Project Management from Simple to Complex
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Chapter 2
Project Profiling
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Learning Objectives
•
Identify project attributes that can be used for project profiling
•
Define project profiling
•
Identify different methods of typing projects
•
Describe the characteristics of complex systems
•
Identify the categories used by the Darnall-Preston Complexity Index
•
Describe each of the external attributes that contribute to project
complexity
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Learning Objectives
•
Describe each of the internal attributes that contribute to project
complexity
•
Describe each of the technological attributes that contribute to project
complexity
•
Describe each of the environmental attributes that contribute to project
complexity
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Using a Project Profile
•
Common attributes among projects allow the profiling of a project
•
Attribute: Characteristic of an entity or object
•
Information on project size and location
– Enables the parent organization to assign an appropriate project manager
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Using a Project Profile
•
Project profiling: Process of extracting a characterization from the known
attributes of a project
•
Provides a more comprehensive understanding of the project and should
result in:
– An appropriate execution approach
– The assignment of organizational resources
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Project Profiling Models
•
Typology: Classification or profiling of items that have characteristics or
traits in common
•
Shenhar and Dvir characterized projects based on two dimensions:
– Technological uncertainty
– System scope
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Project Profiling Models
•
Robert Youker identified basic differences in project types:
– Uncertainty and risk
– Level of sophistication of workers
– Level of detail in planning
– Newness of technology
– Time pressure
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Complex Systems and the Darnall-Preston
Complexity Index
•
The complexity of a system is determined by:
– The number of parts or activities
– The degree of differentiation between the parts
– The structure of their connections
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Complex Systems and the Darnall-Preston
Complexity Index
•
Heterogeneous and irregularly configured systems are complex
– Have multiple interacting components
– Collective behavior cannot be inferred from the behavior of the components
•
Complexity is context dependent
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Complex Systems and the Darnall-Preston
Complexity Index
•
Projects are complex adaptive systems
•
Adaptive system: Organization of elements that change in response to
events in its environment
•
Relationship dependence: Activities that are affected by events that
change the characteristics of other activities
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Complex Systems and the Darnall-Preston
Complexity Index
•
Complex adaptive systems:
– Tend to self-organize
– Adapt to changing environments
– Adapt to changes in the project’s internal situation
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Darnall-Preston Complexity Index DPCI™
•
A project profiling system that groups project attributes into four
categories:
– Internal attributes
– External attributes
– Technological complexity
– Ecological attributes
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Darnall-Preston Complexity Index DPCI™
•
Identifies the experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities needed by the
project manager
•
Has implications for the composition, organization, and skills needed by
the project leadership team
•
Provides information and a context for:
– Developing the project execution plan
– Assessing the probability of success
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Darnall-Preston Complexity Index Structure
•
The DPCI was developed around four assumptions:
– All projects are unique
– Projects have common characteristics
– Characteristics can be grouped together to create a project profile
– There is an optimum execution approach for each project profile
• An optimum set of skills and experience for the project manager and execution team
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Darnall-Preston Complexity Index Structure
•
External attributes that contribute to project complexity:
– Size
– Duration
– Available resources
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Darnall-Preston Complexity Index Structure
•
Internal attributes that contribute to project complexity:
– Clarity of project objectives
– Clarity of scope
– Organizational complexity
– Stakeholder agreement
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Darnall-Preston Complexity Index Structure
•
Technological attributes that contribute to project complexity:
– Newness of the technology
– Familiarity of team members with the technology
•
Environmental attributes that contribute to project complexity:
– Legal
– Cultural
– Political
– Ecological
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