Discussion Forum: Managing Complex Projects, Risks, and Cases

This discussion post delves into the critical aspects of managing complex projects, highlighting the differences between complex and traditional project management. It emphasizes the uncertainty of outcomes as a defining characteristic of complex projects, using the Deepwater Horizon disaster as a key example of project failure due to inadequate risk management and communication breakdowns. The post explores the need for robust risk management plans, improved communication channels, and the application of various tools and techniques, such as work breakdown structures, to mitigate potential risks. It also addresses the challenges of stakeholder engagement and the importance of a flexible project life cycle to adapt to changing environments. The discussion concludes by underscoring the significance of proper risk management and mitigation strategies for the successful completion of complex projects, reinforcing the lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon incident and other project failures.

Running head: MANAGING OF THE COMPLEX PROJECT
MANAGING OF THE COMPLEX PROJECT
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1MANAGING OF THE COMPLEX PROJECT
Introduction
There is basic difference in the managing of the complex projects and the management of
the traditional projects. The main attribute of the complex project is the uncertainty about the
outcome. The main objective of this paper is to discuss about the various aspects of the
management of the complex project with respect to a selected example of the complex project. In
this context the vulnerabilities and the flaws of the complex project management has also been
discussed.
Discussion
The management of the complex project technique is different from the handling of the
traditional projects. The main difference between the complex project and the complicated
project is that in case of complicated project management the numbers of modules in the project
is large (Crawford & Hoffman, 2011). However, in this case the consequence of the outcome of
the project along with the result are known. In case of complex project the outcome is uncertain.
This attribute of the complex project makes the managing of this kind of project difficult.
In this context the incident of the Deep Water Horizon can be mentioned. In case of Deep
Water horizon project, the engineers in the onsite were aware about the leak in the cement base.
However, they were not informed that issue to the higher authority and no steps were taken
regarding this. This led to the incident of the Deep Water Horizon. During the investigation it
had been found out that the main cause of the accident was the leak in the base of the cement.
This indicates the lake of proper risk management in the BP, the owner organization of the Deep
Water Horizon.

2MANAGING OF THE COMPLEX PROJECT
The example of the Deep Water Horizon Indicates that in the managing of the complex
project proper risk management plan is needed to be taken. Apart from that the flow of
communication between the employees and the higher authorities is needed to be improved so
that the certain issues can be taken care of. In order to mitigate the risks associated with the
complex project management the organization can take up certain techniques and can use various
tools (Crawford & Hoffman, 2011). During the development of the project the work break down
structure can be prepared so that the risks associated with the each module of the project can be
identified in a proper way.
One of the examples of the failure of the complex project management is Deep Water
horizon. Another example of the failure of the complex project management is failure of
revitalization of the driver’s license of DMV California. The challenges of managing the
complex project can come from the different factors. One of the main challenge of the complex
project management is the uncertainty of the outcome of the project (Crawford & Hoffman,
2011). Apart form that the engagement of the stakeholders and the possible risks associate with
the projects are also considered as the challenging issues for the managing of the complex
project.
There are various steps those can be applicable for the mitigation of the risks and the
challenges in the managing of the complex project. The development of the life cycle of the
complex project management is needed to be done in a proper way. The project life cycle and the
selection of the methodology are needed to be selected in such a way that the whole development
phase can be flexible enough to adopt the sudden change in the project environment (Crawford
& Hoffman, 2011). Apart from that proper risk management plan is needed to be taken care of
during the development of the project. In this case, the feedback can be taken for the various

3MANAGING OF THE COMPLEX PROJECT
stages of the development of the project so that the modification can be done on the basis of the
feedback.
Conclusion
The discussion is regarding the different aspects of the management of the complex
project. However, the main focus of the discussion is the associated risks with the complex
project management and the mitigation plans for the risks in the complex project management. In
this context the mention of the complex project named Deep Water Horizon has been done. The
failure of this project indicates the significance of the proper risk management technique and the
importance of the flow of communication during the management of the complex project. It can
be concluded from the discussion that the implementation of the proper risk management and the
mitigation plan can be helpful in the successful compilation of the complex project.

4MANAGING OF THE COMPLEX PROJECT
References
Crawford, L., & Hoffman, E.(2011). Chapter 1: Complexity in Project Management and the
Management of Complex Projects. In: T. Cooke-Davies. ed. Aspects of Complexity:
Managing Projects in a Complex World. Atlanta, USA: Project Management Institute
Book Service Center, 1-13.
Crawford, L., & Hoffman, E.(2011). Chapter 2: Managing Projects With High Complexity. In:
T. Cooke-Davies. ed. Aspects of Complexity: Managing Projects in a Complex World.
Atlanta, USA: Project Management Institute Book Service Center, 17-27.
Crawford, L., & Hoffman, E.(2011). Chapter 9: Controlling Chaos? The Value and the
Challenges of Applying Complexity Theory to Project Management. In: T. Cooke-
Davies. ed. Aspects of Complexity: Managing Projects in a Complex World. Atlanta,
USA: Project Management Institute Book Service Center, 17-27.