| Project Management is not new. It is as old as we are. | | | | depends on the complexity of the project? Why? |
| The projects such as the great pyramid of Giza, a | | | | Let's discuss now. |
| monumental structure and Architecture structures | | | | It's very difficult to define the term complexity. Let us |
| during Greek & Roman era shows that people were | | | | go back to the original Latin word complexus, which |
| using project management many years ago. They | | | | signifies "entwined", "twisted together". This may be |
| might not use the latest and greatest tools we have | | | | interpreted in the following way: in order to have a |
| today, but that shows that they have used some sort | | | | complex you need two or more components, which |
| of mechanism to complete their projects. | | | | are joined in such a way that it is difficult to separate |
| Organizations regardless of their size perform projects. | | | | them. Project complexity can be classified into two |
| These projects are planned, executed and controlled | | | | types such as Technical complexity and Management |
| to realize the business objectives. This might be to | | | | complexity. An example of technical complexity is the |
| develop a new product or new service or to develop | | | | situation of being unable to reuse existing code when |
| a new business or to meet Legal needs or even to | | | | developing (or adding) new functionalities when |
| address social problems. In simple terms, we can | | | | developing IT projects. Similarly, an example to |
| classify projects into two categories. One is short term | | | | management complexity would be a situation where |
| projects and other is long term projects. In general, | | | | the objectives of implementing the project are not |
| short term projects require few resources and most | | | | clear, high customer impact can also be treated as a |
| likely get over within a year. The company might get | | | | business complexity. |
| immediate cost saving by implementing this type of | | | | More complexity brings more uncertainty. More |
| projects. One example would be an IT project which | | | | uncertainty means that more planning, co-ordination |
| would be launched to reduce automation errors 5 | | | | and more communication are needed to complete the |
| percent within a calendar year. On the other hand, long | | | | project on time under a stipulated budget. A general |
| term projects, typically take more than a year; they will | | | | rule of thumb is that managers spend 80% to 90% of |
| require more resources and create more cost saving | | | | their time to communicate. Hence, I would say that the |
| over a period of time. An example would be | | | | number of projects a manager can handle depends on |
| implementing a business intelligence system to predict | | | | the complexity of the project. Even though |
| customer buying pattern. | | | | organization structures, experience of the manager |
| Now let's go back to your question? How many | | | | play a role when allocating projects. Project complexity |
| projects can a manager handle? Does it depend on | | | | is the most important factor that needs to be |
| the duration of the projects? Or does it depend on the | | | | considered when assigning more projects to a project |
| experience of a project manager or does it depend on | | | | manager. |
| the organizational structure? I would say it mostly | | | | |