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The Secret of Success In Iraq: Its All About The People SAME - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
The Secret of Success In Iraq: Its All About The People SAME - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
The Secret of Success In Iraq: Its All About The People SAME Mid-Atlantic/ Middle East Regional Conference October 11, 2007 Cultural Challenges In Iraq & Beyond DoD & Industry Will Continue To Work Globally & Face
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AMEC’s Lessons Learned On Cultural Challenges
Originates From A Long History Of ‘Frontier’ Services
In Africa for over 50 years In Caspian Sea, Caucasus and Central Asia for over 10 years In the Middle East for
- ver 50 years
In South America for
- ver 25 years
In China for over 70 years
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AMEC’s Experience In Iraq Oil & Gas Projects Since The 80s USACE: Design/Build Projects At 27 Sites (Under A JV): AFCEE: Design/Build At 7 FOBs: USACE Gulf Region District: MATOC At Taji JCCI: Projects In North, Central, & South Iraq Subcontractor On CETAC, AFCAP, & GCC Task Orders
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Project Failures Due To Cultural Challenges?
Company A Unable To Complete A Project Due To Tribal Disputes Company B Received An Unfavorable Audit Report Due To Poor Quality Company C Had A 40% Cost Overrun With No Major Changes or Impacts John Doe Was Caught With A Large Sum Of Cash – Kickbacks From
Local Subcontractors Are Suspected
Could This Have Been Averted?
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What is Culture?
“ The system of shared Beliefs, Values, Customs, Behaviors, and Communication that people use to cope with their world and with one another”
Franz Boas (1858-1942)
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Intercultural Challenges
Different Cultures Communicate Differently It Is Not Easy To Become Aware Of Cultural Differences We Tend To See Cultural Differences Through The Prism Of
Our Own Culture
When Differences Are Not Perceived As Differences, They Are
Perceived As Right & Wrong
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Bottom Line Is….
Learn: This Is Not An Easy Topic, You Have To Work At It Be Genuinely Open-Minded: There Is No Right Or Wrong Use Cultural Awareness: The Rewards Are Great
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“It’s All About The People”
In-House Staff Subcontractors The Client The Client’s Client The Community
Expatriates Iraqis
The Project Team
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Learn: A Little History About Iraq Ancient Times (3000 BC to 550 BC):
– Sumerians & Akkadians – Babylonians, Mitanni, & Assyrians – Chaldeans, Nebuchadnezzar II Of Babylon
Persian Domination (550 BC to AD 652) The Arab Conquest & The Early Islamic Period The Turkish Conquest Modern History
– British Mandate WWI – The Iraqi Monarchy – The Republic
Saddam’s Era Iran/Iraq War Invasion Of Kuwait & The Persian Gulf War Iraq Under UN Sanctions 2003 Invasion Of Iraq
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Iraq’s Cultural Layering
Religion, Mostly Islam, Is A Predominant Factor Trust Is In The Family &, For Many, In The Tribe Pride In The Rich History & In The Vast Natural Resources Cognizant Of The Importance Of Education Distrustful Of Foreign Interferences Skeptical About The New Government
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When In Rome, Do What The Romans Do Be Open-Minded
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First Things First: Greeting!!
Hi Hello Good Morning
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When In Camp David, … … Do What The Saudis Do
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How the Arabic & American Cultures Differ?
Most Scholars Tend To View The American & Arabic Cultures as Opposites: Low Context vs. High Context Direct vs. Indirect Written vs. Aural & Oral
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Cultural Variation Of Messages
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High Context/Indirect
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Use Of Cultural Awareness: Taji Base, Iraq
Case Study
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The Taji Base
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The Strategy For Project Success:
- 1. Understand The Objectives
- 2. Plan The Project Execution
- 3. Train, & Deploy Resources
- 4. Use Cultural Awareness
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Understand The Objectives
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The Security Challenges
Suicide Car Bombs Ambushes Mortars & Rockets Snipers Infiltration Attempts IED
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Plan The Project Execution
Exclusive Use Of Iraqi Subcontractors Engage The Local Community Assign Arabic Speaking Key Project Staff Adopt A Low Profile Security Approach
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Train & Deploy Resources
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The Main Problem To Address:
Who Is Attacking/Shooting? Can We Reduce These Attacks? How Do We Get The Local Community’s Support?
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Meeting The Sheikh – The American Style
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Listening To The Sheikh
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The Meetings Continued – The Arabic Way
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Progress!!
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Plan Forward: More Local Workers Outreach & Training
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H&S and UXO Training In Arabic
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The Results of Cooperation 405 New/Renovated Buildings & Infrastructure 305,100 m2 of Building Construction or 74 Football Fields
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Leave The Place Better Than You Found It
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AMEC Initiatives In Iraq Informal Mentor Protégé Program Training Program for Engineers & Workers Operation Iraqi Children
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Nationwide Water Conservation & Rehabilitation Project
* Mosul * Suleymaniyah *Hillah Basrah * * Najaf * Kut Karbala * * Diwaniyah Nasiriyah * Samawah * * Amarah * Baqubah * Samarra Fallujah * * Erbil Dahuk * Kirkuk *
- Over $20M in tools, materials, and equipment issued
- Seventeen Cities Participated
- Safety, pumps, valves, leak detection, leak repair, and electrical
training completed
- Trained Workers Successfully Performing Repairs
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Capacity Development
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Lessons Learned In Iraq
Deploy Staff Interested In Other Cultures Invest In Cultural Awareness:
– Trust & Long Term Relationships Are Key – Don’t Use High Pressure Tactics / Don’t Criticize Directly – Show Respect & Courtesy At All Times
Be Patient, It Takes Time To Understand Cultures
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“A man's worth depends on his two smallest
- rgans: his heart and his tongue” – Arabic Proverb