The Relationship Between Uncertainty and Task Execution Strategies in Project Management

Abstract

Common project management methodologies do not consider project task uncertainty for determining appropriate task execution strategies. This article proposes an actionable task-model based approach to integrating uncertainty considerations in project management. The authors developed the article in an industrial setting, interviewing experienced project managers, and observing 12 innovation projects. The resulting models were validated in four innovation projects. This process also revealed recurring patterns of how projects deal with high levels of uncertainty. The heightened awareness of uncertainty levels of project tasks, combined with four fundamental task execution strategies, has a significant impact on project managers’ decisions.