Cross Culture Work: Practices of Collaboration in the Panama Canal Expansion Program Reading committee: Prof.dr. Stewart Clegg University of Technology Sydney Prof.dr. Joop Koppenjan Erasmus University Rotterdam Prof.dr. Marcel Hertogh Delft University of Technology Prof.dr. Halleh Gorashi VU University Amsterdam Prof.dr. Jaap de Heer VU University Amsterdam ISBN/EAN: 978-90-79787-49-4 NUR: 762 Published and distributed by: Next Generation Infrastructures Foundation P.O. Box 5015, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands Phone: +31 15 273 2564 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.nextgenerationinfrastructures.eu This research was funded by the Next Generation Infrastructures Foundation. © 2013, Karen Smits This is a work of science. Although copyright remains with the author, you are encouraged to use this work, copy it, store it, print it, distribute it and build upon it, as long as you attribute it (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/). Cover by Next Generation Infrastructures Foundation and Daniela Cerdio Photos by ACP and Karen Smits Lay-out and printed by Gildeprint Drukkerijen, Enschede, The Netherlands The electronic version of this thesis can be found at: http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/ VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT Cross Culture Work: Practices of Collaboration in the Panama Canal Expansion Program ACADEMISCH PROEFSCHRIFT ter verkrijging van de graad Doctor aan de Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, op gezag van de rector magnificus prof.dr. F.A. van der Duyn Schouten, in het openbaar te verdedigen ten overstaan van de promotiecommissie van de Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen op dinsdag 25 juni 2013 om 11.45 uur in de aula van de universiteit, De Boelelaan 1105 door Karen Cornelia Maria Smits geboren te ‘s-Hertogenbosch promotoren: prof.dr. M.B. Veenswijk prof.dr. A.H. van Marrewijk Acknowledgements Working together is often a complex undertaking. It is through collaboration, however, that we can combine our knowledge, skills and experiences to create and develop magnificent projects. The same goes for this Ph.D. project. I have been privileged to work with wonderfully inspiring people and here, at the beginning of this book, I would like to express my gratitude. First and foremost, my appreciation goes to my promotors Alfons van Marrewijk and Marcel Veenswijk. This research project shows the result of our teamwork. Alfons and Marcel strongly believed in this project, allowed me to explore the academic jungle and helped me to find the path when I was completely lost. Marcel, I couldn’t have succeeded without your analytical eye, and Alfons, your stimulating talks and fascinating experiences helped me immensely throughout this project. You both supported me all along and I hope that we continue working together on fascinating projects. Thanks and appreciation also go to the members of the reading committee, who devoted time and energy to review the manuscript and provided me with constructive comments: Steward Clegg, Halleh Gorashi, Jaap de Heer, Marcel den Hertogh en Joop Koppejan. I owe a special debt of gratitude to Carel Roessingh. From the moment I stepped into his classroom he has been inspiring and encouraging. He always triggered my curiosity, opened doors for me and I believe his mentorship turned into a genuine friendship. You have taught me so much. All project participants in the Panama Canal Expansion Program, as well as practitioners from other projects with whom I could discuss my findings, deserve my sincere gratitude for allowing me into their work life and sharing their experiences and thoughts with me. Especially Jorge Quijano, Ilya Marotta, Jan Kop, Carlos Fabrega and Joe Cazares for giving me the opportunity to study the project organization from all angles. And thank you to those friends in Panama who taught me about their culture and made the fieldwork period an unforgettable time in life: Blanca, Karina, Yafá, Marco, Roberto, Davy and Pim. Of course, a heartfelt appreciation goes to my colleagues. The former department of Culture, Organization and Management, currently the department of Organization Sciences at VU University, offered me a professional work environment where someone was always available for advice. Thank you very much! Sierk deserves to be mentioned here for his intellectual support and creativity with regard to the book title, Hanneke and Myrte, for guiding me through the academic life, Elles and Welmoed, for their administrative support, and the members of the PhD Club for fierce debates, inspirational feedback on my work and for sharing their work with me. Special thanks to fellow Ph.D.’s Martijn, Kalpana, Nicole, Sander, Anne, Dhoya, Leonore, Maya, Gea, Silvia, Michiel, Leonie. And to Femke, for comradeship, bearing the brunt of frustrations and celebrating each small step completed towards finalizing this book. I thank you! My friends Roos, Heather, Jaap, Hanneke and Steve came to visit me in Panama. Thank you for the wonderful adventures