Introduction

China’s GDP for 2008 reach $4.3 trillion, and the total investment in fixed assets exceeded $2.1 trillion. Under the huge economic stimulus program, more and more infrastructure projects are about to be launched. The fast growing construction, property and infrastructure markets of China have kept attracting the eyeballs of foreign architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms and property/infrastructure developers who might have suffered a dwindling demand in other parts of the global market. However, historical data showed that the performance of foreign contractors and developers in this dynamic market was not very successful. One of the main reasons is that they lack an adequate understanding of the complex institutions of the country in transition and failed to take effective strategic management and project management practices accordingly. The Institute of International Engineering Project Management (IIEPM) of Tsinghua University, China has well recognized this knowledge gap and acknowledges that proper involvement of foreign contractors and developers is constructive to the national economy of China and particularly the local industry in the long run, and hence aims to contribute to bridging the gap through a two week intensified capacity building program.