http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/864134617

Aspects of complexity managing projects in a complex world

"Complexity" is a word that is often heard in discussions about project and program performance today. It is a word that is notoriously difficult to define and is often, mistakenly, used as a synonym for "complicated." But to confuse the concept of complicatedness with that of complexity is to miss an important point. Modern project management practice has its roots in control theory and in systems development, and there is no doubt that the increasing complexity of the modern world makes systems more complex and therefore more difficult to control. Drawing on the insights of more than a dozen thought leaders who are published in the book, Aspects of Complexity (Cooke-Davies, 2011), as well as new research involving projects and programs in more than 400 organizations, this paper explores what people mean when they talk about complexity, what causes it, and what organizations and practicing project managers can do to capitalize on its opportunities and minimize its threats. It discusses implications for project managers leading major complex projects. The paper explores different insights from social psychology and its related disciplines. It then considers the importance of "frames" or "viewpoints" when understanding context.

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