Abstract
In the field of project management, complexity is closely related to project outcomes and hence project success and failure factors. Subjectivity is inherent to these concepts, which are also influenced by sectorial, cultural, and geographical differences. While theoretical frameworks to identify organizational complexity factors do exist, a thorough and multidimensional account of organizational complexity must take into account the behavior and interrelatedness of these factors. Our study is focused on analyzing the combinations of failure factors by means of self-organizing maps (SOM) and clustering techniques, thus getting different patterns about the project managers perception on influencing project failure causes and hence project complexity. The analysis is based on a survey conducted among project manager practitioners from all over the world to gather information on the degree of influence of different factors on the projects failure causes. The study is cross-sectorial. Behavioral patterns were found, concluding that in the sampled population there are five clearly differentiated groups (clusters) and at least three clear patterns of answers. The prevalent order of influence is project factors, organization related factors, project manager and team members factors, and external factors.
Highlights
As projects have become more and more complex, there is an increasing concern about the concept of project complexity and its influence upon the project management process
The project dimension of complexity is widespread within project management literature
In the field of projects, complexity is closed related to the causal factors to get the project outcomes, which in the project management field is usually referred to as “project success/failure factors”
Summary
As projects have become more and more complex, there is an increasing concern about the concept of project complexity and its influence upon the project management process. Projects have certain critical characteristics that determine the appropriate actions to manage them successfully. Project complexity (organizational, technological, informational, etc.) is one such project dimension. The project dimension of complexity is widespread within project management literature. In the field of projects, complexity is closed related to the causal factors to get the project outcomes, which in the project management field is usually referred to as “project success/failure factors”. Better understanding of project success/failure factors is a key point for creating a strategy to manage complexity
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