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PPMP 20014

Complex Project Management

Lecture 1 for Week 1

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

• Overview

• Targets

• Overview Week 1, 2, & 3

• Week 1

• What’s this unit all about?

• Discussion Forum

Unit Overview

1. This unit provides an introduction and overview of the field of practice known as

complex project management.

2. Complex project management is when a project has three characteristics.

– Firstly, complex projects are very complicated with lots of parts and interconnections.

– Secondly, there is a great deal of uncertainty.

– Finally, they are heavily time-constrained so there is little time to make decisions.

3. In this unit you will explore these characteristics and how to manage them by

undertaking assessments for complexity through analysis and systematic inquiry.

4. You will investigate approaches to complexity by forecasting impacts and modelling

outcomes.

5. You will analyse the complexities of causes and effects, such as the role played by

leaders, setting objectives, environmental and technological limitations and factors,

and other constraints that increase complexity.

6. In the unit you will be introduced to a number of examples of complex projects

through case studies.

7. You will be able to investigate and discuss the case studies with your peers and

lecturers to increase your understanding and proficiency with the management of

complex projects.

Disclaimer

This is a post-graduate ACADEMIC practical unit

about project management!

Not a HANDS ON practical unit!

If you want a hands on practical unit then you must

go to TAFE and do the competency based

education pathway!

PMI Membership

• You are strongly advised to join the Project Management Institute (PMI) as a full or student individual member.

• Material used in this unit is only available from the PMI and as a member you will have the ability to download - for FREE - copies of the PMI standards such as the PMBOK, Portfolio, Program and other standards.

• It is cheaper to join the PMI and be able to download the PDF files than buy the hard-copies required in this unit.

Study Tasks

• Reading Material – The prescribed readings are:-

• Terry Cooke-Davies 2011 Aspects of Complexity: Managing Projects in a Complex World PMI

• Various Academic Journal articles

– The unit also uses case studies and vinaigrettes.

• Videos – Various YouTube

• Assignments – Group Discussion (each Week) – 40%

– Written Assessment (end of the unit) – 50%

– Online Quizzes (Week 3, 5, 7, 9, 11) – 10%

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.

PPMP20014

Complex Project Management

THE FIRST THREE WEEKS

Week 1 - Topic: Defining Complex Projects and Complex

Project Management.

• Mandatory Readings: – Terry Cooke-Davies 2011 Aspects of Complexity: Managing

Projects in a Complex World PMI; • Introduction;

• Chapter 1;

– Lynelle Briggs, Australian Public Service Commissioner. 2012. Tackling wicked problems : A public policy perspective; Commonwealth of Australia;

– Visit the web site International Centre for Complex Project Management;

• Optional Readings & Study: – YouTube:

• And Then Came Complex Project Management Part 1 (by Dr Jon Whitty)

• And Then Came Complex Project Management Part 2 (by Dr Jon Whitty

• Egelstaff (2013) Academic assignments: Critical thinking and writing critically.

Week 1 - Topic: Defining Complex Projects and Complex

Project Management.

• Reflection:

– 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?

• How will you discuss these reflections in the

Discussion Forums?

Week 2 - Topic: Managing Projects With High Complexity

• Mandatory Readings – Aspects of Complexity: Managing Projects in a Complex

World (2011)

• Chapter 2 by Stephen Hayes and Daniel Bennet;

• Optional Readings – Ackermann F., & Alexander J. 2016

• "Researching complex projects: Using causal mapping to take a systems perspective" International Journal of Project Management Volume 34, Issue 6, August 2016, Pages 891-901

– YouTube Video:

• APM RPP - What is a complex project? (by ProvekLimited)

• Complex or merely complicated? (by Michael Cavanagh)

• 1st Discussion Forum

Week 2 - Topic: Managing Projects With High Complexity

• Reflection:

– 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?

– Are there case studies of high complexity that can be

referred to as models?

• How will you discuss these reflections in the

Discussion Forums?

Week 3 - Topic: Tools for Complex Projects.

