Despite the increasing attention paid to the human element of project success found in the project management literature, empirical studies exploring cultural patterns influencing this particular human element continue to be far from satisfactory. To help further understand the influence of cultural patterns within Sub-Saharan Africa project environments, we draw on a case study conducted in Ethiopia's service sector. Apart from the well-perceived cultural values commonly referred to in the existing literature, we specifically investigated the deep-rooted underlying causes, which include Ethiopian cultural habits, as a principal factor in influencing project team behavior. The article concludes with implications and recommendations for future research.
AdigunI. O. (1995). Effects of domestic multiculturalism on job attitudes in Nigeria: A research note. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 6(4), 910–929.
2.
AycanZ. (2002). Leadership and teamwork in developing countries: Challenges and opportunities. In LonnerW. J., DinnelD. L., HayesS. A., & SattlerD. N. (Eds.), Online readings in psychology and culture (Unit 15, Chapter 8). Bellingham, WA: Center for Cross-Cultural Research, Western Washington University. Retrieved from http://www.wwu.edu/culture/aycan.htm
3.
BaccariniD. (1999). The logical framework method for defining project success. Project Management Journal, 30(4), 25–32.
4.
BaidenB. K., PriceA. D. F., & DaintyA. R. J. (2006). The extent of team integration within construction projects. International Journal of Project Management, 24(1), 13–23.
5.
BelassiW., & TukelO. (1996). A new framework for determining critical success/failure factors in projects. International Journal of Project Management, 14(3), 5–18.
6.
BeloutA. (1998). Effects of HRM on project effectiveness and success: Towards a new conceptual framework. International Journal of Project Management, 16(1), 21–26.
7.
BeloutA., & GauvreauC. (2004). Factors influencing project success: The impact of human resources management. International Journal of Project Management, 22(1), 1–11.
8.
BeugreC. D., & OffodileO. F. (2001). Managing for organizational effectiveness in Sub-Sahara Africa: A cultural fit model. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 12(4), 535–550.
9.
BishopS. K. (1999). Cross-functional project teams in functionally aligned organizations. Project Management Journal, 30(3), 6–12.
10.
BluntP., & JonesM. L. (1997). Exploring the limits of western leadership theory in East Asia and Africa. Personnel Review, 26(1/2), 6–23.
11.
BredilletC., YatimF., & RuizP. (2010). Project management deployment: The role of cultural factors. International Journal of Project Management, 28(2), 183–193.
12.
BrymanA. (2004). Social research methods (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.
13.
Business process re-engineering—An imperative component for rapid and sustainable development. (2009, July 3). Ethiopian Herald, Vol. LXV, No. 254, p. 8.
14.
CamprieuD., RenaudD. J., & FeixueY. (2007). Cultural differences in project risk perception: An empirical comparison of China and Canada. International Journal of Project Management, 25(7), 683–693.
15.
ClarkeA. (1999). A practical use of key success factors to improve the effectiveness of project management. International Journal of Project Management, 17(3), 139–145.
16.
ClelandD. I. (1995). Leadership and the project management body of knowledge. International Journal of Project Management, 13(2), 83–88.
17.
Cooke-DaviesT. (2002). The “real” success factors on projects. International Journal of Project Management, 20(3), 185–190.
18.
Ethiopian Economic Association. (2007, March). Report on the Ethiopian economy, unemployment challenges and prospects. Vol. V 2005/06.
19.
FortuneJ., & WhiteD. (2006). Framing of project critical success factors by systems model. International Journal of Project Management, 24(1), 53–65.
20.
GrayR. J. (2001). Organizational climate and project success. International Journal of Project Management, 19(2), 103–109.
21.
HammerM., & ChampyJ. (1995). Reengineering the corporation: A manifesto for business revolution.Helsinki, Finland: Werner Söderström Oy.
22.
HeeksR. (2002). Information systems and developing countries: Failure, success, and local improvisations. The Information Society, 18(2), 101–112.
23.
HenrieM., & Sousa-PozaA. (2005). Project management: A cultural literary review. Project Management Journal, 36(2), 5–14.
24.
HodgettsR. M., LuthansF., & DohJ. P. (2006). International management: Culture, strategy and behavior (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
25.
HoeglM., & GemuendenH. G. (2001). Teamwork quality and the success of innovative projects: A theoretical concept and empirical evidence. Organizational Science, 12(4), 435–449.
26.
HofstedeG. H. (1983). The cultural relativity of organizational practices and theories. Journal of International Business Studies, 14(2), 75–89.
27.
HofstedeG. H. (2001). Culture's consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Sage.
28.
HouseR. J., HangesP. J., JavidanM., DorfmanP. W., & GuptaV. (2004). Culture, leadership, and organizations: The GLOBE study of 62 societies.San Francisco, CA: Sage Publications.
29.
