Question 1

Statement: Of all the considerations in hiring a local contractor, the two most important are price and local reputation.

Accepted Answer

The most important considerations can vary depending on the individual's priorities and the specific project, including factors such as quality of work, reliability, experience, and licensing, in addition to price and local reputation.

Question 2

Statement: Local labor and contractors that cost less are usually less productive too.

Accepted Answer

Productivity is not solely determined by cost. Local labor and contractors that cost less can still be highly productive, depending on their skills, experience, and work ethic. Cost and productivity are not directly correlated.

Question 3

Statement: To protect against changes in the exchange rate, the contractor should specify the price in the contract in terms of the contractor's home currency.

Accepted Answer

Specifying the price in the contractor's home currency can protect against exchange rate fluctuations, ensuring the contractor receives the expected value without being affected by currency changes.

Question 4

Statement: The purpose of an offset is to minimize or "offset" technical risks in a project.

Accepted Answer

The primary purpose of an offset agreement in international defense and aerospace industries is to compensate or "offset" the buying country's expenditure by providing economic benefits, such as technology transfer, local production, or other commercial advantages, rather than to minimize technical risks.

Question 5

Statement: A project manager who is always or frequently on site is usually the same person as the local representative.

Accepted Answer

The project manager and the local representative can be two distinct roles with different responsibilities. The project manager oversees the project's overall execution, while the local representative might focus on community relations, local compliance, or specific on-site issues.

Question 6

Statement: An emphasis in teambuilding in international projects is to develop guidelines that address multi-language and cross-cultural issues likely to arise in the project.

Accepted Answer

In international projects, teambuilding efforts often include developing guidelines to address multi-language and cross-cultural issues, as these are common challenges that can impact communication, collaboration, and overall project success.

Question 7

Statement: A contractor that hires local subcontractors should encourage them to work independently, with minimal involvement, guidance, or supervision.

Accepted Answer

While hiring local subcontractors, a contractor should ensure proper involvement, guidance, and supervision to maintain quality, adhere to timelines, and ensure that the work aligns with the project's overall goals and standards. Independence is important, but it should be balanced with appropriate oversight.

Question 8

Statement: Including time in the schedule to allow the project manager and staff to attend local cultural events and participate in local holidays and celebrations detracts from the work and serves no project-related purpose.

Accepted Answer

Including time for cultural events and local holidays can enhance team cohesion, respect for local customs, and morale, which indirectly supports project success by fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.

Question 9

Statement: When customers from foreign countries appear uncertain about what they want, the project manager must try to sell them on the project and quickly close the contract before they change their minds.

Accepted Answer

This approach can lead to misunderstandings, dissatisfaction, and potential conflicts. It's important to ensure clear communication, understand the customer's needs, and build trust, rather than rushing to close the contract.

Question 10

Statement: If the language of the country hosting the project is the same as that of the contractor's home country, then project scope and requirements definition will be no more difficult than for a domestic project.

Accepted Answer

Language commonality does not automatically simplify project scope and requirements definition due to other factors such as cultural differences, legal and regulatory environments, and project-specific challenges that can still pose difficulties.

Question 11

Statement: In general, the time and cost to perform an overseas or multi-country project are greater than for a comparable domestic or one-country project.

Accepted Answer

Overseas or multi-country projects often involve additional complexities such as cultural differences, language barriers, regulatory variations, and logistical challenges, which can increase both the time and cost compared to domestic or one-country projects.

Question 12

Statement: Technical specialists brought in to work on a project, and who have more training and experience than the local specialists, will always be more "productive" than the local specialists.

Accepted Answer

Productivity is influenced by various factors including understanding of local context, team dynamics, and project-specific requirements, not just training and experience. Local specialists may have insights or relationships that significantly contribute to productivity.

Question 13

Statement: Because they cause the least interference with work, the two best ways to monitor a project are through email reports and telephone conversations.

Accepted Answer

The best ways to monitor a project depend on the project's complexity, team preferences, and specific requirements. While email reports and telephone conversations can be effective, other methods like project management software, meetings, and direct observation might be more suitable depending on the context.

Question 14

Statement: A project manager who cannot always be on site should visit the site on an announced, scheduled basis.

Accepted Answer

Unannounced visits can provide a more accurate picture of the typical day-to-day operations and issues that may not be visible during scheduled visits. Scheduled visits might lead to temporary improvements that don't reflect the usual working conditions.

Question 15

Statement: In an international project, because of travel and schedule difficulties the best method for project tracking and problem solving is infrequent, scheduled formal meetings.

Accepted Answer

Frequent communication through a mix of formal and informal methods, including the use of technology for virtual meetings, is more effective for project tracking and problem solving in international projects due to varying time zones and the need for timely updates and responses.

Question 16

Statement: In an international project, the best communication is through frequent one-on-one conversations with locals, and informal meetings with workers and stakeholders wherever and whenever needed.

Accepted Answer

Frequent one-on-one conversations and informal meetings can enhance understanding, build trust, and address issues promptly, which are crucial for effective communication in international projects.

Question 17

Statement: A communication plan is a virtual necessity for every international project.

Accepted Answer

A communication plan is essential for international projects to ensure clear, effective, and timely exchange of information among team members who may be spread across different countries and time zones, and to address cultural and language differences.

Question 18

Statement: When a project requires that the contractor be "imbedded" in a foreign country, the project manager and staff must become familiar with that country's culture, laws, and institutions.

Accepted Answer

Understanding the culture, laws, and institutions of a foreign country is crucial for the success of a project that requires the contractor to be embedded in that country, as it affects communication, legal compliance, and integration with local stakeholders.

