Project Coordinators’ Perceptions according to the Organization Structure to Reduce Communication Risks in Multinational Project

Abstract

Increasing risks about deficient communication and difficulties in communication management in multinational projects lead to the deployment of project coordinators (PCs). The role of coordinators and their responses to communication issues differ with the organization structure. This study focuses on the communication tendencies in different organization structures to facilitate the work of PCs. Based on the literature review, this study identified representative communication risks and organization structures in multinational projects. Thereafter, a survey and semi-structured interviews with 30 PCs were conducted to understand their perceptions, which were then analyzed by applying text-mining. Cultural and linguistic risks, such as differences in terminology, nuances, and visual gestures, occur frequently in communication. The resulting construction and design changes may lead to conflicts among stakeholders. To alleviate these risks, PCs in functional, projectized, and matrix organizations must consider the hierarchy, expert presence, and systematic approach adoption, respectively. PCs typically prefer matrix organizations, in which each department acts as a team to deliver information uniformly, and the personnel must adapt to differences in the terminology and behavioral cultures of multinational stakeholders. The systematic deployment of PCs with experience and knowledge of multinational projects in each team can help set unified goals among stakeholders. By coordinating the communication of PCs, the technology and resources of participating countries can be timely utilized.