Imaginethedynamicsofaninternationalengineeringprojectsuchasthisone:aU.S.groupdesigns,prototypes,andqualifiesdiskdriveheads;wafersforthedriveheadsaremanufacturedintheU.S.andsenttoMalaysiaforsubassembly;aSouthKoreanfirmassemblesthesecomponents;thefinalproduct,afullyautomateddiskdrive,iscompletedinJapan.Inadditiontotheglobalcomplexitiesoftheproject,thereareahostofissuesinleadingtheprojectteamspreadacrosscontinents.


GlobalEngineeringProjectManagementalignsreal-worldexperiencesinmanagingglobalprojectswithpracticalprojectmanagementprinciples.Theauthordemonstrateshowtoanticipateissues,coveringeverythingfromstart-upplanningandsupplymanagementtocostcontainment,post-projectevaluationandprotectingintellectualproperty.Heexplorestechnologies,virtualteams,traditions,economics,politics,andlegalissuesinthecontextofinternationalprojects,aswellascomparesthedifferenceswithdomesticprojects.Healsohighlightsthecomplicationsofinternationalbidding,theextratimeandeffortneededformulti-nationalteamformationandmanagement,andoftenoverlookedprojectclosuretasks.




Astheworldgoesglobal,engineeringprojectsincreasinglyinvolvemultiplecountries,eachhavinguniquepolitics,cultures,andstandardsthatalladdlayersofcomplexitytoprojectmanagement.Thesevariablesmultiplyfastandconsequentlyaprojectmanager'sresponsibilitiesmultiplyfaster.Examiningthesechallengesfromstarttofinish,thebookprovidespracticaladviceonhowtonavigatetheissuesuniquetoglobalengineeringprojectmanagement.