Successful project leadership “east” and “west”: Differences and reflections

Abstract

The backdrop for this paper is an explorative study of how the project approach is received and used in a typical Western culture such as Norway, and a typical Eastern culture such as China. The main conclusion reached was that the project approach has a clear and positive impact in both cultures in both economic results for customers: customer satisfaction, customer involvement or business collaboration, financial rewards or internal reward systems, as well as economic- and social development in society. However, there were differences in the two cultures' respective views on how projects influenced public enterprises compared to private businesses, as well as the extent to which differences in the way projects were managed or led exerted an impact on some selected project success areas. The findings point to a need for being careful when using a general “best practice” notion for project managers and leaders, using the project approach in a particular culture. Instead, one should grasp the best from each individual culture and search for one's own cultural or even “individual, company related best practice.”, with some of these recommendations highlighted in this paper.