Page 347 - Global Project Management Handbook

17-4 MANAGEMENT OF GLOBAL PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

Virtual Team Supported by New Technology
In the past, project team members were able to meet face to face during a project kick-
off meeting or workshop to become acquainted with each other. Under global compe-
tition, a project may need to be reorganized from time to time and relocated from
place to place to support its worldwide operation. For instance, the organization may
go through business transformations to streamline its worldwide operation. Or, owing
to strategic alliances or partnerships through mergers or joint ventures, the organiza-
tion may change its business model or operational processes to take a new direction.
All these changes will have significant impacts on the structure and working environ-
ment of a global project. However, with intense competition and slim profit margins,
it becomes too expensive to move people around the world just to meet each other.
Depending on project demands and service availability, new technology can be
used to provide for information exchange through real-time or online interactive
methods. Each method of information exchange may have its limitation. To meet the
global business challenges and to proactively manage recurring changes, a project
manager needs to continuously monitor the technology, process, and working environ-
ment through a global project management system.

Dynamic Workforce through Global Sourcing
Day after day, the boundaries of nations and the barriers of geographic distance are
being removed under the rapid interchange of information on the Internet. Through the
collaboration of global business units, standardization of industry segments, and
regional trade agreements, work can be assigned to any country and region. To cope
with these changes in business, human resources may be allocated and reallocated on
demand to meet market needs. With the high availability of global resources, the
workforce may be created dynamically through talent grids under worldwide skills
matching. Regional specialty in a given subject matter may provide unique talent for
the global workforce. To manage the human resources effectively and to shorten the
learning curve of team members, a project manager needs to plan and coordinate
resource allocation dynamically through a global project management system.

COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT AND ITS CHALLENGES

Besides global business challenges, there are also project management–related chal-
lenges owing to the increasing complexity of global operations. The following areas
are the major concerns:
● Changing requirements owing to changing customers or customer expectations
● Managing global contract for multiple nations
● Maintaining a virtual workplace for the project teams
● Encouraging innovation and reusing intellectual property
● Managing total risk for global operations

Changing Requirements
A global project may overlook some country-specific detailed requirements.
Sometimes the global project manager may not be aware of the amendment of local