How can you avoid common mistakes when implementing global standards in international project management?

3 Customize the standard

Once you have chosen the global standard that you want to use for your international project management, you need to customize it to your project requirements and specifications. You don't have to follow every aspect of the standard blindly, but you can tailor it to your project context, scope, and stakeholders. You can also combine different elements from different standards to create a hybrid or integrated approach that suits your project needs. For example, you may want to use some tools and techniques from the PMBOK, such as the work breakdown structure, the critical path method, or the earned value analysis, along with some principles and practices from the Agile approach, such as the iterative and incremental delivery, the customer collaboration, or the self-organizing teams.

4 Educate and train your team

Implementing a global standard in your international project management also requires you to educate and train your team members and other stakeholders on the standard's concepts, processes, and terminology. You need to ensure that everyone involved in your project understands and agrees on the standard's objectives, benefits, and expectations. You also need to provide them with the necessary resources, guidance, and support to apply the standard effectively and efficiently. For example, you may want to organize some workshops, webinars, or coaching sessions to explain and demonstrate the standard's features and functions, as well as some feedback, evaluation, and recognition mechanisms to monitor and improve the standard's implementation and adoption.

5 Review and improve the standard

Finally, implementing a global standard in your international project management also requires you to review and improve the standard's performance and outcomes. You need to measure and analyze the standard's impact on your project results, quality, and satisfaction, as well as its alignment with your project goals and values. You also need to identify and address any gaps, issues, or opportunities for improvement that may arise from using the standard. For example, you may want to conduct some surveys, interviews, or focus groups to collect and evaluate the feedback and opinions of your team members and customers on the standard's effectiveness and efficiency, as well as some audits, reviews, or lessons learned sessions to identify and implement the best practices and lessons learned from using the standard.