we had. It was amazing that I could give you a peek into my fieldwork life and I enjoy that we share those experiences. Heather, I’m very grateful for your editing work on the manuscript! I want to say thank you in the biggest way to my friends, who were sources of laughter, joy and support during this Ph.D. project. My paranymphs each represent a group of friends in my life. Lot van Brakel symbolizes my friends in Amsterdam, especially Maud, Eva, Roos, Bregje, Chris and Chris. We all met at this university and the friendship we have built from here always fills me with happiness. Karin Schoones stands for my friends in Brabant: Gera, Danique, Marianne, Joris and Bas. You have known me for such a long time and never forget how to put a smile on my face. Dear friends, you mean the world to me! No words can express nor any act of gratitude can relay what the love and support from my family means to me. Marij, you visited me twice in Panama and those memories will stay with me forever. Sanne and Toon, the many emails, post cards and text messages were highly appreciated. Mum and Dad, you support me in every step I take. I owe you everything and I hope that this work makes you proud. Despite the geographical distance between us, dear family, you will always be close to me. And finally, Adolfo. Meeting you has been one of the many amazing things that made this project so special. Although at times there was an ocean between us, we were courageous and proved that our love is strong. Your encouragement helped me in finalizing this project and I know you will support all of my future projects. Schatje, I thank you so much for sharing life with me. Before starting this adventure, I was often warned that it would be a lonely process at times. Indeed, there were many things I had to do by my self, but honestly, I never felt alone; you were all there to support me. This book is a result of a collaborative process, in which each of you participated in your own way, and I’m grateful for your contribution. Nevertheless, it needs to be said that all responsibility for the following, and for any error you might find, is mine. Karen Smits Table of Contents List of Tables and Figures List of Abbreviations and Acronyms Chapter 1. Introducing the Field 15 Visiting the Panama Canal 16 Mega projects 18 Cross-Cultural Collaboration 21 Problem Statement and Outline 25 PART I: GOING TO THE FIELD Chapter 2. Practices of Collaboration in Mega Projects 33 Introduction 34 Developments in Project Management Research 34 The Practice Turn in Project Management Research 39 Projects-as-Practice 45 Cross-Cultural Collaboration and Project Management 48 Cross-Cultural Management Research 52 To Conclude 56 Chapter 3. Ethnography in Practice 59 Knowledge Claim 60 Organizational Ethnography 63 Selection of and Access to a Mega Project 66 Obtaining Access 69 Ethnography in the Field 71 Interviewing 75 Observing 77 Reading 80 Analyzing and Writing 82 About me: the researcher 87 Chapter 4. The Panama Canal: a look back to look forward 93 Introduction 94 History of the Panama Canal 95 The French Attempt 96 The American Victory 97 Ownership of the Canal 101 Panama Canal Operations 104 Autoridad del Canal de Panamá 107 Panama Canal Expansion Program 109 Components of the Panama Canal Expansion Program 112 The Third Set of Locks Project: ACP and its Partners 115 CH2M Hill 116 Sacyr 117 Impregilo 117 Jan de Nul 118 CUSA 118 GUPC 119 Registered Trade Mark 121 PART II: KNOWING THE FIELD Interlude. Setting the stage for collaboration 127 The Award Ceremony for the Third Set of Locks Project 128 The day after… 135 Chapter 5. Practices within the GUPC project organization: Diminishing Collaboration 139 Introduction 140 Using Metaphors 140 Process metaphor: ‘it’s like a war’ 141 Process metaphor: Arranged marriage 143 Process metaphor: Climbing the mountain 144 Project metaphor: Animals 145 Project metaphor: Governmental institution 147 Labeling Cultures 148 National Culture Label 149 Organization Culture Label 155 Marking Boundaries 162 One Expansion Program, two projects: Atlantic versus Pacific 162 Two projects, three locations: Gatún, Cocolí, Corozal Oeste 165 Searching for structure 171 Discussion: Diminishers of Collaboration 175 Chapter 6. Collaboration within GUPC: Amplifying Practices 177 Introduction 178 Sharing interests 178 Passion for profession 179 Following the Mantra ‘the work needs to be done’ 181 Bridging Actors 183 Saint Judas Thaddeus 184 Fire Fighter 186 Mediator 188 Cross-cultural code-switching 190 Linguistic code-switching 191 Behavioral code-switching 194 Organizing Social Activities 200 Discussion: Amplifiers of Collaboration 203 Chapter 7. Chaperoning: collaboration between the ACP and CH2M Hill 205 Introduction 206 How they met… 206 The tender 208 Shaping their relationship 210 Chaperoning 214 Experiences with chaperoning 216 ‘One Team, One Mission’ 220 Collaboration in Practice 222 ‘It just does not work that way in the ACP’ 223 ‘Where would I be without you?’ 225 ‘We are the Shadow of CH2M Hill’ 228 Discussion 232 PART III: LEARNING FROM THE FIELD Chapter 8.