From Saudi Arabia to the Caucasus... and from Hollywood to the construction site
At international project management I have learned that regulations can be both an ally and an insurmountable wall. I experienced this in Saudi Arabia, where complying with basic health and safety regulations required reinterpreting Western procedures in a context where priorities were different. Or in the Caucasus, where bureaucratised border crossings, sometimes bordering on corruption, turned the simplest logistics into a gruelling tug of war.
But there is one constant: no option not to open on time. The shop has to open on time, and my role is to translate the cold letter of the law into the living language of a multicultural, resilient and authoritative team.
驴HOW?
- Applying international standards as a reference
- Convincing the local authorities of their suitability for the specific case
- Imposing judgement in multi-cultural team disagreements, where each country brings its own understanding of risk, security and execution.
It's a translator's job, but also a job of orchestra conductor: interpreting, adapting and sustaining the rhythm until the whole thing flows
And, as I like to ground the complex with parallels, I think of iconic films that marked my way of seeing life... and that reflect what it is like to make an impossible project succeed.
馃帴 Pulp Fiction (1994) - chaos that ends up flowing...
A seemingly disjointed script that only makes sense when you put all the pieces together; that's what it's like to coordinate a project abroad: suppliers, engineering firms, clients, contractors... each one with its own story, until someone manages to give it a narrative order... that's the role of the project manager
馃帴 Reservoir Dogs (1992) - when no one trusts anyone...
In some projects, especially where commercial relations are strained, mistrust hangs in the air. Engineers doubt the constructors, the client does not believe in deadlines, and suppliers accuse each other. The lessonsomeone has to set a method, impose calm and prevent mistrust from killing the project.
馃帴 Land As Hard As You Can (1980) - when everything seems to be nonsense...
There are construction sites where every day brings a new unforeseen event: permits that don't arrive, materials blocked at customs, teams that don't speak the same language. As in the absurd comedy, the only thing that avoids disaster is to keep a cool head. The humour in the cinema becomes resilience on site
馃帴 Live! (1993) - extreme resilience!
The story of the Andes is a mirror of what it means to survive a project in hostile conditions. There are no resources, time is short, and the only way to get ahead is to trust the team and make the most of what little you have. On site, sometimes, survival is the first step to success
馃帴 The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) - the temptation of shortcuts...
In markets with dense bureaucracy or corruption, there are always "a lot of people" in the market.magic shortcuts". The challenge for the project manager is to maintain integrity while moving forward. As in the film, it is not a matter of being dazzled by excess, but of staying the course in the middle of the temptation...
馃帴 Awakenings (1990) - small victories that change everything
Sometimes it is not the grand gesture that makes the difference, but a technical detail that opens doors. Like the drug that gives patients moments of lucidity in the film, finding the right regulatory solution can transform an entire project. No miraclesThere is observation, patience and method...
馃帴 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) - rebel against the system!
There are countries where bureaucracy seems designed to prevent progress. The work becomes an arm wrestling match with the local authority. The project manageras McMurphyThe project must rebel with intelligence: questioning, proposing alternatives and finding a loophole through which to move the project forward!
馃帴 Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome (1985) - chaos, sand and leadership
A hostile desert, competing interests and a struggle for scarce resources. Sometimes this is what it feels like to coordinate a retail project in difficult environments. The only thing that makes a difference is leadership: keeping everyone moving forward towards the common goaleven if the context screams the opposite...
馃幀 Conclusion: from the impossible script to the release date it is all part of the same release
International works are not just about managing deadlines and budgets: they are a complex script where regulations collide with reality, where cultures intersect and where success depends on resilience, teamwork and adaptability.
As in film, what seemed impossible in the script, becomes a classic when executed well
That's the real magic of international project management: transforming obstacles into timely deliverables
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