Bosch-Rekveldt, M G C (2011) Managing project complexity: A study into adapting early project phases to improve project performance in large engineering projects. PhD thesis, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands.
Abstract
Engineering projects become increasingly more complex and project complexity is assumed to be one of the causes for projects being delivered late and over budget. However, what this project complexity actually comprised of was unclear. To improve the overall project performance, this study focuses on identifying the potential causes of complexity in projects. Moreover, it is investigated how the early project phase could be adapted to the complexity of the project. The research is performed with companies of the NAP network, which brings together companies from the entire value chain in the Dutch process industry. The study is structured in four phases and included exploratory case studies, a quantitative survey, explanatory case studies and an evaluative survey. By combining qualitative and quantitative work, this study is an example of successfully applying a mixed methods approach in project management research. The main results of this study are the TOE (Technical, Organizational, External) framework to grasp project complexity and recommendations on managing project complexity in the early project phase. To improve project performance the role of integrated teams (joint owner / contractor teams) as well as thorough application of risk management is shown to be crucial.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Verbraeck, A and Bakker, H L M |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | project management; complexity; large engineering projects; early project phases; risk management; integrated teams |
| Index terms: | value chain, project performance, survey, owner, integrated team, case study, risk management, project complexity, project management, complexity, mixed method |
| Subjects: | systems engineering, risk assessment, sociology, value chain strategy, management, data collection methods, organizational theory, project management theory and practice |
| Topics: | Project Management, Supply Chain Management, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Organizational Design, Research Practice, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
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