Discuss the causes, environments, and properties of complex projects.
PPMP 20014
Complex Project Management
Lecture 4 for Week 4
Prepared by:
Richard Egelstaff PMP, MBA (Adv), BA
Senior Lecturer in Project Management,
School of Engineering & Technology
Higher Education Division
CQUniversity Ooralea Campus, Mackay QLD
Topics
• Where are we so far?
• Week’s Stuff
– Readings
– Study
– Reflections & Discussions
– Assessments
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Learning Outcomes
1. Explain the causes, environments, and properties of complex projects.
2. Identify different tools and techniques to aid a project manager manage complex projects.
3. Critically analyse whether different projects cases are complex projects.
4. Formulate, argue and defend a strategy that a project manager can apply to a complex project case study.
5. In a team analyse the root causes of failure with a number of sample complex project cases.
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Reflections So Far • Overall
– Why should Project Managers concern themselves?
– Why should Organisations concern themselves?
– How much can be saved by identifying and managing complex projects?
– What is the maximum benefit gained?
– Aren’t project managers only concerned with the project and it’s not their business to involve themselves in aspects outside the project that might be the cause of complexity?
– Isn’t this making a project manager more than a project manager?
• Week 1 – What is a Complex Project?
– What is a Complex Project Management?
– Is a Complex Project complex to everyone?
– Are there essential common elements or features for Complex Projects?
• Week 2 – How can you measure complexity when complexity means different things to different people?
– What is the theory for high vs low complexity?
– Is there a taxonomy of complexity that can be applied to complex projects?
– Are there case studies of high complexity that can be referred to as models?
• Week 3 – If managing complexity is an art. Then for there to be tools there must be methods. Surely those
will be ambiguous without a scientific foundation?
– Are the tools universal across project domains?
– Can the tools be applied to particular phases of the life cycle?
– …or be integrated into the project, program, portfolio hierarchy?
– …or be aligned with knowledge areas, such as risk management?
– …or be incorporated into existing tools and techniques, such as EVM reporting?
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PPMP20014
Complex Project Management
THE WEEK’S READINGS AND STUDY
Week 4 – Topic: Strategic Management:
Developing Policies and Strategies.
• Mandatory Readings:
– Aspects of Complexity: Managing Projects in a
Complex World (2011)
• Chapter 4 Strategic Management: Developing Policies and
Strategies by Christoph Loch and Frederick C. Payne
• Optional Readings
– none
• 3rd Discussion Forum
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Chapter 4: Strategic Management: Developing Policies and
Strategies by Christoph Loch and Frederick C. Payne
• What is Complexity
• How Complexity Makes Project Management Difficult
• What Project Management Can Do in Principle – Reduce Complexity: Decouple and Modularize
– Freeze Components
– Control-and-Fast-Response
– Small Steps and Controlling Variability
– The Role of Strategy
• Traditional Project Selection Criteria
• Widen the Set of Portfolio Criteria
• Integration With Project Execution
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Chapter 4: Strategic Management: Developing Policies and
Strategies by Christoph Loch and Frederick C. Payne
• This chapter provides the justification for a Design Structure Matrix (DSM) to realise: 1. Diagnose portfolio complexity
2. Make the business case for complexity
3. Identify the correction loop
4. Communicate and explain the complexity
5. Put in place project management systems that enable the teams to deal with the complexity levels
• However the authors also state: – Diagnosis and decision tools do not replace judgment and
courage to take (inevitably risky) decisions. The tools help to make decisions based on better information, but they will never make the decision because information is never complete and unambiguous. The critical management responsibility remains.
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3rd Discussion Forum: Complex World
• In chapter 2 of Terry Cooke-Davies’ book Aspects of Complexity Stephen Hayes and Daniel Bennett write about managing projects with high complexity. They highlight key issues that the ICCPM roundtables participants believed have significant impact on the success of complex projects (Cooke-Davies 2011, p.18-19).
• In contrast the song by the Young Adults “It’s a Complex World” (YouTube video) argues that life and the world is inherently complex.
• Now that you’ve had opportunity to learn a little about complex projects, who do you think is right?
1. Are there key issues that significantly impact on complexity, as Stephen Hayes and Daniel Bennett write?
2. Or, is the world inherently complex as the Young Adults sing?
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Assessments for PPMP20014
• Take some time to consider what are the assessments for this unit: – Group Discussion 40%
– Online Quizzes 10%
– Written Assessment 50%
– You must use the correct academic communication method when you write!
– Including in-text references and a reference list.
– You are expected to know the material used in this unit not just from a Google cut and paste!
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Assessment 1: Group Discussion 40%
• Your task is to participate in a weekly discussion and reflect upon your learning and insights from all the PPMP units each week.
• The forum will be initiated by the questions posted on Moodle and encouraged by the unit lecturer and you must participate.
• In your discussions contributions you:- – Should use this unit material supplemented by your learnings
from other units. When you refer to other units then you will identify:-
• module/topic of the unit,
• the learning outcomes,
• and a description of your thoughts and experiences, including referenced evidence.
– Due each week
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Assessment 2: Written Assessment 50%
• Your task is to consider:- – the causes, environments, and properties of complex projects;
– different tools and techniques to aid a project manager manage complex projects;
– the degree and nature of the projects cases discussed in the unit in the context of the theories and ideas related to complex projects.
• Then you must write an essay describing how you consider the points above are related to:- – projects with lots of parts and interconnections;
– projects that contain a great deal of uncertainty;
– project that are heavily time-constrained.
• You should illustrate your points by identifying what are the causes, theories, tools and techniques, that might be relevant to complex projects. You should use examples taken from case studies and examples discussed during the unit.
• 5,000 words due in Week 12
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Assessment 3: Online Quizzes 10%
• You will be required to complete a series of single and multiple choice quiz questions
• The primary purpose of this assessment item is to help you to identify factors associated with complex project management.
• The secondary purpose of this assignment is to give you the opportunity to enhance your analysis and critical thinking skills.
• The quiz will be discussed during the tutorials before each week.
• In order for you to complete the quiz it is necessary for you to complete all learning activities prescribed in the prior weeks.
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Summary
• Where are we so far?
• Week’s Stuff
– Readings
– Study
– Reflections & Discussions
– Assessments
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