Globalization has arrived!  Thanks to today's technology, large firms can leverage their assets all over the world to improve project outcomes and expand the knowledge base of their teams.  By eliminating the physical borders of geography and time zones, applications of technology in three project processes allow individuals to form international teams, provided project managers plan for other factors such as cultural and language differences and costs.

Here are three opportunities for applying today's technology to help you meet your globalization goals.

Meeting Virtually
Consider video and audio conferencing options that allow real-time, interactive meetings among two or more locations via simultaneous two-way video and audio feeds.  Video and audio conferencing not only can help projects proceed more efficiently, it can also help team members from different locations and cultures build and strengthen personal relationships.  Virtual meetings can happen in several boardrooms across the globe or at several desktops.  Today's Web conferencing technologies allow participants to "meet" without leaving their desks. 

The right software and hardware tools can enable everything from document sharing to large-scale meetings.  Sending a document to team members for review without the collaborative advantages of such a session adds the risk of misinterpretation and/or misunderstanding.  Having a Web conference where everyone can review, ask questions and be on the same page adds to the achievement of the project.  Virtual meetings are restricted to locations that share similar work hours since we have yet to see technology that can help people travel through time, so consider your team members' schedules and time zones when investing in these tools.

Sharing Project Portfolios
In enlisting team members across a number of locations, it's important that everyone has access to the information and documents they need and, moreover, in the most up-to-date versions.  Project teams not only need access to documentation, but also to project schedules, billing information, tasks and contracts, and they shouldn't have to wait to get this information from their project manager. 

By allowing a real-time view of all the latest information pieces on a project, technology that enables virtual project portfolio management provides visibility for individual projects and offers the project portfolio perspective to top management on impacts each project has on the overall goals of the firm.  A project-tracking system that has the capabilities of being accessed worldwide at any time is a necessity in today's globalized world.  Not only can it open up important pieces of information to the team members who need it, it can allow them to access it when they need it and from anywhere in the world.  A good project tracking system can also improve efficiencies, reduce redundancies and create project records that can serve as templates for future success.

Managing Contract Access and Changes
Contract management technology allows the firm to organize and manage all contracts and vendor information centrally and electronically.  A Web-based contract management system can be part of the firm's project portfolio management system, part of the document management system or a stand-alone application.  Consider this type of application if your firm operates in a globalized environment where contracts for a firm may be decentralized and paper-based.  Many of them offer alerts that can remind team members and contract owners to keep the contract life cycle up to date, which includes renewing contracts, updating vendor contact information, inputting vendor satisfaction ratings and more.  These updates keep data current and help firms with contract negotiations and renewals.

In considering these technologies, remember that each of them most likely has various levels and respective costs associated with them, so do your research in identifying the right fit for your globalization needs.  The return on investment can be high; today's technology tools can squeeze more from your current assets by removing the physical barriers to collaboration.  Making globalization tools part of your firm's daily processes can contribute significantly to your long-term success.

About our author :: :: ::

Amyn Gillani, MBA, is a project manager in the project management office at Fulbright & Jaworski LLP.  He has experience in account and project management in the marketing and legal sectors and has successfully managed business development, marketing and information technology projects.  He can be reached at agillani@fulbright.com.