The International Community for Project Managers is a repository of articles, links and other useful pieces of information for project managers. (In fact, our CEO is one of their contributing writers.) One of their recent articles, “Implications of Diversity on Project Management,” raises an issue that most of us might not always consider – the fact that diversity in project teams is not only beneficial and desirable, but is also something that must be accounted for and managed in order to maximize value. The writer says, “Of the many factors that are used in global management work, the most important – and most impulsive – are employees. While capital, land and technology can be planned and hazards predicted and managed, employees are most difficult to manage globally.” She goes on to suggest not only fostering team diversity, but also addressing it by encouraging team members to talk through their feelings about diversity and to communicate their way to a better understanding of each other.

How large a factor do you think one’s cultural and professional background plays in their interaction with other team members and with you, the project manager?