Is there any such thing as a project that is too complex? Projects definitely vary in complexity, and obviously a more difficult project environment will result in a more complex project. But when the project complexity is resulting from risks or issues within your project, it could be time to take a step back and try to simplify the project to get it back on track.
Projectmanager.com identified seven issues that could be causing a project to become unnecessarily complex and how to address them:
- Unclear objectives – “Ambiguity is unwelcome when you’re running projects for very good reason—you want to make sure that the tasks that go on the project schedule unfold to deliver a solution to align with organisational goals.”
- Process problems – “On a project that has become overly complex, routine established processes become harder to follow. Teams may not have a clear idea about how they are actually going to do the work.”
- Cultural differences – “The more social and cultural groups included in your project, the more complex it will be.”
- Technical challenges – “Technical components and constraints almost certainly contribute to project complexity, especially if you are introducing new technologies to your team or if the project itself involves complex technical integrations.”
- Too many stakeholders – “The larger your group of project stakeholders, the more potential impacts or changes can occur on the project simply due to different views on how to make the project a success.”
- Communication breakdowns – “The more organisations and groups you have involved in your project, the more complex it becomes. The greater the number of interactions and communication channels, the harder it is to manage your message and keep everyone on the same page.”
- Unforeseen risk – “The riskier your project, the greater the degree of complexity. If you know the sort of risks that your project will face, then you can plan for them.”
You can read the full article here: Is Your Project Too Complex?
