Measuring Project Complexity and Its Impact

RT-305 initially identified 40 complexity attributes and 92 indicators, and then tested them in a survey with indicator questions. The purpose of survey data was to determine which complexity measures were significant in differentiating between low- and high-complexity projects. The team received from 44 projects in all, with 14 responses for low-complexity projects and 30 responses for high-complexity projects. The data analysis resulted in 23 attributes and 37 complexity indicators, grouped into 11 categories that are significant in differentiating low complexity projects from high complexity projects. These complexity indicators are summarized in Table 1 of the research summary (Table 1, RS 305-1). The project complexity attributes and their indicators should be assessed uniquely for those indicators that are considered the most relevant to the specific conditions and influences describing a project’s complexity.

RT-305 developed the Project Complexity Assessment and Management (PCAM) Tool as part of its work. The PCAM Tool is an Excel-based spreadsheet that provides a user-friendly instrument to help project teams assess and manage a variety of complexity attributes.

Each of the 37 indicators associated with the 23 attributes are used to score the indicator’s contribution to the project complexity profile. A project team can use the PCAM Tool to assess the current level of project complexity at any particular point or phase in the project life-cycle. The details of the PCAM Tool use can be found in the implementation resource (IR 305-2). The PCAM Tool also graphically displays indicators to show where a project team should focus their attention to manage a project specific set of complexity attributes to control the drivers of complexity. The value of the research is a tool with outputs that helps less experienced project teams identify blind spots and implement strategies to deal with project complexity. Figure 9 illustrates an example of graphical outputs of the PCAM Tool.

The PCAM process includes three steps:
     Step 1 – Project Complexity Attribute Selector (PCAS) Tool
     Step 2 – Project Complexity Assessment and Management (PCAM) Tool Application
     Step 3 – Project Complexity Strategies to Manage Key Project Complexity Indicators

The high-level purpose of the PCAM process and tool is to identify key project complexity indicators, assess their potential impacts on a project, and design a plan to manage the potential impacts of the complexity indicators. The PCAM process and tool are designed to be flexible enough to deploy in many different ways and at multiple stages of project development and delivery. RT-305 divided the recommended PCAM process uses into four categories and identified the CII project phases in which these categories may belong. The project timeline shown in Figure 13 indicates possible uses of the process relative to the CII Front End Planning (FEP) and Project Execution gates with the following categories and phases as reference points.

RT-305 developed management strategies to address each of the 37 complexity indicators. The management strategies help project teams using the PCAM Tool implement strategies and methods to reduce the likelihood that the associated complexity attributes will cause poor project performance. The details of project complexity management strategies can be found in the research report (RR305-11).