IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/srbeha/v40y2023i3p488-500.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Deviation from a state of perfect uniformity: An indicator of structural complexity in projects

Author

Listed:
  • Seyed Ashkan Zarghami

Abstract

The complexity of projects arising from interconnectedness between activities is believed to be one of the most significant challenges for managing projects. Although the literature has long appreciated the significance of measuring complexity, research on this topic is weakened by the lack of a method that accounts for a diverse set of structural characteristics of project networks. To evade this pitfall, this paper introduces the concept of perfect uniformity and develops a comprehensive measure of structural complexity in projects. The proposed method is validated by applying it in two real‐life projects. The validation results confirm that project complexity is positively associated with a higher level of deviation from a state of perfect uniformity. This research is among few studies that draw on the concept of emergence and point out the importance of a system‐level approach in project management to analyse the interdependency between multiple interconnected activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Seyed Ashkan Zarghami, 2023. "Deviation from a state of perfect uniformity: An indicator of structural complexity in projects," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(3), pages 488-500, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:srbeha:v:40:y:2023:i:3:p:488-500
    DOI: 10.1002/sres.2868
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.2868
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/sres.2868?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Franck Marle, 2020. "An Assistance to Project Risk Management Based on Complex Systems Theory and Agile Project Management," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2020, pages 1-20, October.
    2. Zarghami, Seyed Ashkan & Gunawan, Indra & Schultmann, Frank, 2018. "Integrating entropy theory and cospanning tree technique for redundancy analysis of water distribution networks," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 102-112.
    3. Maria Kapsali, 2013. "Equifinality in Project Management Exploring Causal Complexity in Projects," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 2-14, January.
    4. Steven E. Wallis, 2021. "Understanding and improving the usefulness of conceptual systems: An Integrative Propositional Analysis‐based perspective on levels of structure and emergence," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(4), pages 426-447, August.
    5. Long D. Nguyen & Long Le-Hoai & Dai Q. Tran & Chau N. Dang & Chau V. Nguyen, 2019. "Effect of project complexity on cost and schedule performance in transportation projects," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(7), pages 384-399, July.
    6. Lin, Yun Hui & Wang, Yuan & Lee, Loo Hay & Chew, Ek Peng, 2021. "Consistency matters: Revisiting the structural complexity for supply chain networks," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 572(C).
    7. Zarghami, Seyed Ashkan & Dumrak, Jantanee, 2021. "Aleatory uncertainty quantification of project resources and its application to project scheduling," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    8. Seyed Ashkan Zarghami & Indra Gunawan & Graciela Corral de Zubielqui & Bassam Baroudi, 2020. "Incorporation of resource reliability into critical chain project management buffer sizing," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(20), pages 6130-6144, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zarghami, Seyed Ashkan & Dumrak, Jantanee, 2021. "Aleatory uncertainty quantification of project resources and its application to project scheduling," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    2. Tornyeviadzi, Hoese Michel & Owusu-Ansah, Emmanuel & Mohammed, Hadi & Seidu, Razak, 2022. "A systematic framework for dynamic nodal vulnerability assessment of water distribution networks based on multilayer networks," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    3. Amrik Sohal & Tharaka Vass & Tristan Vasquez & Greg J. Bamber & Timothy Bartram & Pauline Stanton, 2022. "Success factors for lean six sigma projects in healthcare," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 33(2), pages 215-240, June.
    4. Jensen, H.A. & Jerez, D.J., 2019. "A Bayesian model updating approach for detection-related problems in water distribution networks," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 100-112.
    5. Marko M. Mihić & Zorica A. Dodevska & Marija Lj. Todorović & Vladimir Lj. Obradović & Dejan Č. Petrović, 2018. "Reducing Risks in Energy Innovation Projects: Complexity Theory Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-24, August.
    6. Shuto Miyashita & Shintaro Sengoku, 2021. "Scientometrics for management of science: collaboration and knowledge structures and complexities in an interdisciplinary research project," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(9), pages 7419-7444, September.
    7. Zarghami, Seyed Ashkan & Dumrak, Jantanee, 2021. "Unearthing vulnerability of supply provision in logistics networks to the black swan events: Applications of entropy theory and network analysis," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    8. Mansoor Shekarian & Mahour Parast, 2021. "Do Entrepreneurship Skills Improve Project Performance? A Project-Based Learning Perspective," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 30(2), pages 267-305, September.
    9. Marco Aurélio de Oliveira & Antonio Schalata Pacheco & André Hideto Futami & Luiz Veriano Oliveira Dalla Valentina & Carlos Alberto Flesch, 2023. "Self‐organizing maps and Bayesian networks in organizational modelling: A case study in innovation projects management," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(1), pages 61-87, January.
    10. Ramadhani, Adhitya & Khan, Faisal & Colbourne, Bruce & Ahmed, Salim & Taleb-Berrouane, Mohammed, 2022. "Resilience assessment of offshore structures subjected to ice load considering complex dependencies," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    11. Wang, Fei & Zheng, Xia-zhong & Li, Nan & Shen, Xuesong, 2019. "Systemic vulnerability assessment of urban water distribution networks considering failure scenario uncertainty," International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection, Elsevier, vol. 26(C).
    12. Anna Kwiotkowska & Bożena Gajdzik & Radosław Wolniak & Jolita Vveinhardt & Magdalena Gębczyńska, 2021. "Leadership Competencies in Making Industry 4.0 Effective: The Case of Polish Heat and Power Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-21, July.
    13. Athar Kamal & Sami G. Al-Ghamdi & Muammer Koç, 2021. "Assessing the Impact of Water Efficiency Policies on Qatar’s Electricity and Water Sectors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-30, July.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:srbeha:v:40:y:2023:i:3:p:488-500. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/1092-7026 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.