OBEDIENCE. Having been born and raised in Asia, I know how much the culture values obedience. Asian construction management typically mimics that of a well-trained military. Just as a good soldier strives to follow a general's order, so too "successful" construction managers in Asia often try to outguess their clients' wishes. Wielding so much power, clients frequently demand the replacement of project managers for "insubordination." Consequently in recent years in Asia, there have been several major structural collapses linked to owner-forced modifications. To regain public confidence, Asian owners have resorted increasingly to hiring neutral advisors from abroad to provide quality assurance.
We knew that our job not only included introducing the latest construction methods, but also, although not explicitly spelled out, eliminating any "sweeping under the carpet" of construction problems. According to our visa applications, "construction technology transfer" was the official reason for our stay. How proud and excited we were at first! But in a few weeks, we realized a harsh reality.