Dynamic Capabilities in Multicultural Project Teams: Conceptual Review, Framework Analysis and Practical Implications

Abstract

Contemporary projects often involve teams whose members are drawn from diverse cultures and geographical areas. Whilst researchers have investigated the role of culture in project success, they have mostly looked at it from a single lens [of a single culture]. There are significant knowledge and practice gaps in how multiculturalism shape team’s effectiveness and project outcomes. This research investigates the value of cultural diversity in teams, including the integration of the strategic dynamic capabilities (DCs) framework that allows project executives and leaders to deploy the benefits of team’s multiculturality as an asset in support of projects and organisational performance. It examines organisational cultures, systems and leadership that make the benefits of team’s multiculturality work for all stakeholders. Initial results of the first phase of the study (an analysis of semi-structured interviews) constitute the key discussion points for this paper. In the end, the study elicits key variables that drive the effectiveness of multicultural teams [MTs] and help in developing an appropriate framework for supporting team-productivity. The additionality of the findings of the study is in its contributions to ongoing debates on the challenges and benefits of multiculturality, triggering further studies on how to harness the strengths of MTs in all forms of construction projects and management practices.