Executives in project manager jobs must take into account the culture in which they are working, an expert has claimed.

Alastair Smart, an associate member writing for the Association for Project Management blog, called on people to recognise the way the broader organisation works, as well as the culture of their specific team.

He explained: "Having an idea of values and beliefs that we may share, or knowing where we may be in conflict (leading to frequently described cultural risk) helps anticipate behaviour and supports effective communication."

In his view, managers are asking for trouble if they do not attempt to gauge their colleagues. Conversely, cultural understanding can lead to mutual trust between all parties involved, which can build a more productive working environment.

Former Ikea chief executive Anders Dahlvig this week offered some insight into this issue by talking about how a company culture can impact high-level discussions, according to the Guardian Professional Network.

He praised the way the atmosphere in the Ikea boardroom allowed people to speak up about issues like diversity and social responsibility, whereas the laddish culture found in some companies creates a sort of self-censorship.

Mr Dahlvig described how some firms are all about making money and bringing up conscientious topics at such organisations just makes the speaker look "odd".

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