Abstract
The outcomes of complex projects regularly reveal the failure of management, when trying to control them towards a predicted outcome. This article reports on a study looking at the emergence of unmanageability in these projects. It takes as a point of departure that the occurrence of unmanageability cannot be attributed to a limited set of discernible decisions, but instead depends on broad trade-offs, often with double bind character. This then leads to the observation that a different approach is also needed to fight unmanageability. While individual trade-offs do not necessarily lead to unmanageability, the research identifies patterns of trade-off outcomes that can cause a project to spiral out of control. Finding coherence towards more manageable projects is shown to be difficult though, since the trade-offs are made separately in different phases of the project and on different levels in the project hierarchy. This article does make a case for more awareness of the coherence of trade-offs by referencing later phases in time and more operational levels in the hierarchy, and suggests aids to achieve higher manageability using such coherent approach.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | internationaal Project Management Congres Adapt or Die |
| Subtitle of host publication | Research meets practice; Towards project management 3.0 |
| Publisher | Delft University of Technology |
| Publication status | Published - 2019 |
| Event | Project Management Congress “ADAPT or DIE”.: Research meets Practice: towards Project Management 3.0 - Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands Duration: 11 Apr 2019 → 12 Apr 2019 https://pmcongress2019.org/ |
Conference
| Conference | Project Management Congress “ADAPT or DIE”. |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | PM congress 2019 |
| Country/Territory | Netherlands |
| City | Delft |
| Period | 11/04/19 → 12/04/19 |
| Internet address |
