When "YES" does not mean "Yes"

One of today's most ambitious projects is the International Space Station which combines the expertise and resources of 16 nations. This paper will discuss the challenges of multi-national teams, as well as how communication which is unclear, or simply misunderstood, can impact budget, schedule and stress levels. Examples will be based on the International Space Station Program. Hopefully these examples will spur thought and appreciation for what the diversity of cultures can bring to a project. It will also offer concepts and tools to help avoid some of the challenges and some tools for avoiding some of the difficulties.