Impacts of Complex and Uncertain Environments in Project Planning

COMPLEX PROJECT MANAGEMENT
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COMPLEX PROJECT MANAGEMENT
The impacts of complex and uncertain environments in project planning
For the last few decades, project management has persistently gained popularity due to its effectiveness in
result delivery. Nonetheless, it is important to note that the results delivery of any project management
activity is solely dependent on the level of complexity and uncertainty. Due to the increasing popularity
as hinted, different scholars have defined Complexity and uncertainty in different ways. Although the
definitions may have a sense of variance, a pivotal point of view may be developed. Complexity and
uncertainty refers to a property of a project which makes it problematic and complicated to understand,
forecast, and control (Bosch et all. 2011, p.728)
From the basic definition, it is typical that the primary impacts of complex and uncertain environment in
project planning are difficulties and intricacy in effectively executing a project. In other words, complex
and uncertain environments lead to high degree of project failure, possible resource wastage, and life-
threatening incidences in some projects. In addition, complex environments may also prolong the project
management activities beyond the expected completion date. Research studies have revealed a high
degree of project complexity in the oil and gas industry due to interdependencies od many sub-projects,
the sizes of the firms, and the environment in which the operate in including the level accidents
(Flyvbjerg 2009, P.360
The major sources of complexity and uncertainty in projects, both internal and external
Before taking any step in addressing project complexity and uncertainty, it is important that a project
manager understands the core causes of complexity and uncertainty. Picking an insight from the
definition of complex projects, complex project sources may be categorized into four major classes.