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hi folks,

have you also noticed that Khmer people tend to be late on projects because they start working on it one day before the actual deadline (which often results in them not being ready when they should be). However when you tell them that they should plan ahead and work on the project day by day until the deadline, they look at you as if you are clearly crazy. As if thinking about the future is just an outlandish thing to do. Do you also encounter this behavior? How common is it here in Cambodia?

curiosity wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2019 4:34 pm hi folks,

have you also noticed that Khmer people tend to be late on projects because they start working on it one day before the actual deadline (which often results in them not being ready when they should be). However when you tell them that they should plan ahead and work on the project day by day until the deadline, they look at you as if you are clearly crazy. As if thinking about the future is just an outlandish thing to do. Do you also encounter this behavior? How common is it here in Cambodia?

Isn't this just common with over 90% of the (adult) people worldwide?

Kammekor wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2019 4:44 pm

curiosity wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2019 4:34 pm hi folks,

have you also noticed that Khmer people tend to be late on projects because they start working on it one day before the actual deadline (which often results in them not being ready when they should be). However when you tell them that they should plan ahead and work on the project day by day until the deadline, they look at you as if you are clearly crazy. As if thinking about the future is just an outlandish thing to do. Do you also encounter this behavior? How common is it here in Cambodia?

Isn't this just common with over 90% of the (adult) people worldwide?

Not in the workplace. Slackers don't last long in the corporate world if they aren't slick.
Slackers are everywhere though. OP, remember the infamous and dreaded group projects in school?

May be your Khmer coworkers don't value the assignments you gave them. May be they think they don't have to listen to you. Who knows.
There's another thread about Khmer people not doing/ forgetting things just because they don't give a flying fuck. Check it out.

If it makes you feel better, it seems to be the norm in Cambodia. Don't sweat it.

curiosity wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2019 4:34 pm hi folks,

have you also noticed that Khmer people tend to be late on projects because they start working on it one day before the actual deadline (which often results in them not being ready when they should be). However when you tell them that they should plan ahead and work on the project day by day until the deadline, they look at you as if you are clearly crazy. As if thinking about the future is just an outlandish thing to do. Do you also encounter this behavior? How common is it here in Cambodia?

I do not think that this is unique to Cambodia. In a long hotel career, I have worked with dozens of nationalities and would contend that that is pretty normal behaviour for many.

hanno wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2019 6:10 pm
I do not think that this is unique to Cambodia. In a long hotel career, I have worked with dozens of nationalities and would contend that that is pretty normal behaviour for many.

Agreed.
There may be a slightly higher occurrence, but I’m not really in a position to positively say so.
I’ve seen some folks in an otherwise highly responsible, highly disciplined profession showing little or no sign of good planning.

I remember in days gone by where job adverts would include desirable qualities such as ability to work unsupervised, keeping to schedules. These are things that have fallen out of vogue, these days.
I’ve just ended all dealings with my accountants for just that reason.

That said- I’ve had to raise my voice quite loud recently, when dealing with the kids’ school. If teachers and administrators maintain low professional standards, low standards will be the norm.

I don't think it's unique to Cambodia or Khmers either. Many of us are notoriously slack, and that's why this country is so great.

Past-orientated cultures, like that of India, for example, are much more laid back in the way they look at time.

http://www.exactlywhatistime.com/other- ... -cultures/