What is a complex project? While the definition of a complex project varies among organisations and industry bodies, as project management specialists ourselves, we believe that a complex project encompasses one or more of the following elements:
- A project over A$1 billion in size
- A complex project structure that includes PPP, Consortium or Alliance based contracts
- Extensive design engineering hours
- A project with multiple stakeholders and project interfaces
- A project duration of over 4 years
Aspects such as Planning, Cost Control, Quality Assurance, Governance and Portfolio Management are important in allowing your project to operate at a steady and accurate pace; but will this be enough to ensure that your project conforms to agreed standards and expectations? More often than not, your project ends up being delivered late, resulting in cost overruns and penalties.
So is it time to shift the paradigm? Is dividing or simplifying a complex project, as suggested by a number of project management methods, a good way of managing a complex project?
Through years of experience, OP2 has worked with many industry partners in exploring and developing new ways of managing complex projects. Our consultants have a proven track record of helping organisations rethink their approach — moving away from reactive problem-solving to a structured, proactive delivery model built on three core principles:
- Make it Simple: Break down the project to a readable level using tailor-made dashboards, KPIs, and high-level top-down approaches that the whole team can understand and align on.
- Make it Visible: Create transparency and active circulation of controlled information through Visual Management systems and a culture of consistent communication to all relevant stakeholders.
- Make it Happen: Enable efficient and fast-paced decision-making by setting up a structured Governance cycle that promotes meeting efficiency and ensures business cases are accurately and timely prepared.
By embedding these principles into the fabric of your project from day one, your team can shift the paradigm — from complexity and confusion to clarity and controlled delivery.
To learn more about how OP2 can help your organisation manage complex projects, contact us at [email protected].