Came to Walmart Shared Services in 2009 Customer Liaison with Canada and Puerto Rico Implemented workflow processes and systems in Mexico and Central America Implementation of new technology in all Latin America Page 3

Virtual Team Management 1 Building Your Team 2 Managing Performance 3 Communication and Collaboration Techniques Page 4

Selecting Your Teams are normally assigned however there are times when you must hire or negotiate for your team members Team Competencies Competency Traditional Virtual Technical High Planning & Improvement High Communication& Influence High Adaptibility High Leadership Medium High Problem Solving Medium High Time Management Medium High Page 5

Selecting Your Team Other Considerations Passion for the Project Goals Look at the team members background to gain insight into their interests. Give them a clear vision of the project. Enjoy Working Together Have a productive mix of working styles. Avoid working in siloes. Availability Personal and professional time contraints. Ability to travel. . "It's your attitude, and not your aptitude, that determines your altitude“ -Frank Broyles Page 6

Achieving High Performance There a few techniques that can be used to increase virtual team engagement… Team Mangagement Tips Onboarding- There must be a well planned program. Build Trust- Teams don’t focus if they don’t trust one another. Team Building- It’s more than having drinks after work. Motivation- Keep teams excited and focused on objectives. Measuring progress- Share successes and recognize team members for their accomplishments. Page 7

Communication and Collaboration Techniques Face to Face Meetings Personal Connection Ease of use Reduce Travel Everyone needs access Allow for Non Verbal Communication Page 8 Virtual Workspaces Enforce updates Respect Time and Language Differences Adjust work schedule Be aware of words you are using

Global Stakeholder Management 1 Find your Stakeholders 2 Manage Expectations 3 Communication Technique Page 9

Stakeholder Identification and Analysis The first step is identifying your stakeholders and recognizing the influence thy have on your project Use your whole team to identify your stakeholders in each region. Assess how their goals align with your project and what you are trying to achieve. Plan for preferred communication methods Page 10

Manage Stakeholder Expectations Key Messages Have local champions Align objectives with local organization Offer language support Involve stakeholders in planning Be consistent with communication Exceed expectations Page 11

Communication Technique A major piece of project management is influencing and getting clear messages across Key Messages Over reliance on email can be ineffective Get feedback on communications Account for different languages Know the local rules! Keep it simple Page 12

Breaking Through Cultural Barriers 1 Benefits of Cross Cultural Teams 2 Cultural Impacts on Project Management 3 Resources Page 13

Benefits of Cross Cultural Teams Unique experiences with dealing with risks and issues. Adapt language and communication style to better meet customer needs. Page 14 Create a team open to sharing new ideas and driving innovation. . Multi Cultural teams can help keep you up to date on issues specific to the region you are working.

Regional Profiles- Latin America Example Consider the affect of your management style on how different cultures approach situations *United States Latin America Independent Interdependent Egaltarian Risk Direct Task * Source: Globe Smart Page 15 Status Certainty Indirect Relationship

Techniques for Cross Cultural Management Organization Keep leaders informed and pay attention to protocol Be more deferential to leaders and be careful openly challenging those in authority. Be sure to ask often for feedback and personal opinions Use more niceties in written and verbal communication. Ensure you have approvals before communicating to broader organization Communication More about the “how” than the “what” Use active listening skills Time Page 16 Plan for meetings and other activities to go over scheduled time. Plan for translation time.

Things to remember when travelling Travel Allow time in itinerary for unexpected and plan time to relax Know key phrases in target language Network with your project stakeholders Exhibit high amount of energy- It keeps local teams motivated Enjoy the experience! Page 17

Do You Have Any Questions? Page 18