Effects of Culture on Software Project Team Management

In today’s world of global software teams, managing members from multiple countries and cultures adds to an already complex mix of project factors. Based on a survey of multicultural teams, this paper examines some key issues that arise on culturally diverse teams. We focused on communications and conflict resolution factors, and their respective impact on productivity. Results of this led to language and attitudes as dominant elements of communications that impact productivity. Time, roles, and social organization also had considerable influence. We formulated a research approach that examines these elements and designed more specific survey instruments to aid in teasing out the critical factors that impact communication in multicultural software teams. Initial results of the deeper surveys show that various cultures have different attitudes, which in turn, have distinct impacts on communication. Based on this research, we are continuing to further define and refine the Multicultural Software Project Team model.