Dealing with GERD project complexities

The GERD project is being faced with diverse complexities. Dealing with them calls for the application of different skills. The article discusses the different complexities and the skills needed to handle them. It also provides solutions to the challenges faced in the project. The subject is Complex Project Management and the document type is an essay. The course code, course name, and college/university are not mentioned.

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Title
Author’s name
Institutional affiliation

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Dealing with GERD project complexities
The GERD project is being faced with diverse complexities. Dealing with them calls for the
application of different skills. They are majorly the learning activities that will have to be done in
coming up with a lasting solution. However, various people can implement a skill differently.
The implementation technique of the skills defines competency. Hence, after identifying a skill
to deal with complexity. Competency has to be put in close consideration for the complexity to
be well handled (Sieben, 2018).
Complexity Type Skill Justification
A. The construction of the
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance
dam is faced with structural
complexities. Construction of
the dam will lead to the
establishment of two major
dams along the Nile, one of
them being the Aswan High
Dam (Dinar Ariel, 2017).
Proper coordination of the
dams has to be done. Hence,
the government of Egypt and
Ethiopia have to come to a
consensus on how they can
equitably share the waters in
The Expert form of skill will
be needed to come up with
the most appropriate solution
to the problem (Morris,
2013). The three countries
will need after the solution.
Hence, use of modern
irrigation methods would be
an appropriate solution. They
include sprinkler and drip
irrigation (Thomas Osburg,
2013). Irrigation timing
should strictly be done in the
night for the three countries.
A reduction in the number of
Droughts are the most feared
events in any country. The
building of the dam puts
Egypt at risk of experiencing
long periods of drought as per
their understanding
(Abdelazim M. Negm, 2018).
The solution has to be holistic
by addressing all aspects of
the problem. The interest of
Ethiopia in coming up with
the construction of the dam
has to be addressed. Apart
from that, addressing the
fears of drought in Egypt will

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the two rivers. Especially
during two periods of the year
involving reservoir-filling
and long periods of drought.
Close coordination will be the
best method out in dealing
with the problem.
Sudan which is also
dependent on the Nile waters
has to come to an agreement
and get to understand how the
expected new system of
managing the Nile waters has
to be done especially after
completion of the dam
construction and power is
being generated.
days that the countries need
water for irrigation should
also be implemented. The
solutions will allow for
balancing of water usage.
bring the team to a consensus.
The expected new situation
needed in the management of
the river will also have to be
addressed. It will ensure
proper coordination as they
await the construction of the
dam. The problem-solving
process will call for problems
to be clearly stated. Apart
from that, the goal will be
defined and a well-outlined
plan written down, thereafter,
a decision is made.
Immediately the decision is
made, the dam should now be
constructed.
B. The construction process is
also faced with technical
complexities (Fabio Nonino,
2018). Failure of a dam is
followed by high levels of
Performers with competent
skills have to come up with
the needed solutions as they
will have to facilitate the
building of the saddle dam in
Some of the challenges that
will come with the
construction of the dam have
already been established. One
major challenge being the

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fatalities. Apart from the
deaths, vegetation is always
destroyed significantly. The
machinery involved in the
operation of the dam is
destroyed significantly. Water
stored in the dam has the
capability of failing after a
certain period. As a result, a
large saddle dam has to be
constructed to see to it that in
the case of such an accident,
water stored behind the dam
should not spill out of the
northwestern end of the
reservoir. Preparation
regarding the management of
the risks that come as a result
of the dam failure has to be
well done.
dealing with the expected
consequences (Kong, 2014).
failure of the dam. The main
planned solution is the
building of the saddle dam
behind the site (Negm, 2018).
The plan will allow for the
storage of water behind the
dam. Such solutions are
dependent on certain
contexts. In this case, the
building of the dam is
dependent on the occurrence
of the floods.
C. There was a directional
complexity in the building of
the GERD project (Raydugin,
Skills by competent
performers will be needed in
such a case. The advanced
The building of the dam has
accompanied goals set by the
nation. Achieving the goal

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2016). Every activity or
project has a goal to be
achieved at the end of the
day. Ethiopia has been
producing power through the
use of other dams. It is
currently taking on a project
where it will produce more
power compared to the
existing power. Hence, the
excess power will have to be
sold to the outside nations.
Proper selling of power
comes with proper planning.
The destinations where the
power has to be directed
should be determined. Apart
from that, power is
transmitted through lines. A
strategic plan has also to be
laid on who will be in charge
of constructing the lines and
the timeline for constructing
beginner skills can also be
deployed in handling such a
complexity. The experts will
identify the excess power in
production. The nations
limited in power production
will also be identified. The
two governments will hold a
trade agreement. They will
thereafter, facilitate the
construction of transmission
line to the destined points.
will call for coming up with a
strategic plan that will be
actualized immediately after
the construction process has
come to an end. The choice to
facilitate the selling of
hydroelectric power is
dependent on the construction
of the dam. Apart from that,
the choice is also dependent
on the fact that we have
sufficient production of
power within Ethiopia from
other sources. The plans to
determine the construction of
the transmission lines will be
dependent on the
actualization of the goal to
sell hydroelectric power to
the outside market. The result
is the receiving of good
financial results at the end of
all the activities that have to

