Navigating Complexity: A Practice Guide

Navigating Complexity: A Practice Guide

by Project Management Institute
Released March 2014
Publisher(s): Project Management Institute
ISBN: 9781628250718

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Book description

Project Management Institute (PMI) originally addressed the subject of organizational complexity in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide). PMI identifies the types of complexities organizations must address and presents substantial research indicating that experienced project managers are more successful in completing highly complex projects.

With greater organizational complexities looming on the horizon, PMI has introduced Navigating Complexity: A Practice Guide. The definitive guide expands upon the principles, tools, and techniques presented in the PMBOK® Guide and other foundational standards, providing a streamlined approach to understanding and navigating complexity. This groundbreaking guide fills a void, providing the first published reference to help project management professionals successfully mitigate complexities and accomplish their organizational goals.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Table of Contents
  5. Preface
  6. 1. Introduction
    1. 1.1 - Purpose and Structure of this Complexity Practice Guide
  7. 2. Organizational Considerations
    1. 2.1 - Leadership
    2. 2.2 - Portfolio Management
    3. 2.3 - Collaboration for Successful Outcomes
    4. 2.4 - Performance Metrics
    5. 2.5 - Impact of Organizational Structures
      1. 2.5.1 - Leveraging PMO Support and Governance
    6. 2.6 - Resource Gap Analysis
    7. 2.7 - Senior Management, Practitioner, and Team Competency
  8. 3. Encountering Complexity
    1. 3.1 - Three Categories of Complexity
    2. 3.2 - Human Behavior
      1. 3.2.1 - Individual Behavior
      2. 3.2.2 - Group, Organizational, and Political Behavior
      3. 3.2.3 - Communication and Control
      4. 3.2.4 - Organizational Design and Development
    3. 3.3 - System Behavior
      1. 3.3.1 - Connectedness
      2. 3.3.2 - Dependency
      3. 3.3.3 - System Dynamics
    4. 3.4 - Ambiguity
      1. 3.4.1 - Emergence
      2. 3.4.2 - Uncertainty
  9. 4. PMI Foundational Standards and Useful Practices
    1. 4.1 - PMI Foundational Standards
      1. 4.1.1 - Scope
      2. 4.1.2 - Communications
      3. 4.1.3 - Stakeholders
      4. 4.1.4 - Risk
    2. 4.2 - Useful Practices
      1. 4.2.1 - Optimize the Organizational Structures
      2. 4.2.2 - Establish Effective Governance
      3. 4.2.3 - Diligently Research the Program or Project Prior to Approval
      4. 4.2.4 - Match the Manager and Key Team Members to the Program or Project
      5. 4.2.5 - Listen to Experts
      6. 4.2.6 - Manage Integration Effectively
      7. 4.2.7 - Focus on Change Management
      8. 4.2.8 - Encourage a Resilient Mindset
      9. 4.2.9 - Pay Attention to Small Signs that may Signify Major Changes
      10. 4.2.10 - Avoid Oversimplification
      11. 4.2.11 - Encourage Reflective Thinking
  10. 5. Navigating Complexity: The Assessment Questionnaire
    1. 5.1 - Assessing and Navigating Complexity
  11. 6. Complexity Scenarios and Possible Actions
    1. 6.1 - Using the Complexity Scenarios
    2. 6.2 - Complexity Scenario Mapping Example
  12. 7. Developing an Action Plan
    1. 7.1 - Apply Critical Thinking
      1. 7.1.1 - Review Sections 2 through 6
      2. 7.1.2 - Review Assessment Data
      3. 7.1.3 - Review Standards, Knowledge, and Experience
      4. 7.1.4 - Perform Critical Thinking
      5. 7.1.5 - Build Action Plans
    2. 7.2 - Implementing and Managing the Action Plan
  13. References
  14. Appendix X1. Contributors and Reviewers of Navigating Complexity: A Practice Guide
  15. Appendix X2. Annotated Bibliography—A Literature Review
  16. Appendix X3. Mapping Template for Navigating Complexity
  17. Glossary

Product information

  • Title: Navigating Complexity: A Practice Guide
  • Author(s): Project Management Institute
  • Release date: March 2014
  • Publisher(s): Project Management Institute
  • ISBN: 9781628250718