Cross- cultural Communication This page intentionally left blank

Poor project definition
Considerable preparation is essential to ensure that there is agreement 
between the parties from the outset as regards technical detail, the timescale 
for completion, the share of the cost of investment and expectations relat-
ing to output and production schedules. In addition, both the supplier and 
the receiver should have a proven capacity to deal with large- scale projects 
and the motivation and commitment to instigate early planning for both 
the human and management aspects.
Training requirements
Background briefing may be necessary in advance of the commencement 
of the project in the provider’s country on the cultural differences in the 
recipient country. Training of local staff will be a high priority and much 
will depend on local human resources, educational standards and the provi-
sion of trainers, teachers and supervisors. Once the change agents have been 
identified, the training programme should include:
the most effective language in which to communicate in the target 
culture;
the interpersonal skills required to establish a climate of trust and mutual 
respect;
the identification of the local conditions which may influence the way 
in which skills are transferred (for example, the level of education and 
technical knowledge of the local staff);
the expectations of the receiving culture in terms of the timeframe for 
the handover period, the need for ongoing support, the identification of 
culturally sensitive areas and the need for confidentiality regarding tech-
nical inventions and specialized systems.
The training and professional development of local managers, supervisors 
and trainers will reduce the future dependence on employing expatriates. 
The training for the technology transfer should include the production 
of detailed job descriptions, job specifications and standard operating 
procedures where there is a need to formalize and record a set of explicit 
instructions which must be carried out in certain specific situations, for 
example, safety checks and quality control and plant operating procedures.
•
•
•
•

---

250 Cross-Cultural Communication