The delivery of major international engineering projects in Indonesia has often been frustrated by the lack appropriate materials, the necessity to waste valuable resources on rework, absenteeism, interference and the basic skills of workers. The research reported in this paper explores the contrasting cultures between a traditional Western management approach to project delivery, compared with that emanating from an Indonesian culture, and compare the influence of these cultural differences on the productivity of Indonesian projects.
The research has identified that there is a major requirement for education to bridge the gap between Western and Indonesian cultural differences. For Indonesia, education may address some of the factors adversely impacting on project productivity. Equally, Western communities require education in order to understand local cultures, customs, worker needs and how to employ a flexible and relevant management style for Indonesian conditions.
This paper concludes by summarising a range of issues worthy of detailed consideration if international projects are to be efficiently delivered by Westerners in Indonesia.
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