JacksonP., & KlobasJ. (2008). Building knowledge in projects: A practical application of social constructivism to information system development. International Journal of Project Management, 26(4), 329–337.
30.
JavidanM., & HouseR. J. (2001). Cultural acumen for the global manager: Lessons from project GLOBE. Organizational Dynamics, 29(4), 289–305.
31.
JonesM. (1988). Managerial thinking: An African perspective. Journal of Management Studies, 25(5), 481–505.
32.
JugdevK., & MullerR. (2005). A retrospective look at our evolving understanding of project success. Project Management Journal, 36(4), 19–31.
33.
KendraK., & TaplinL. (2004). Project success: A cultural framework. Project Management Journal, 34(1), 30–45.
34.
KliemL. R., & LudinS. I. (1992). The people side of project management.London: Gower.
35.
KloppenborgT. J., & PetrickJ. A. (1999). Leadership in project life cycle and team character development. Project Management Journal, 30(2), 8–13.
36.
KruegerR. A. (1988). Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research.San Francisco, CA: Sage.
37.
LevineD. N. (2000). Greater Ethiopia: The evolution of a multiethnic society.Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
38.
LeybourneS. A. (2007). The changing bias of project management research: A consideration of the literatures and an application of extant theory. Project Management Journal, 38(1), 61–73.
39.
McDonoughE. F.III (2000). Investigation of factors contributing to the success of cross-functional teams. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 71(2), 221–235.
40.
MengeshaG. H., & CommonR. (2006). Civil service reform in Ethiopia: Success in two ministries. Research Memorandum, 59, 1–26.
41.
Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED). (2006, September). A plan for accelerated and sustained development to end poverty (PASDEP) (2005/06–2009/10), Volume I.Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Author.
42.
MuriithiN., & CrawfordL. (2003). Approaches to project management in Africa: Implications for international development projects. International Journal of Project Management, 21(5), 309–319.
43.
National Bank of Ethiopia. (2006/2007). Quarterly bulletin, fourth quarter.Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Author.
44.
NealR. A. (1995). Project definitions: The soft-systems approach. International Journal of Project Management, 13(1), 5–9.
45.
NzelibeL. O. (1986). The evolution of African management thought. International Studies of Management and Organization, 16(2), 6–16.
46.
PattonM. Q. (1990). Qualitative evaluative and research methods (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Sage.
47.
PunchK. F. (2005). Introduction to social research: Quantitative and qualitative approaches (2nd ed.). London: Sage.
48.
ReesD. (2004). Managing culture. In TurnerJ. R., & SimisterS. J. (Eds.), Project management: A comprehensive handbook (pp. 793–815). New Delhi: Gower.
49.
RousseauV., AubeC., & SavoieA. (2006). Teamwork behaviors: A review and an integration of frameworks. Small Group Research, 37(5), 540–570.
50.
SaundersM., LewisP., & ThornhillA. (2007). Research methods for business students (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
51.
SchwartzS. H. (2006). Les valeurs de base de la personne: Théorie, mesures et applications [Basic human values: Theory, measurement, and applications]. Revue française de sociologie, 42, 249–288.
52.
SerikiH. T. (2007). Teamwork for innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa (Unpublished dissertation). Deutscher Unvirsitäts-verlag/GWV Fachverlage GmbH, Wiesbaden, Germany.
53.
ShahinA. I., & WrightP. L. (2004). Leadership in the context of culture: An Egyptian perspective. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 25(6), 499–511.
54.
ShenharA. J., TishlerA., DvirD., LipovetskyS., & LechlerA. (2002). Refining the search for project success factors: A multivariate, typological approach. R&D Management, 32(2), 111–124.
55.
ShoreB., & CrossB. J. (2005). Exploring the role of national culture in the management of large scale international science projects. International Journal of Project Management, 23(1), 55–64.
56.
SmythH., & MorrisP. W. G. (2007). An epistemological evaluation of research into projects and their management: Methodological issues. International Journal of Project Management, 25(4), 423–436.
57.
SoderlundJ. (2004). Building theories of project management: Past research, questions for the future. International Journal of Project Management, 22(3), 183–191.
58.
StraussA. L., & CorbinJ. (1998). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Sage.
59.
ThamhainH. J. (2004a). Linkages of project performance to team performance: Lessons for team leadership. International Journal of Project Management, 22(7), 533–544.
60.
ThamhainH. J. (2004b). Team leadership effectiveness in technology-based project environments. Journal of Project Management, 35(4), 35–46.
61.
WebberS. S. (2002). Leadership and trust facilitating cross-functional team success. Journal of Management Development, 21(3), 201–214.
62.
YinR. K. (2003). Case study research: Design and methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
63.
ZewikaelO., ShimizuK., & GlobersonS. (2005). Cultural differences in project management capabilities: A field study. International Journal of Project Management, 23(6), 454–462.
