Cultural Factors in Managing an FMS Case Program: Saudi Arabian Army Ordnance Corps (SOCP) Program.

摘要

The purpose of this report is to identify and evaluate the impact of significant cultural differences, to include establishment of mutual program goals, attitudes towards time, economy and efficiency, planning, performance evaluation, the intrinsic value of work, and the role of language, as barriers to overall program success. The report is based on personal experiences of an Ordnance Advisor and data generated from a structured interview/questionnaire of eight former Advisors who served with the SOCP program or related programs in Saudi Arabia. The report also examines the highly limited amount of management-oriented literature that presently is available concerning Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. The report concludes that cultural differences do have a significant impact which can be anticipated and prepared for by Program Management personnel; such differences cannot be avoided or ignored. (Author)