What are the critical factors to initiating a complex project?

Micah -

The considerations will be similar to those on any project but the difference will be the extent to which project management discipline or rigor is applied. The specific differences will really depend on the context of the project as complexity presents itself in multiple dimensions.

For example, if complexity relates to the solution (technological or otherwise), you might look into attributes such as the degree of uniqueness within and outside the company, the availability of subject matter experts with past experience with such solutions and so on.

If the complexity relates to a significant number of discrete stakeholder groups with competing agendas, you'll spend tremendous effort up front in defining a common understanding of the project and gaining alignment.

This month's PM Journal has an article covering a study of the existing research done over the past quarter century on project complexity and one of the conclusions is that the focus has changed when dealing with complexity from tight control to adaptability.

Kiron

In most cases Micah, the critical factors in the initiation/planning stages are correctly identifying all requirements from stakeholders, working out what will and won't be in scope, identifying risks and assumptions, planning the resources in, and getting agreement on your baselines.

The critical factor is: complex or non complex project do not exists. Each project is complex mainly because you deal with people. When you understand it project management life is easiest.

Thanks Sergio, I take your point that dealing with people introduces complexity to every project. I agree but I do think there is a scale and some projects will be much more complex than others whether that's due to people characteristics, system or technology, uncertainty or ambiguity or for some other reason. I suppose complexity is also relative to the person and organisation managing a project.

I have leading projects in all type of organizations belonging to whole world. Complexity is the same. I do not agree about people that talk about things like "Grade of Complexity" and something like that. You can calculate a complexity grade or index indeed. But in the case of projects or program it has no sense. Why? Because the use of project management is about to deal with complexity. There is not other reason. It is inherent to the use of project management. All related to resources estimation, activities breakdown, approach and life cycle to use is about to deal with complexity in a natural way. That is applying project management.

Interesting. What is the difference then between a project that can be lead successfully by a junior project manager without much supervision and one that needs an experienced and highly competent senior project or program manager in order to be successful?