Book excerpt: Increasingly, more and more clients are seeking to procure construction work on a global basis; designers from one country, contractors from another, materials and subcontractors from yet others. In such a complex multi-organisational and cross-cultural setting, the management of the construction environment and process is likely to create a formidable challenge. Managing overseas construction contracting addresses these challenges and provides practical guidance on the best approaches to take to ensure the best results. The book will be of benefit and interest to all professional practitioners in construction and finance who are currently involved in, or planning to be involved in, overseas construction. It will also be of particular interest to undergraduates and graduates with an interest in overseas construction, who are specialising in the built environment, development economics or project management. The book has been divided into five parts, with each part addressing a particular element of the international construction process: Part I analyses the range of stakeholders that a company will need to satisfy. This includes both internal stakeholders - such as employees) and external stakeholders - such as subcontractors and suppliers). Part II explores the marketing process. This section has been broken down into three themes: marketing strategy, market evaluation and marketing tactics. Part III looks at the task necessary in the successful execution of the construction project. It begins by reviewing the project plan and how the diverse resources of labour, subcontractors, plant, equipment and materials are procured, brought to site and incorporated into the works. This section also looks at project management including, how staff are motivated, how quality is maintained and how safe working is assured. Part IV takes stock of the process of international contracting by reviewing the characteristics of firms which operate in overseas settings. Part V provides two in-depth case studies which describe the project processes involved in the construction of a major irrigation scheme and a massive port development.