Zheng, J; Gu, Y; Luo, L; Zhang, Y; Xie, H and Chang, K (2023) Identifying the definition, measurement, research focuses, and prospects of project complexity: A systematic literature review. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 30(7), pp. 3043-3072. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: Project complexity is a critical issue that has increasingly attracted attention in both academic and practical circles. However, there are still many gaps in the research on project complexity, such as the differentiated conceptualization of complexity and disjointed operationalization in the measurements. Therefore, this paper aims to conduct a systematic and detailed literature review on the concept, dimensions, assessment, and underlying mechanisms of project complexity. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review methodology was applied to search and synthesize the research on project complexity, and a final sample of 74 journal articles was identified. Findings: This study first summarizes the concepts of project complexity from three different theoretical perspectives, and then identifies different approaches of measurement, evaluation, or simulation to assess project complexity. This paper finally establishes an integrative framework to synthesize the antecedents, mediators and moderators, and outcomes of project complexity, generating four suggestions for future research. Originality/value: This study summarizes the definition and operationalization of project complexity to reduce the discrepancies in the existing research and offers an integrative framework to offer a broad overview of the current understanding of project complexity, providing a potential way forward for addressing project complexity.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction projects; literature review; project complexity; uncertainty |
| Index terms: | critical issue, literature review, project complexity, construction project, complexity, systematic literature review, dimension, journal, methodology, mediator |
| Subjects: | dispute resolution, research dissemination and communication, research evaluation and metrics, production management, data analysis and analytics, health monitoring assessment and metrics, research methods, systems engineering, risk assessment, organizational theory |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Risk Management, Research Practice, Project Management, Health and Safety, Legal Issues |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here