Complex Project Management: A Comparison

This assignment analyzes the concepts of complex project management and wicked problems as presented by Dale Shermon and Lynelle Briggs, respectively. It highlights the contrasting definitions of complexity and wickedness provided by each author, emphasizing the challenges faced in managing complex projects and addressing wicked problems. The discussion explores how effective project specification and cost control strategies can contribute to successful project implementation.

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I truly agree with the assertions that were put forth by Dale Shermon that Parametrics is
indeed a vital approach that can be used in setting up early complex project budgets especially in
the non-defense domains. This is attributed to the fact that it can lead to successful
implementation of projects especially if desirable budgets are put in place. It is indeed true that
the effective application of Parametrics by any organization will not only help it to be in a better
position of setting up realistic and viable budgets but it will also help in safeguarding
organizational managers who are involved in safeguarding complex projects. However, it is
important to note that there are different definitions of complexity as articulated by Dale
Shermon and the definition of wickedness as articulated by Ms Lynelle Brigs is also quite
different.
According to Dale Shermon (Shermon, 2009), complex projects normally involve
engineering, software, hardware, service and information technology that are known to suffer
from two major problems normally failure by the project sponsors to effectively specify projects
and the project managers acts of trying to wrestle with unpredicted schedule or cost overruns. On
the other hand, based on Ms Lynelle Briggs’ paper about wicked problems titled “Tackling
Wicked Problems: a Public Policy Perspective”, it is quite apparent that wickedness is not
described in the context of evil but rather as a “crossword puzzle” addict or even mathematician
could use it and as being an issue which is highly resistant towards resolution (Australian Public
Service Commission, 2012). According to Brigs, Wicked problems are usually not only hard to c
define clearly but they also have numerous interdependencies that are normally multi-casual.
Even though Dale Shermon asserts that complex problems can be resolved, Briggs asserts that
wicked problems cannot be stable and any attempts that are aimed at addressing them normally
results to unforeseen consequences.

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References
Australian Public Service Commission, 2012. Tackling wicked problems: A public policy
perspective.
Shermon, D., 2009. Systems cost engineering: program affordability management and cost
control. Gower Publishing, Ltd.