Question 19

Statement: In general, a project manager does not need to learn about the local laws, customs, social behavior, or culture as long as he can hire people working on the project who do know these things.

Accepted Answer

Understanding local laws, customs, social behavior, and culture is crucial for a project manager to ensure effective communication, compliance, and smooth operation of the project, even if local experts are hired.

Question 20

Specify the order of the following tasks in an international project (1 = first, 2 = second, 3 = third).
__ sign the contract
__ build a trusting relationship with key stakeholders
__ reach agreement on needs and expectations concerning the project

Accepted Answer

The answer of Specify the order of the following tasks...

Quiz 20: International Project Management

Statement: Of all the considerations in hiring a local contractor, the two most important are price and local reputation.

Statement: Local labor and contractors that cost less are usually less productive too.

Statement: To protect against changes in the exchange rate, the contractor should specify the price in the contract in terms of the contractor's home currency.

Statement: The purpose of an offset is to minimize or "offset" technical risks in a project.

Statement: A project manager who is always or frequently on site is usually the same person as the local representative.

Statement: An emphasis in teambuilding in international projects is to develop guidelines that address multi-language and cross-cultural issues likely to arise in the project.

Statement: A contractor that hires local subcontractors should encourage them to work independently, with minimal involvement, guidance, or supervision.

Statement: Including time in the schedule to allow the project manager and staff to attend local cultural events and participate in local holidays and celebrations detracts from the work and serves no project-related purpose.

Statement: When customers from foreign countries appear uncertain about what they want, the project manager must try to sell them on the project and quickly close the contract before they change their minds.

Statement: If the language of the country hosting the project is the same as that of the contractor's home country, then project scope and requirements definition will be no more difficult than for a domestic project.

Statement: In general, the time and cost to perform an overseas or multi-country project are greater than for a comparable domestic or one-country project.

Statement: Technical specialists brought in to work on a project, and who have more training and experience than the local specialists, will always be more "productive" than the local specialists.

Statement: Because they cause the least interference with work, the two best ways to monitor a project are through email reports and telephone conversations.

Statement: A project manager who cannot always be on site should visit the site on an announced, scheduled basis.

Statement: In an international project, because of travel and schedule difficulties the best method for project tracking and problem solving is infrequent, scheduled formal meetings.

Statement: In an international project, the best communication is through frequent one-on-one conversations with locals, and informal meetings with workers and stakeholders wherever and whenever needed.

Statement: A communication plan is a virtual necessity for every international project.

Statement: When a project requires that the contractor be "imbedded" in a foreign country, the project manager and staff must become familiar with that country's culture, laws, and institutions.

Statement: In general, a project manager does not need to learn about the local laws, customs, social behavior, or culture as long as he can hire people working on the project who do know these things.

Specify the order of the following tasks in an international project (1 = first, 2 = second, 3 = third). sign the contract build a trusting relationship with key stakeholders __ reach agreement on needs and expectations concerning the project

Quiz 20: International Project Management

Statement: Of all the considerations in hiring a local contractor, the two most important are price and local reputation.

Statement: Local labor and contractors that cost less are usually less productive too.

Statement: To protect against changes in the exchange rate, the contractor should specify the price in the contract in terms of the contractor's home currency.

Statement: The purpose of an offset is to minimize or "offset" technical risks in a project.

Statement: A project manager who is always or frequently on site is usually the same person as the local representative.

Statement: An emphasis in teambuilding in international projects is to develop guidelines that address multi-language and cross-cultural issues likely to arise in the project.

Statement: A contractor that hires local subcontractors should encourage them to work independently, with minimal involvement, guidance, or supervision.

Statement: Including time in the schedule to allow the project manager and staff to attend local cultural events and participate in local holidays and celebrations detracts from the work and serves no project-related purpose.

Statement: When customers from foreign countries appear uncertain about what they want, the project manager must try to sell them on the project and quickly close the contract before they change their minds.

Statement: If the language of the country hosting the project is the same as that of the contractor's home country, then project scope and requirements definition will be no more difficult than for a domestic project.

Statement: In general, the time and cost to perform an overseas or multi-country project are greater than for a comparable domestic or one-country project.

Statement: Technical specialists brought in to work on a project, and who have more training and experience than the local specialists, will always be more "productive" than the local specialists.

Statement: Because they cause the least interference with work, the two best ways to monitor a project are through email reports and telephone conversations.

Statement: A project manager who cannot always be on site should visit the site on an announced, scheduled basis.

Statement: In an international project, because of travel and schedule difficulties the best method for project tracking and problem solving is infrequent, scheduled formal meetings.

Statement: In an international project, the best communication is through frequent one-on-one conversations with locals, and informal meetings with workers and stakeholders wherever and whenever needed.

Statement: A communication plan is a virtual necessity for every international project.

Statement: When a project requires that the contractor be "imbedded" in a foreign country, the project manager and staff must become familiar with that country's culture, laws, and institutions.

Statement: In general, a project manager does not need to learn about the local laws, customs, social behavior, or culture as long as he can hire people working on the project who do know these things.

Specify the order of the following tasks in an international project (1 = first, 2 = second, 3 = third). __ sign the contract __ build a trusting relationship with key stakeholders __ reach agreement on needs and expectations concerning the project

Specify the order of the following tasks in an international project (1 = first, 2 = second, 3 = third). sign the contract build a trusting relationship with key stakeholders __ reach agreement on needs and expectations concerning the project