Globalization and Localization of R&D Project Management Process: The Culture Adaptation of Lucent China Research Technology Center

In this era of globalization, Western companies have started to explore China as a source of technology. Yet western R&D project management processes are frequently shaped by a number of well-known contrasts between Chinese and Western culture characteristics, such as, collectivism versus individualism, relationship and group harmony concern versus contractual attitude, strong versus weak uncertainty avoidance, etc. A case study of Lucent China Research and Technology Center shows how R&D project management can be effectively tuned to align with local culture environment, which is on TL9000 global requirements basis. The oversea company´s branch has recognized the need to adjust key checking points during telecommunication software development and has gained remarkable success in quality improvement and productivity enhancement. At the same time, lessons and recommendations on the adjustment of Chinese culture will be drawn from the case study of international companies that locate R&D projects in China