Now, let's make it really complex (complicated)

Emerald - Tập 31 Số 9 - Trang 966-990 - 2011
Joana Geraldi1, Harvey Maylor2, Terry Williams3
1Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management, University College London, London, UK
2International Centre for Programme Management, Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK
3School of Management, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

Tóm tắt

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to contribute to operations management (OM) practice contingency research by describing the complexity of projects. Complexity is recognised as a key independent (contingent) variable that impacts on many subsequent decisions in the practice of managing projects.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents a systematic review of relevant literature and synthesises an integrated framework for assessing the complexities of managing projects.FindingsThis framework comprises five dimensions of complexity – structural, uncertainty, dynamics, pace and socio‐political complexity. These five dimensions present individuals and organisations with choices about how they respond to each type of complexity, in terms of business case, strategic choice, process choice, managerial capacity and competencies.Originality/valueThe contribution of this paper is to provide a clarification to the epistemology of complexity, to demonstrate complexity as a lived experience for project managers, and offer a common language for both practitioners and future empirical studies considering the individual or organisational response to project complexities. The work also demonstrates an application of systematic review in OM research.

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Emerald

Tập 31 Số 9

966-990

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