Getting started on our engagement...

....while we have only been in Antakya and working with the client for 4 days I think there is a real sense of progress.  With a team focused on the same task, working together every day, it is amazing how much you can accomplish.  It helps that things have been going smoothly....our work-setup is great, the hotel is fine, food is excellent and very reasonable, and the client is as excited about the project as we are.  We are learning about how to work as a team, and also about working through translators and with different business customs.  We have an excellent assistant assigned to our subteam who is helping us and we are all learning together how to most effectively conduct business when you are crossing a language and cultural barrier.  Everyone tries their hardest and in every meeting we seem to be able to accomplish a little bit more as I think we are also getting better at communicating thru a translator.  We have also benefited from our support team who gave us a running start with the key client relationships which are so very important and have also helped a lot with the cultural context - all which is very much appreciated.   The days are very long and we don't get back to the hotel until early evening completely wiped - but we do head out as a team every evening though to enjoy a team dinner to cap off the day.

P.S.  On another note, one thing in particular I like is how cay (tea) and turkish coffee are served during every meeting - I can honestly say I don't miss Starbucks or Tim's at all.

#IBMCSC TURKEY

The Innovation Centre in Antkya, our work site

Turkey 7, Team 1 hard at work

 

Turkey 7, Team 2 - meeting with client with our project assistant/translator

Dinner out on a rooftop terrace