Cultural factors in the development of international projects: a case study of South Africa and Germany in the engineering/construction industry

Jogessar, Yashmee Bhana

Cultural factors in the development of international projects: a case study of South Africa and Germany in the engineering/construction industry

dc.contributor.author	Jogessar, Yashmee Bhana
dc.date.accessioned	2018-08-29T12:13:19Z
dc.date.available	2018-08-29T12:13:19Z
dc.date.issued	2018
dc.description	A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, and Aeronautical Engineering), October 2017	en_ZA
dc.description.abstract	The research was conducted to investigate the existing cultural factors that influence international projects and whether project teams are aware of these dynamics. The research specifically focused on South African and German project teams. One company from each country was chosen for the investigation; namely Company SA (from South Africa) and Company GER (from Germany); Company SA is Company GER’s subsidiary company. The project teams that were included for data collection were working on the Medupi/Kusile coal-fired, new-build power stations. The commissioning of these power stations is severely delayed. A case study approach was utilised to collect data; and qualitative methods were incorporated. This entailed conducting semi-structured interviews with six managers; two of which were based at Company SA and four at Company GER, respectively; and participant observations at Company SA’s and Company GER’s prefabrication workshops. Cultural factors do exist in international projects and the project-specific ones were summarised for the project relationship between the South Africans and Germans. Furthermore, the management level is mindful of cultural factors; however, their employees are not consciously aware that the reasons for their differences stem from cultural diversities. All managers also were of the opinion that management of cultural factors do affect the successful outcome of projects. Both companies have not provided their employees with a fixed technique or process on how to manage and adapt in projects with variable cultures. Some recommendations were included regarding methods to increase knowledge and manage an international project where there is cultural diversity; including specifics to manage a South African and German project.	en_ZA
dc.description.librarian	CK2018	en_ZA
dc.format.extent	Online resource (ix, 126 leaves)
dc.identifier.citation	Jogessar, Yashmee Bhana (2018) Cultural factors in the development of international projects: a case study of South Africa and Germany in the engineering/construction industry, University of the Witwatersrand, <https://hdl.handle.net/10539/25504>
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/10539/25504
dc.language.iso	en	en_ZA
dc.subject.lcsh	International business enterprises--Management--Social aspects
dc.subject.lcsh	Project management--Case studies
dc.subject.lcsh	Industrial management--Cross-cultural studies
dc.subject.lcsh	Intercultural communication
dc.subject.lcsh	Corporate culture
dc.subject.lcsh	Joint ventures
dc.title	Cultural factors in the development of international projects: a case study of South Africa and Germany in the engineering/construction industry	en_ZA
dc.type	Thesis	en_ZA