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The Complexity Theory In Project Management

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To organise for project management requires an understanding of the organisation’s architecture which includes the organisational hierarchy - the grouping of internal business units, the authority lines and interaction with one another. Each of these aspects should be designed to support project management within the organisation. Structure should follow strategy or else it may impede communication, coordination and decision making which are all key to success (Brevis, 2014, p. 224). Hence, an important function of upper management is to support project teams by either redesigning the organisation to emphasize projects or integrating projects into the current organisation (Graham & Englund, 2004). The increased complexity of modern day organisations …show more content…

The complexity theory is a growing trend within recent successful projects. The fundamentals of the complexity theory have sprung to life since changes in society and the evolving nature of complexity within the project environment required a different approach (Saynisch, 2010). The complexity theory embraces the interconnectedness of systems and incorporates aspects such as transformational leadership and communication (Curlee & Gordon, 2011). Transformational leadership, especially its characteristics of learning and mentorship adjusts well to complexity within a project. The world has enough managers - what ensures project success is leadership. A Project Leader, as opposed to a manager that manages the team by bending it to fit the project, guides from the front and mainly aims to realise the potential of the team by using skills and resources at his/her disposal to achieve the best from the team (Curlee & Gordon, 2011). The complexity theory is furthermore about accepting chaos in some stages of the project life cycle, but in such a manner that allows the project manager a level of individuality to move a project forward. Hence, complexity is about learning to accept certain unknowns with flexibility and grace. (Curlee & Gordon, 2011). A leader who motivates individuals can assist in creating a controlled hurricane that can conquer complex tasks. Communication lines are of the utmost importance in the complexity theory. Communication is the vessel for change management and the lifeline of any organisational change initiative. Finally, the project manager must prepare for change within a project and must retain a level of connection with contacts and leads. Change is the only constant in life and every project leader must learn to deal with the rapidly changing and demanding world

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