UNDERSTANDING AND MITIGATING CHALLENGES ON GLOBAL PROJECTS: THE ROLE OF THE FREELANCE EXPATRIATE

摘要

Global construction projects that involve collaboration between participants from multiple countries result in unique challenges that are not faced on intra-national projects. In order to further investigate this phenomenon, we conducted detailed case studies on four, matched international construction projects – two in Taiwan and two in India. Through our study we found four key differences in institutionalized work practices that led to large challenges on projects. How were these institutional challenges mitigated? We found that a group of freelance professionals, hailing mainly from the UK but also from other parts of the British Commonwealth, acted as the mediators or catalysts in resolving these differences. In this paper we describe the types of problems that arose on the project and the nature of the expatriate freelance community. We also analyze some of the strategies adopted by its members, and the ways in which conflicts were solved.