In the previous column, we discussed common communication challenges that Japanese professionals often face when working in Thailand—not only in ERP projects but in general business situations. Issues such as ineffective interpretation or miscommunication are not unusual; in fact, they are common challenges experienced by many Japanese-affiliated companies operating in Thailand.
In this article, we would like to introduce our project management framework, which is designed to address these challenges, including bridging internal communication gaps within our clients’ organizations.
At Thai NS Solutions, English is our common internal language, and we do not rely on interpreters. This approach accelerates communication and eliminates misunderstandings caused by varying interpretation quality.
While hiring Thai staff who speak Japanese or Japanese staff who speak Thai may seem like an option, it significantly narrows the talent pool and makes it difficult to secure the IT professionals we truly need. Therefore, we place English at the center of our communication strategy.
That said, English proficiency in Thailand is generally limited, especially outside Bangkok. Fortunately, our office is located in the heart of Bangkok’s business district, enabling us to attract and retain highly educated talent from the metropolitan area through strategic HR initiatives.
Language is an important factor in cross-cultural communication, but equally critical is the ability to logically understand the other party’s thought process. Highly educated Thai professionals tend to demonstrate flexibility in communication and a strong ability to grasp Japanese intentions—provided, of course, that we as Japanese professionals maintain the same mindset.
For ERP projects, we adopt a two-PM structure: one Japanese and one Thai project manager. Many Japanese-affiliated IT vendors in Thailand assign Japanese staff only to sales roles, leaving project management entirely to Thai PMs. However, for ERP implementation—a company-wide initiative—clients often feel uneasy if told, “Our Thai PM will explain the details.”
At Thai NS Solutions, our Japanese PM ensures accurate understanding of the project status and provides clear explanations to client executives, enabling timely and informed decision-making.
Moreover, if internal communication issues within the client organization create project difficulties, we step in to mediate. We gather input from both Japanese and Thai stakeholders in their native languages, align internally in English, and then provide consolidated feedback to all parties. This approach ensures shared understanding among all project participants.
In this column, we have highlighted the distinctive features of our project management framework, particularly from a communication perspective. In the next article, we will discuss the differences between local Thai IT vendors and Thai NS Solutions.
27-07-2021
