Analysis of Project Management Complexity: Flint Water Crisis Example

This report analyzes the Flint Water Crisis as a case study illustrating the complexities that can arise in project management, specifically focusing on the impact of simplistic project management techniques. The report begins by introducing the concept of project management complexities and identifies simplistic project management as a key factor contributing to project failures. The Flint Water Crisis, which occurred in Flint, Michigan, serves as the central example. The report details the project's background, including the municipality's decision to switch water sources to reduce costs, the subsequent water quality issues, and the delayed governmental response. The analysis highlights how a failure to fully consider the systemic implications of the decision, coupled with inadequate project management, resulted in severe consequences for the residents. The report discusses the chemical processes involved in the water treatment and the failures in managing the project. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of addressing complexities in project management to prevent similar crises and references Cooke-Davies' work on project complexity.

Running head: PROEJCT MANAGEMENT
Project Management
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note

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Introduction
There is various type of complexities that can arise in a project due to various type of
distinct reasons for the failure of a project (Cooke-Davies, 2011). One such reason is the
Simplistic Project Management which hampers any type of project to great extent. It is a type
of mental model that is existent among the project managers which is sometimes incomplete
and inefficient towards maintaining the project and managing the resources of the project.
One such example is provided in this report which has been affected by the complexities
which involve the simplistic project management.
Example of a Project which was affected by the complexity of Simplistic Project
Management (Rose, 2012)
Organization: Flint Michigan Municipality
Project type: Municipal water supply
Date: Apr 2014 to May 2016 (ongoing at time of writing)
Cost: Unknown for now, but potentially in the billions.
Synopsis:
The United States is one of the most powerful organization in the world, however in
Flint Michigan there is question over the safety in the tap water (Glenza, 2018). The decline
with the manufacturing industry of the country there has been a great concern over the decay
in the limited amount of fresh water in the region and the adjoining areas. Hence a
restructuring of the city was ideated which would be very favourable for the people of the
area. All the cost recurring for the project were analysed and move had been made for saving
around 5 million dollars per years. However soon after the supply of water were switched for
availing the appropriate amount of fresh water the problems relating to the discolouring of the

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water were faced and hence, the project was a complete failure. The iron and the lead in the
water supply increased to great extent and the government had taken no heed to it. Hence, the
project was affected by the complexity of Simplistic Project Management.
Detailed analysis of the situation for the management of the project and the
background details have been further discussed in the report. The crisis had begun in the year
of 2014 in Flint, Michigan and the system took a huge length of time before the government
of the area would be able to react to the situation. The crisis was a tragic one in various
respects of the general public and also the population of around the area (Rothstein, 2016).
The first system in the Flint was owned privately by the Flint Water Works Company in
1883. The officials at flint had developed the idea of a project for the development of system
that would help them in reducing the costs of the organization which would be done by
simply connecting the pipeline so that the raw water from Lake Huron can be obtained by the
system and the treatment of the water of Huron was done in their own facility by the
organization. However, the official was not able to sign an agreement which would be helpful
for the fulfilment of the project. In addition to this, there were many warnings regarding the
voices which were raised for the use of the Flint river as the source of water for the
community. Although, the officials had stayed put to their decision of distributing the water
from the facility at Flint. The source of water had changed from Huron to the Flint River and
residents had already started complaining about the colour, taste and odour of the water. It
was also informed to the officials that the water had caused rashes in the skins for the
children. Additionally, there were various type of publicities regarding the problem of lead in
the water of the Flint river (Cooke-Davies, 2011). Finally, in the year of 2016 the number of
case pending for the Flint river incident were released and a total of 91 cases and 12 deaths
during the span of the project were recorded and source for the procedures were not
identified. All this had highlighted the incapability of the management in managing the

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project efficiently and also in making important inroads to the projects. The complexity can
be regarded in the simplistic project management techniques.
In addition to this from the chemical perspective the water which was drawn from the
Flint river had been actually drawn from the raw water screens and Sodium Bisulphate was
being added to the last notable cell of the ozone contractor so that any type of residues
present in the water would be destroyed and water then would be able to flow in the rapid
mix tank in which the ferric chloride was added. The water had also entered the three-stage
flocculation unit which were followed by the plate settles (Cooke-Davies, 2011). This entire
process is involved with the treatment of the water according to the Operational Evaluation
Report (OER). Additionally, after the settling unit tasks were complete the water flowed in to
the up flow clarifier, in which the anionic and the cationic polymers are being added to the
water after which the waters move into the re carbonation unit where the units of the carbon
are also added to the lower pH. Chlorine is added to before the filtration is done in dual
media. After all the procedures are over the water flows in to the clear wall which is 3 mil
gallon.
Conclusion
For conclusion it can be said that the complexities in the management of a project is
big issues and this can lead to serious consequences for both the common people and the
organizations. The report has described one such public project where the complexity in the
project caused huge problems for the general public. The report has been used for the
description of the project. Then justification of classifying the project in the Simplistic
Project Management is also provided in the report.

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References
Cooke-Davies, T. (2011, August). Aspects of complexity: Managing projects in a complex
world. Project Management Institute.
Glenza, J. (2018). Flint crisis, four years on: what little trust is left continues to wash away.
Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/apr/25/flint-water-crisis-
four-years-later
Rothstein E. (2016). Why Flint Matters. Journal AWWA:108(7):36.