Managing Complex Infrastructure Projects: A Focus on Flexibility-Focused Project Management Approach

Running head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project Management
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PROJECT MANAGEMENT
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It is essential to manage the construction projects in the infrastructure sector, which are
quite complex, as maximum delays, are observed in this sector. The social as well as the
economic importance of a managed investment in infrastructure is huge and therefore it is
essential to mainly manage the projects in the infrastructure sector which are quite complex
(Eriksson, Larsson & Pesämaa, 2017). Complexity in a project is considered as an important
threshold variables associated with the complex project. Complexity in a project can be
described as a property of the particular project which makes it difficult to understand or
implement (Salet, Bertolini & Giezen, 2013). The complexity of a project can be managed by
making use of flexibility focused project management approach. This is essential because the
traditional project management approaches or paradigm does not involve control focused
practices. The control focused practices are mainly based on extensive planning, monitoring and
exploration of the knowledge that already exists (Eriksson, Larsson & Pesämaa, 2017). The
flexible project management approach considers a number of aspects which includes time
performance, collaboration, project complexity and adaptation. However, the accurateness of the
focused project management approach in managing the different issues in the associated with the
complex project is needed to be examined (Kardes et al., 2013). The research paper examines the
viability of making use of focused project management approach is managing the complex
infrastructure projects which will reduce the delays in the project.
The complexity in a particular project increases if the capability of the project manager
decreases. The flexibility focused approach of project management is mainly based or focused on
three central practices (Eriksson, Larsson & Pesämaa, 2017). It is mainly focused on the
identification and testing of the new technical solutions and work processes associated with the

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organization (Eriksson, Larsson & Pesämaa, 2017). There are a number of other processes that
can considerably help in managing the project’s complexity. The complexity of the project is
needed to be conceptualized prior to the proposal of solution to the problem. It is essential to
initiate and plan the management of complex project. Project managers play a significant role in
management of the project complexities (Cruz & Marques, 2013). The complex construction
projects normally suffer delays in their implementation and delivery mainly because these types
of projects are difficult to manage. Thus it is seen that the management of complex projects is
strongly influenced by the control focused paradigm and the experimental results suggest that it
is one effective approach of reducing the delay in the project as well (Eriksson, Larsson &
Pesämaa, 2017). However, the management of such type of complex project needs tailoring the
project management practices for efficient management of this type of projects. Flexibility of
time and schedule is necessary in management of the complex projects (Eriksson, Larsson &
Pesämaa, 2017). The importance of tailoring the project management practices can be evaluated
by comparing with the traditional project management practices that cannot guarantee the
successful implementation of the project.
The focused approach of project management deals with collaboration among the team
members in management of a project. Collaboration among the team members is needed for
ensuring efficient communication with the team (Guo et al., 2014). Collaboration among the
team members is furthermore important as it promotes effective interaction between the team
members. The complex construction projects are often delayed mainly because it involves a lot
of tasks that is needed to be finished (Too & Weaver, 2014). Apart from that, it becomes difficult
for the project manager to ensure timely implementation of the tasks associated with a project.
The chosen article takes a primary analysis to test and understand the acceptability of the