Federating cross-cultural teams through the use of structured drawing

Project management methods use codified processes derived from quality system recommendations. When a project is launched, the usual approach is to draw up an integrated management system or quality plan . This quality plan is then punctuated by audits and training courses.

On the other hand, these standard methods may prove inadequate for complex projects, as is increasingly the case today. The multitude of players and professions involved, the growing importance of stakeholders at all levels of the project, and the cultural diversity of the participants are all new factors that need to be taken into account. This new complexity is the result of the current context, and is independent of project size .

The implementation of an integrated management system remains fundamental, but must be complemented and enlightened by tools that anchor the approach in local specificities. Conventional approaches are thus strengthened by these tools, which differ from conventional managerial models and incorporate and master the intercultural aspects and challenges of the project.

The tool presented in this article is the practice of structured and shared drawing. This method has been developed and refined in the context of leading international infrastructure project teams. It can be transposed to all types of projects.