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the lines be determined.
Trade agreements should also
be part of such discussions.
The financial returns to be
received by Ethiopia will be
determined by a power trade
agreement to be done before
carrying out the selling of the
power.
be done. Hence, plans are
being set to ensure that a
trade agreement is done that
will allow for better rates to
be discussed. Such plans have
been actualized before in
different countries.
Furthermore, it is a situational
element. As a result, one can
come up with a solution
based on the individual based
experiences that one did
undergo a different
circumstance.
D. Temporal complexities are
some of the expected
complexities expected in
project management. The
GERD project was faced with
some complexities ranked as
temporal. The Nile delta has
agricultural lands used for
Proficient performer skill will
be needed in dealing with the
temporal complexity.
Desalination of the sea water
will have to be done
(Pessarakli, 2014). Apart
from that, an initiative will
have to be created that works
The complexity expected in
the GERD project is the
accumulation of salts in the
agricultural lands of Egypt.
The salts will lead to the
fertility of the land being
interfered with through the
construction period. Apart

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carrying out diverse
agricultural activities.
Accumulations of salts in
such lands would make them
ineffective. The construction
of the dam is expected to be
faced with rapid increase in
accumulation of salt in the
land. The construction of the
GERD will motivate Sudan to
increase the number of
withdrawals of water from
the Nile River for irrigation.
The withdrawals will be done
on the upstream end of the
dam. The result will lead to
Egypt missing out on the
amount of water they have
been receiving in the previous
days. Hence, the Egyptian
government has held onto the
ground prohibiting the start of
the project. The construction
in relation to the Nile Basin.
The initiative has to ensure to
set good practice guides in
addition to support. The body
will also have to set proper
plans in relations to the
management of the project.
The coordination and
facilitation of the project will
also be facilitated by team.
from that, Sudan is expected
to increase the number of
withdrawals from the Nile
River. Such an increase will
lead to the reduction of water
being received in Egypt. The
progress of the project is,
therefore, faced with a great
rebellion by the government
of Egypt. Close negotiation
has to be done where all the
possible impacts arising from
the project are written down.
The proficient performers
will thereafter identify the
mitigation measures to each
particular challenge before
setting the construction
process going.

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can only become a success
after proper identification of
magnitude of the diverse
problems and possible
mitigations has been done.
Graphic Representation of different performance levels by different performers in
handling the GERD project complexities
Structural Complexity
Directional Complexity
Technical Complexity
Temporal Complexity
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Chart Title
Novices Advanced Competent Proficient Expert
The graph indicates the different levels of skills needed in handling particular complexities. The
implementors have to ensure to choose the right person who will facilitate the implementation of
the different solutions. The personnel implementing the proposed method will influence the
result. The proficient performers can excellently handle the temporal complexities involved and

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least implemented by the Novices. The competent performers can excellently implement a
solution in dealing with the technical complexities. The Novices should be the last consideration
to be made in dealing with the complexity. Directional complexity will be experienced in the
project, competent performers will be the best in dealing with the challenge. On the other hand,
the Novices will be least considered in facilitating the implementation if excellent results will be
needed. Expert performers can best deal with structural complexity. The proposed solution can
least be implemented by the Novices.
References

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Abdelazim M. Negm and Sommer A.-Fattah, 2018. Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Versus
Aswan High Dam: A View from Egypt. 3 ed. New York: Springer.
Dinar Ariel, T. Y., 2017. Management Of Transboundary Water Resources Under Scarcity: A
Multidisciplinary Approach. 2 ed. Singapore: World Scientific.
Fabio Nonino, S., 2018. Project Management: Driving Complexity. PMI® Italian Academic
Workshop. 3 ed. Rome: Sapienza Università Editrice.
Kong, A., 2014. International Conference on Management and Engineering. 5 ed. Lancaster:
DEStech Publications.
Morris, P. W. G., 2013. Reconstructing Project Management. 4 ed. New Jersey: John Wiley &
Sons.
Negm, A. M., 2018. Conventional Water Resources and Agriculture in Egypt. 2 ed. New York:
Springer.
Pessarakli, M., 2014. Handbook of Plant and Crop Physiology. 3 ed. Florida: CRC Press.
Raydugin, Y., 2016. Handbook of Research on Leveraging Risk and Uncertainties for Effective
Project Management. 4 ed. Pennsylvania: IGI Global.
Sieben, N., 2018. Writing Hope Strategies for Writing Success in Secondary Schools: A
Strengths-Based Approach to Teaching Writing. 3 ed. Leiden: BRILL.
Thomas Osburg, R. S., 2013. Social Innovation: Solutions for a Sustainable Future. 3 ed. New
York: Springer Science & Business Media.