What do you need to manage global projects successfully?

Managing projects successfully takes a great deal of skill, knowledge and expertise in a range of areas.  

As today’s projects are required to address increasingly complex business needs and global challenges, project managers need to be well-equipped to confidently and effectively manage projects from start to finish.

They are required to deliver on business goals, while simultaneously addressing complex challenges in areas such as sustainability, global supply chains, and cultural and geographical barriers. 

The challenges of international and global projects 

In today’s globalised world, it’s imperative that project managers adopt a global mindset when planning and delivering projects.

This can involve being aware of and addressing cultural differences, through to understanding and taking steps to mitigate the global impacts business decisions may have on our environment and society’s wellbeing. 

Some of the challenges project managers may need to face when taking on international or global projects include: 

• Language and communication barriers 

• Cultural differences 

• Logistics and supply chain issues 

By effectively tackling these challenges as a project manager, you’ll be able to successfully deliver projects that span across a range of organisations, as well as national boundaries and cultural differences. 

What skills do you need to be a successful project manager? 

A skilled project manager can prove to be a crucial element of an organisation’s success – helping them to thrive and excel in even the most challenging of international and global environments.  

Successful project managers can significantly boost an organisation’s ability to develop new and innovative solutions to business problems.

They can also improve an organisation’s ability to deliver products and/or services to their customers faster and more economically, while doing so in a way that is socially, environmentally and culturally conscious. 

That’s why to succeed as a project manager, you need be both multi-skilled and knowledgeable in project management processes, principles, and techniques, as well as equipped with an in-depth understanding of the international and global challenges you may need to face when taking on business projects. 

Just some of the skills you may need to be a successful project manager include: 

• Communication skills 

• Cultural, social and environmental awareness 

• Leadership skills 

• Critical and creative thinking 

• Decision-making and problem-solving skills

• Budgeting and accountancy skills

• Resilience to quickly respond and adapt to international and global challenges 

All these skills will help to boost your ability to anticipate, understand, and successfully address international and global challenges throughout your career as a project manager. 

How can an MSc in Project Management give you the skills to manage global projects successfully? 

Navigating international and global environments can be very challenging, especially as these environments continue to evolve, become increasingly complex, and present new challenges for project managers worldwide. 

With a specific module covering projects in global environments, an MSc in Project Management can help you master what it means and what it takes to confidently rise to current and future challenges in both international and global environments as a project manager. 

You’ll be empowered with the advanced knowledge and skills that are vital to be able to successfully take on and tackle complex global challenges in areas such as culture, language, and logistics, while also delivering projects that successfully meet business goals. 

If you want to take the next step in your project management career, discover how Cambridge Education Group's online MSc Project Management (validated by London South Bank University) can empower you with the knowledge and skills you need to confidently manage global projects: