9th Alan Webb memorial lecture: International Working - A few pictures, 210715

APM South East Branch Alan Webb Memorial Lecture

21 July 2015

International Working - A Few Pictures

Russel Jamieson RPP FAPM

Apologies from Miles Shepherd

Unfortunately Miles has

damaged the tendons in

his arm and so is unable to

join us tonight to deliver his

lecture on ‘we always say

that every project is

different – if this is true,

how can we learn to

manage them and how can

lessons learned be

applied?’

A Quick Introduction – Russel (substitute)

20+ years PM experience, primarily in

– Financial Services

– Telecommunications

Head of APM Awards

Chair, APM People Specific Interest Group (SIG)

APM Wessex Branch Committee

Registered Project Professional (RPP)

Fellow of APM (FAPM)

PRINCE2, MSP and AIM Practitioner

Winning mentor for 2 years for Student PM Challenge

Manchester United fan (suffered badly recently )

AFC Bournemouth fan (smiling a lot recently )

Appeared on Page 3 of The Sun

Quoted in Sunday Times editorial…Interesting!

Yes…I have project managed a failed project

Twitter @RusselJamieson [email protected]

International Working – A Few Pictures

1986 Christmas Eve

Shock

Delayed wedding

Strained relationships (in-laws)

Culture

30,000+ queries backlog

Empathy

Steve Wright – Radio 1

Understanding

Acceptance

Zero backlog – let’s party!


Tax havens

Different cultures yet so close

Planning

Stakeholder engagement

Acceptance

Enthusiasm

Determination

Results driven

Inclusive


Tax haven (and non tax haven)

Planning

Stakeholder management

Different culture yet so close

Less acceptance initially

Less enthusiasm initially

Not as inclusive initially

Stakeholder engagement

Love Manx kippers!

HRH didn’t want BdC rate board!


11 September 2001

Not on my risk register – on yours?

Shock

Empathy

Bonding

Adaptability/workarounds

Willingness/unwillingness to fly

SPOC (Single Point of Contact)

Matrix management/teams


Not always overseas

Empathy

Culture

Bonding

Adaptability

Enthusiasm

Passion

Skill levels



Cultures vary

Importance of clarity of comms

What does ‘Yes’ actually mean?

Time zones

Permanent versus contract resource

Skill levels


Passengers must

carry dogs on

escalators

Customer information


International Working – Quick Wins

• Email signatures and ‘Directory’ entries

• Full job title

• Office address

• Landline number

• Mobile number

• ‘Golden’ Hours

• Common times, if any, when employees across time zones are

available together

• Politely ask ALL teams to only take breaks when they fall outside

of the 'golden’ hours to maximise available time together

International Working – Quick Wins

• Always quote the same customers time zone e.g. UK – USA – AUSTRALIA…

• Email content

• DO provide full details of what you want and why

• DO provide business justification

• DO provide all references and key contact you have been speaking to

• DO ensure ‘subject’ reflects the contents e.g. Release AK–Story ABCDE–12345

• DO NOT rely on people figuring it out from a massive mail chain you have

forwarded

• DO NOT email if you can talk – remember - it’s good to talk!

International Working – Understand

When ‘Yes’ could mean ‘Yes’, ‘No’

or even ‘Maybe’

Ethnic Group

Religion

Language

Handshake

Presentation of Business Card

Concept of Face

What to do/not to do

Names

Official Titles

Useful Phrases

Useful Websites

Costs – Offshore versus Onshore

• Be involved from inception…not after procurement…easier said than done!

• Beware of the ‘bean-counters’!

• Beware of offshoring at the expense of lost ‘in-house’ expertise

• Make sure that ‘Day 1’ savings aren’t out-weighed by ‘Days 2, 3 & 4’ costs of

re-work

𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎0 + 𝑎𝑛 cos𝑛𝜋𝑥

𝐿+ 𝑏𝑛 sin

𝑛𝜋𝑥

𝐿

∞

𝑛=1

Almost There – This is for Mark Jordan

And Almost Finally…

• People matter – wherever they are located!

• Things don’t always work out as planned but try and keep a smile

on your face…..and learn!

• I’ll get the ice-creams

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOfy5LDpEHo



And Finally…

Ladies and Gentlemen let’s pause for just a few moments

specifically in memory of Alan Webb but also take the opportunity

to remember those close to each of us who have also been lost to

us in the past

Thank You