www.migrators.co.uk
© Migrators 2004
Contact - Collaboration - Co-ordination
Wednesday, 14 July 2004
Institute of Physics, London
WORKING TOGETHER:
Dealing with the difficulties
Resolving the problems
ANDREW HUNT MBA
MIGRATORS
andrew@migrators.co.uk
www.migrators.co.uk
Teams Working Together
© Migrators 2004
Consultants
Executives
Stakeholders
Specialist
Team 1
Specialist
Team 3
Core
Team
Main Work Team
Specialist
Team 2
www.migrators.co.uk
Key Areas for Differences
Objective Related (Product):
•
•
•
•
•
Goals
Requirements
Outputs
Technology
Processes
Team Related (Culture):
• National
• Business
© Migrators 2004
www.migrators.co.uk
Business (or Corporate) Culture
The characteristics and influences which only relate
to the working environment including:
• Structure & hierarchy
• Empowerment & Authority
• Management style
• Technology
• Product range
• Standards
• Goals & objectives
© Migrators 2004
www.migrators.co.uk
National (or Regional) Culture
All characteristics and influences upon individual,
or group, from any source, including:
• Geography & Transport
• Education levels & methods
• Religion & Lifestyle
• Politics national & local
• Legal & governance
• Hobbies & interests
• Social groupings
© Migrators 2004
www.migrators.co.uk
Understanding Differences
There are many reasons why we need to understand differences
in culture and work, including:
• Becoming more aware of different ways of working
• Understanding the needs of other nations / organisations
• Assessing the suitability of potential partners
• Identifying areas of tolerance / flexibility
• Helping to find compromises
• Identifying ways of resolving issues
• Indicating benefits of working with other organisations
© Migrators 2004
www.migrators.co.uk
Ways of Understanding Differences
© Migrators 2004
There are various techniques we can use to help our understanding of
work and culture, including:
Technique
Example
Action Learning
Working together and discussing differences
encountered
Counselling
Discussing specific differences with groups, or
individuals
Demonstrations
Showing different processes and methods in action
Modelling
Illustrating differences in processes and their outcomes
www.migrators.co.uk
Other Approaches
© Migrators 2004
There are other approaches we also can use to help our understanding of
work and culture, including:
Cultural
Awareness
Team introduce themselves & their company, location, lifestyle
Update on key areas at a later date
Team Social
Watch a film, or the ‘big game’, read a book
Team discuss the event, and their views
Techniques for Managing Differences
www.migrators.co.uk
© Migrators 2004
There are various techniques we can use to help manage
any differences, some examples include:
Sample Difference
Technique
Different standards or
methodologies
Assess standards and use two way
conversions
Different levels of hierarchy
Agree to remove non vital levels
Differences in priorities
Agree tasks and their significance
Geographical distance
Use more electronic communications
systems
www.migrators.co.uk
Resolving Problems
© Migrators 2004
Understanding Understand the situation properly
Contact the key people / stakeholders
Context
Be aware of the wider context
The problem may actually be relating to social,
home organisation, or national culture
Tolerance
Make allowances for individuals and the way they work
Be aware that all organisations work in different ways,
but can achieve the same goals
Communicate Discuss problems directly with teams or individuals
Use the team’s preferred ways of communications
Do not rely on general instructions, or third parties
www.migrators.co.uk
Communications
© Migrators 2004
Probably the most important technique to resolve work and culture
related problems is direct communications with the team, or individuals:
Guideline
Ensure communication
channels take account of
organisation differences.
Example Technique
Brief Core Team daily.
Provide all managers with access to regular reports.
Keep documents short, use
simple words, numbers and
diagrams.
Weekly / Monthly progress reports are limited to
short, single page, illustrated summaries.
Maintain direct
communications.
Where possible communicate directly with the
people concerned, be it face to face, e-mail,
telephone etc.
Provide opportunities for
discussion groups to reinforce
understanding.
Allow extra time at the end of project briefings for
participants to informally discus their understanding
with each other.