The Infrastructure In A Country Is Very Poor
This is not just true of emerging nations. It is also true
of some developed countries since the infrastructure often deteriorates the
further you get from major cities. People often assume infrastructure issues
away in the twenty-first century. This is not a good idea. Infrastructure is
even more important today. Poor infrastructure has an impact on expectations and
what people view as feasible. In some parts of India, for example, the
communications are very primitive. Carrying out a project can be very
challenging—even if you employ satellite telephones.
Impact
Some of the impacts have already been pointed out. One
impact is that logistics support for a project may be seriously underestimated.
Another impact is project communications may have to be very limited. In one
project in the jungles of southeast Asia this was such a bad situation that the
old approach of delegation of authority was used. The manager then left the
jungle to report on the project at periodic intervals.
Prevention
An analysis of the
infrastructure is very important at the start of the project. The experience of
the French and Americans in VietNam point out the importance of this assessment.
Contingency plans also need to be established.
Action
An ongoing assessment of infrastructure problems and their
impacts should be part of most international projects. There can be improvements
as well as deterioration. There can be safety considerations that arise, for
example. Consider creating an infrastructure score card in which you assess the
infrastructure elements that are relevant to the project in each country.
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