Leading engineering teams in a global environment

Today´s global environment has presented some new challenges for project managers. Technical programs today may involve a systems group in Phoenix, a software group in Bombay, and a manufacturer in Beijing. The mixture of cultural, political, and legal issues has added a new level of complexity to the already difficult role of a technical project manager. This paper is aimed at addressing the issues faced by today´s global team leaders. It begins with a review of concepts and terms in international organizational behavior. It then explores different scenarios and offers a systematic, practical approach to global project management. The perspectives are taken from engineering leaders´ across Europe, Asia, and North America. The paper is drawn on the author´s personal international business experiences as well as successful practices of other industry professionals. At the conclusion the reader will have a good understanding of how to approach and manage a global project successfully