Ethics, culture and education

Working Hours, Days, Labor Laws are all part of the culture.

Example 1: In the middle east, part of the religious culture is the Friday Prayer. Accordingly, thr official day off there is Friday. All other days are working days (Construction Projects there run 6 days a week except Friday). Being the case, part of the labor law is the working days / hours. It is all related to culture. In other countries like Canada, days off are Sat/Sun.

Example 2: Part of the culture in the middle east is to support local products / subcontractors so in all contracts, there is a clause that mentions this and states that if material was purchased from overseas with a price difference less than 20% of the local market then the Project will be penalized. You have to tailor your estimation to accompdate this requirement. In other countries, you are flexible to purchase from wherever the project finds it suitable and supports the project itself, not the local market.

You might not consider the above as cultural factors but I do because I know for a fact that they are strictly related to the culture.

Here are two definitions of culture:

cul·ture

1.
the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively.
"20th century popular culture"
synonyms: the arts, the humanities, intellectual achievement; literature, music, painting, philosophy, the performing arts
"exposing their children to culture"

2.
the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.

Perhaps you meant company culture? Which would vary vastly from one organization to the next despite their close proximity?

Steven,

I know exactly what is the meaning of culture but thanks for reminding me. I meant Nation or Country Culture, not company culture. I know what I am talking about.

Both of the examples are still laws. They may be geographically specific, but it's more just "comply with local laws and regulations".

If an example was, it is offensive to wear orange but not illegal, that is cultural risk not identified in the legal risk with the risk register.

I'm focusing on the definitions of culture risk here, I acknowledge the examples above are risks if not identified. Otherwise they are typically identified and mitigated in the risk plan in Planning stage.

What are your thoughts Rami?

These are part of the culture (A few of many examples that I can give you) and became part of the Local Laws. I have been working overseas for years and I am very well aware that such issues are cultural before being part of the law and identified under Cultural Risks in the Risk Register.

Such risks are most of the time identified and taken into account in the planning. I was just trying to explain to Fosco that even if the company is multi-national and decent in size, they can reinforce part of their culture and the other part they have to comply with the countries culture because if they do not consider this part in their planning then those could have negative impact.

I see.

Well if you know what you're talking about then I suppose I shouldn't press the issue. Maybe my understanding of cultural vs legal risk needs work.

Have a great day :)

Fosco,

I think they all compliment each other, like usually you say: Educate your people about culture.

On the second part, from my experience, they can impose their ethical code to a cetain limit and on certain things that are inter-company but when it comes to things that has to do with the culture of the country they are operating in, they have to follow that culture to avoid conflict and increased risk.

I don't follow, are you coming at this from a project perspective?

What risk would occur by not complying with cultural norms.

Canada should be a prime example of this.