Task Description
Task
Your task is to consider:-
- the causes, environments, and properties of complex projects;
- different tools and techniques to aid a project manager manage complex projects;
- the degree and nature of the projects cases discussed in the unit in the context of the theories and ideas related to complex projects.
Then you must write an essay describing how you consider the points above are related to:-
- projects with lots of parts and interconnections;
- projects that contain a great deal of uncertainty;
- project that are heavily time-constrained.
You should illustrate your points by identifying what are the causes, theories, tools and techniques, that might be relevant to complex projects. You should use examples taken from case studies and examples discussed during the unit.
Purpose
The primary purpose of this assessment item is to help you to be able to define your thinking and allow you to classify the tools and techniques related complex project management. The secondary purpose of this assignment is to give you the opportunity to enhance your analysis, critical thinking and written communication skills; particularly in the areas of argument development and essay writing.
Structure
Your essay should be a properly constructed academic essay of 5,000 words.
It should contain an effective introduction, body and conclusion. The introduction should introduce the essay and include your argument. The body should present the evidence you have collected to support your argument, and the conclusion should restate your argument, summarise the evidence and make a conclusion regarding your argument. The essay should contain a coherent, but necessarily restricted review of the academic literature on the topics in question. The literature review should be integrated into the essay, not a separate section. Do not include an executive summary or an abstract. A reference list formatted in the prescribed Harvard style is compulsory. Do not include a bibliography.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the causes, environments, and properties of complex projects.
- Identify different tools and techniques to aid a project manager manage complex projects.
- Critically analyse whether different projects cases are complex projects.
Graduate Attributes
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
Article - ASPECTS OF COMPLEXITY: MANAGING PROJECTS IN A COMPLEX WORLD by Terry Cooke-Davies