• Mandatory Readings:

– Aspects of Complexity: Managing Projects in a

Complex World (2011)

• Chapter 3 by Kaye Remington and Julien Pollack

• Optional Readings

– YouTube Video:

• It's A Complex World by The Young Adults

• 2nd Discussion Forum

Week 3 - Topic: Tools for Complex Projects.

• Reflection: – 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?

• How will you discuss these reflections in the Discussion Forums?

PPMP20014

Complex Project Management

THE READINGS FOR THE 1ST WEEK

Terry Cooke-Davies. Aspects of Complexity:

Managing Projects in a Complex World

• Introduction:

– Years of experience;

– Craftsmanship;

– Complexity vs. complication;

– Pellerin (2009, p. 11) 80%-95% of project failures are a result of either human or miscommunication;

– Portfolios, programs, projects are inherently complex;

– Summary of the structure of the book.

• Chapter 1: Complexity in Project Management and the Management of Complex Projects

– What Do People Mean When They Talk About Complexity?

– What Causes Complexity, and Why Is It a Problem?

1. Unhelpful Behavior

2. Failure to Appreciate Systemicity

3. Models

4. Simplistic Project Management

5. Over-Ambitious Strategic Management

– How Can Practitioners and Organizations Best Respond To Complexity in Projects?

1. Developing Practitioners

2. Appropriate Project Management

3. Constructive Behavior

4. Appropriate Response to Systemicity

5. Focused Strategic Management

• Is Complexity in Projects a “Friend” or a “Foe”?

Lynelle Briggs. Tackling wicked problems : A public policy perspective

• Tackling wicked problems is an evolving art.

1. Introduction

2. Characteristics of Wicked Problems

3. Possible Strategies for Tackling Wicked Problems

4. Avoiding a narrow approach

5. The need for innovative and flexible approaches

6. The importance of working across organisational boundaries

7. Reviewing the Accountability Framework

8. Effectively engaging stakeholders and citizens

9. The importance of achieving sustained behavioural change

10. Skills for APS employees

11. Conclusions

• Holistic, not partial or linear thinking

• Innovative and flexible approaches

• The ability to work across agency boundaries

• Increasing understanding and stimulating a debate on the application of the accountability

framework

• Effective engaging stakeholders and citizens in understanding the problem and in identifying

possible solutions

• Additional core skills

• A better understanding of behavioural change by policy makers

• A comprehensive focus and/or strategy

• Tolerating uncertainty and accepting the need for a long-term focus.

12. Possible next steps

International Centre for Complex Project

Management

• Created in 2007: – Australian Department of Defence (Defence Materiel Organisation);

– UK Ministry of Defence;

– US Department of Defense;

– Canadian National Defence;

– Defence industry as part of the Australian Department of Defence’s Complex Project Management Initiative.

• Australian Parliament via a Deed of Agreement between the Centre and the Defence Material Organisation

• The rationale is to create an independent, international, not-for-profit organisation that would support both government and industry’s ability to better deliver complex projects:

– Develop and sustain effective collaborations;

– Educate and develop leaders and organisations on issues of complexity and managing complex programs;

– Develop and disseminate practical knowledge and solutions.

• Main areas now: – Education

– Solutions

– Resources

– Research

Optional Readings & Study

• YouTube:

– Dr Jon Whitty: And Then Came Complex Project

Management Part 1 and Part 2.

PPMP20014

Complex Project Management

REFLECTION UPON THE UNIT

What’s this unit all about?

• So What?

• Big Themes

• Discussion Forums

So What?

• 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?

Big Themes

• Themes

– Complex Projects

– Complex project Management

– Theory

– Practice

– Role of the Project Manager

– Case Studies

• Discussion Forum

– Your thoughts

What does the Discussion Forum Look Like?

Question

Instructions

Once you click on the link (available Monday 12am to Monday 12am) then

you will be able to write your submission into the Online Text area. You can

paste from an external document, but it’s best to paste plain text not Word

formatted text!

The Academic Communication Method

Summary

• Overview

• Targets

• Overview Week 1, 2, & 3

• Week 1

• What’s this unit all about?

• Discussion Forum