Deck 20: International Project Management

Question 1

$1000. Between the start and finish of the project, the exchange rate changes from 1.5 $/euro to 1.6 $/euro. Circle one:

A) the project becomes less expensive for the customer
B) the contractor receives more than the contracted price
C) since the price is set in the contract, the value of the project stays the same for both parties

Answer 1

the project becomes less expensive for the customer

Question 2

A process that has been successfully implemented in Country A is about to be installed in Country B (circle one)

A) the process should be pilot tested in Country B and modified as necessary
B) since the process was used successfully in Country A, it should be installed in Country B exactly as it was in Country A
C) the process probably cannot be adapted to another country

Answer 2

the process should be pilot tested in Country B and modified as necessary

Question 3

A project manager that cannot be on site at a project in another country should (circle one)

A) email local project staff and laborers on a frequent basis
B) hire a local project manager
C) require a local customer to manage the project
D) include tough time and cost requirements into the contract

Answer 3

hire a local project manager

Question 4

Ideally, an international project has

A) an executive steering committee
B) a local steering committee
C) both

Question 5

In an international project with subprojects at multiple sites, the coordination of goals, work, and resources is handled by

A) the executive steering committee
B) the PMO
C) both

Question 6

Statement: In global projects consisting of subprojects at multiple sites, the goals, strategies, and targets, and plans for each of the sites should be prepared

A) by a global steering committee.
B) by local steering committees at each sites
C) jointly by both the global and local steering committees

Question 7

Which of the following is not necessarily true in an international project (circle all that apply)

A) the "weekend" is Saturday and Sunday
B) the "work week" is 40 hours
C) employees might have to be retained after the project is completed
D) two weeks vacation is the norm
E) the socially-accepted "work day" can vary

Question 8

Which of the following might cause problems in working with a local contractor (circle all that apply)

A) unfamiliarity with common business practices
B) inability to communicate effectively
C) demonstrated experience in the technology of the project

Question 9

Which of the following are examples of "offsets" (circle all that apply):

A) required hiring of local labor
B) setting up a contingency fund to offset project risks
C) required assistance in rebuilding local infrastructure
D) hiring familiar and reputable contractors

Question 10

The local representative (circle all that apply)

A) serves as representative or liaison between the project manager and the customer
B) arranges for services in the host country
C) translates business requirements into technical requirements
D) assists in locating local contractors
E) stands in for the project manager at project review meetings

Question 11

Team building in an international project should involve (circle all that apply)

A) key members of the project team
B) local project managers and staff
C) local contractors
D) senior executives from the contractor's home office

Question 12

Common ways to identify key issues in an international project include (circle all that are correct)

A) Look at examples of similar projects done by your company or others.
B) Hire consultants or freelance expatriates who have project experience in the host region.
C) Seek trusted guides, professionals, or international advisory groups for advice.
D) Send project managers and team members to formal training programs.
E) Send in the project manager and staff ahead of the project to allow time for them to become familiar with local culture and laws.

Question 13

Local and international matters relating to culture, infrastructure, geography, institutions, etc., (circle all that are correct)

A) can be identified in lower, detailed levels, starting with a generic WBS for the project
B) must be identified uniquely for each and every project
C) can usually be incorporated into pre-existing project plans with simple adjustment
D) can be identified through a special WBS devoted to solely cross-cultural/international matters

Question 14

Part of determining the labor requirements for an international project involves (circle all that apply)

A) the cost of local labor
B) the productivity of local labor
C) the cost of labor from the contractor's home country
D) the productivity of labor from the contractor's home country

Question 15

Risks in international projects can often be dealt with by (circle all that apply)

A) learning and adapting to local customs, laws, and social norms
B) signing contracts based on local laws and drafted by local attorneys
C) performing the most technically challenging work at the site or locale of the project
D) outsourcing work that requires extensive knowledge of local regulations to knowledgeable contractors and consultants

Question 16

Statement: A project that involves British, Australian, and American stakeholders might involve many issues, but language will not be one of them.

Question 17

Statement: Practices on the job in the host country that relate to formalities, gift-giving, and social behavior are set according to whatever is acceptable in the contractor's home country.

Question 18

Statement: The law in effect for an international project is the law of the country hosting the project.

Question 19

Statement: "Incoterms" refers to terms used in international financing and budgeting.

Question 20

Statement: A good way to manage an international project is to have two separate project managers and management teams, one located in the contractor's home country and the other in the country hosting the project.

