Luo, L; He, Q; Jaselskis, E J and Xie, J (2017) Construction project complexity: Research trends and implications. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 143(7): 04017019, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
The rapid growth of complex projects in the construction industry worldwide has triggered a growing number of studies over the past two decades, suggesting that understanding project complexity is a key component of successful construction project management. This study aims to investigate the status and trends in project complexity research through a four-stage literature review that can benefit both researchers and practitioners. Seventy-four relevant articles were identified from studies published during the years 1996-2015, and results indicate that research in construction project complexity primarily focuses on four areas: influencing factors contributing to project complexity, the impact of project complexity, complexity measurement methods, and considerations for managing project complexity. Future research should concentrate on specific factors that drive complexity for different types of construction projects and the development of management guidelines for addressing complexity throughout the project lifecycle. This paper provides both a timely summary of literature in the area of project complexity and insights into opportunities for future study of and guidance for successfully managing complexity in construction projects.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction projects; literature review; organizational issues; project complexity; project management; research trends |
| Index terms: | project lifecycle, influencing factor, project management, future study, organizational issue, construction industry, complex project, construction project management, literature review, complexity, measurement method, project complexity, practitioner, construction project |
| Subjects: | financial and cost management, strategic project management, data analysis and analytics, practitioner, business, project completion, research design and methodology, risk assessment, systems engineering, industry analysis, project management theory and practice, production management, organizational theory |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Cost Management, Risk Management, Roles and Professions, Organizational Design |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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