Research Article

Measuring the Project Management Complexity: The Case of Information Technology Projects

Table 8

Complexity Index tool Draft.

CriteriaDescription of the criteriaLow ComplexityHigh Complexity

(1) Objectives, Requirements and ExpectationsMandate and Objectivedefined, obviousuncertain, vague
Conflicting objectivesfew conflictsmany conflicts
Transparency of mandate and objectivesquite transparenthidden
Interdependence of objectivesquite independentvery interdependent
Number and assessment of resultslow, monodimensionallarge, multidimensional
Clear Statement of Requirements Requirements perfectly clearUnclear requirements
Realistic Expectations Easily achievableExpectations unlikely to be achieved
Clear Strategic Objectives (organizational)defined, obviousuncertain, vague
Uncertain and changing regulatory Requirementsavailable, knownuncertain, changing

(2) Interested Parties, IntegrationInterested parties, lobbiesfew partiesnumerous parties
Categories of stakeholdersfew uniform categoriesmany different
Stakeholder interrelationsfew and well known relationsunknown relations
Interests of involved partiescomparable interestdivergent interests
User Involvement User available and committed to the projectUser uncommitted wth the project
Executive Management Support Executive management committed to the projectExecutive management uncommitted to the project
Project Sponsor committed with project methodologySponsor committed with project methodologySponsor uncommitted with project methodology

(3) Cultural and social contextDiversity of contexthomogeneousdiverse
Cultural varietyuniform, well knownmulticultural, unknown
Geographic distancesclose, concentrateddistant, distributed
Social spansmall, easy to handlelarge, demanding

(4) Degree of innovation, general conditionsTechnological degree of innovationknown and proven technologyunknown technology
Demand of creativityrepetitive approachinnovative approach
Scope for developmentlimitedlarge
Significance on public agendapublic interest lowlarge public interest

(5) Project structure, demand for coordinationStructures to be coordinatedfew structuresnumerous structures
Demand of coordinationsimple, straightforwarddemanding, elaborate
Structuring of phasessequentialoverlapping, simultaneous
Demand for reportinguni-dimensional, commonmultidimensional, comprehensive

(6) Project organisationNumber of interfacesfewmany
Demand for communicationdirect, not demanding, uniformindirect, demanding, manifold
Hierarchical structureuni-dimensional, simplemultidimensional, matrix structure
Relations with permanent organisationsfew relationsintensive mutual relations

(7) Leadership, teamwork, decisionsNumber of sub-ordinatesfew, small control spanmany, large control span
Team structurestatic team structuredynamic team structure
Leadership styleconstant and uniformadaptive and variable
Decision-making processesfew important decisionsmany important decisions
Team motivated by the project Highly MotivatedLittle motivation
Hard-Working, Focused Staff Focused teamDispersed team
Near shore/Offshore teams involved Domestic teamsOffshore teams/Near shore teams involved
Offshore/Near shore teams are familiar with technical and business aspects of project Good know how in offshore/near shore teamsTeams unfamiliar with business/Technical aspects of the project

(8) Resources incl. financeAvailability of people, material, etc.available, knownuncertain, changing
Financial resourcesone investor and few kinds of resourcesmany investors and kinds of resources
Capital investmentlow (relative to project of the same kind)large (relative to project of the same kind)
Quantity and diversity of stafflowhigh

(9) Risk and opportunitiesPredictability of risks and opportunitieshigh, quite certainlow, uncertain
Risk probability, significance of impactslow risk potential, low impacthigh risk potential, large impact
Potential of opportunitiesmany options for actionslimited options for actions
Options for action to minimise riskslow potential of opportunitieslarge potential of opportunities

(10) PM methods, tools and techniquesVariety of methods and tools appliedfew, simplenumerous, manifold
Application of standardscommon standards applicablefew common standards applicable
Availability of supportmuch support availableno support available
Proportion of PM to total project worklow percentagehigh percentage
Incremental or iterative methodology used in the projectTotally Incremental Methodology usedTotally Iterative methodology used

(11) TechnologyIncompetence on using/applying TechnologyTechnological competence in all of the project chain linksTechnological Incompetence in any of the project chain links
New TechnologiesWell known technologies usedToo many new technologies in place
IT Management SupportFull IT Management supportNo IT management support
Technology IlliteracyStakeholders technology literacyStakeholders technology illiteracy
Infrastructure, Telecommunication Constraints FewMany