Question 21

Statement: Of all the considerations in hiring a local contractor, the two most important are price and local reputation.

Question 22

Statement: Local labor and contractors that cost less are usually less productive too.

Question 23

Statement: To protect against changes in the exchange rate, the contractor should specify the price in the contract in terms of the contractor's home currency.

Question 24

Statement: The purpose of an offset is to minimize or "offset" technical risks in a project.

Question 25

Statement: A project manager who is always or frequently on site is usually the same person as the local representative.

Question 26

Statement: An emphasis in teambuilding in international projects is to develop guidelines that address multi-language and cross-cultural issues likely to arise in the project.

Question 27

Statement: A contractor that hires local subcontractors should encourage them to work independently, with minimal involvement, guidance, or supervision.

Question 28

Statement: Including time in the schedule to allow the project manager and staff to attend local cultural events and participate in local holidays and celebrations detracts from the work and serves no project-related purpose.

Question 29

Statement: When customers from foreign countries appear uncertain about what they want, the project manager must try to sell them on the project and quickly close the contract before they change their minds.

Question 30

Statement: If the language of the country hosting the project is the same as that of the contractor's home country, then project scope and requirements definition will be no more difficult than for a domestic project.

Question 31

Statement: In general, the time and cost to perform an overseas or multi-country project are greater than for a comparable domestic or one-country project.

Question 32

Statement: Technical specialists brought in to work on a project, and who have more training and experience than the local specialists, will always be more "productive" than the local specialists.

Question 33

Statement: Because they cause the least interference with work, the two best ways to monitor a project are through email reports and telephone conversations.

Question 34

Statement: A project manager who cannot always be on site should visit the site on an announced, scheduled basis.

Question 35

Statement: In an international project, because of travel and schedule difficulties the best method for project tracking and problem solving is infrequent, scheduled formal meetings.

Question 36

Statement: In an international project, the best communication is through frequent one-on-one conversations with locals, and informal meetings with workers and stakeholders wherever and whenever needed.

Question 37

Statement: A communication plan is a virtual necessity for every international project.

Question 38

Statement: When a project requires that the contractor be "imbedded" in a foreign country, the project manager and staff must become familiar with that country's culture, laws, and institutions.

Question 39

Statement: In general, a project manager does not need to learn about the local laws, customs, social behavior, or culture as long as he can hire people working on the project who do know these things.

Question 40

Specify the order of the following tasks in an international project (1 = first, 2 = second, 3 = third).
__ sign the contract
__ build a trusting relationship with key stakeholders
__ reach agreement on needs and expectations concerning the project

Question 41

Below, match Hofstede's five dimensions of culture with the appropriate definition:

-______ Extent to which roles are distributed along gender lines: "masculine" (assertive, tough, achievement oriented) versus "feminine" (relationship-, helping-, or quality-of-life oriented).

A)Power distribution (PD)
B) Individualism (IND)
C) Achievement orientation (ACH)
D) Uncertainty avoidance (UNA)
E) Long-term orientation (LTO)

Question 42

Below, match Hofstede's five dimensions of culture with the appropriate definition:

-_______ Extent to which people feel are comfortable with ambiguity and less reliant detailed plans and formalized roles and responsibilities.

A)Power distribution (PD)
B) Individualism (IND)
C) Achievement orientation (ACH)
D) Uncertainty avoidance (UNA)
E) Long-term orientation (LTO)

Question 43

Below, match Hofstede's five dimensions of culture with the appropriate definition:

-_______ Extent to which members seeking immediate results and gratification versus continuing benefits and later results and gratification.

A)Power distribution (PD)
B) Individualism (IND)
C) Achievement orientation (ACH)
D) Uncertainty avoidance (UNA)
E) Long-term orientation (LTO)

Question 44

Below, match Hofstede's five dimensions of culture with the appropriate definition:

-______ Extent to which people tend to hold superiors or leaders in high regard and not question their directives or actions.

A)Power distribution (PD)
B) Individualism (IND)
C) Achievement orientation (ACH)
D) Uncertainty avoidance (UNA)
E) Long-term orientation (LTO)

Question 45

Below, match Hofstede's five dimensions of culture with the appropriate definition:

-________Extent to which people believe they are expected to look out for themselves versus being looked after by a group to which they are loyal.

A)Power distribution (PD)
B) Individualism (IND)
C) Achievement orientation (ACH)
D) Uncertainty avoidance (UNA)
E) Long-term orientation (LTO)