A Project Sponsors Guide

Assessing Project Complexity

The causes of most project failures are not technical but people issues. That is why project success depends so much on getting the right level of engagement of front line users. Logic alone is not enough.

For simple projects, an informal project management approach might suffice. Projects involving wider change management dimensions benefit from a more formal structure.

This Matrix sets out a useful way to assess project complexity:

• The vertical axis covers the scale of change from small step to big bang.

• The horizontal axis concerns the depth of change from work processes to changes in work environment.

The position of the project on the matrix indicates the level of capabilty needed to deal with the project complexity.

These are:

Basic Project Management

1. Simple projects: Improvements around current assets and workflows

Intermediate project Management

2. Transition projects: Larger changes to the current work processes.

• If your upcoming projects require only basic project management capability an informal project management approach might suffice. However there are benefits in adopting a more formal project management process. A good place to start is the project management quality plan newsletter article. It might also be worth looking at our manufacturing project management training to build internal capabilities.

Early Equipment management

3. Refocus Projects: Reorganisation of current value proposition in a new work environment.

4. Complex Projects: Step changes to business operation involving changes to work processes and the work environment.

• For intermediate and advanced project management capabilities, it is worth considering the use of Early Equipment Management (EEM) principles. As adults learn best through practical experience, developing capability as part of the project based on project needs and the capabilities of internal project stakeholders is the best way to go. Click on the above link for more details about how to do that.

A good place to start is the project management diagnostic below. This will provide you with an assessment of current project management processes and identify what is needed to support your future project portfolio.

Project Management Diagnostic

One of the key Project Governance challenges is determining the level of project management expertise required to support the delivery of investment projects. Misjudging this can lead to underperforming assets, increased operational costs, and projects that demand excessive attention. So, how can you avoid these pitfalls and ensure exceptional project outcomes?

To help answer these questions, we’ve developed a free online project management diagnostic to assess your current approach against industry best practices. You don't need to have project management expertise but it helps if you have experience of sponsoring, delivering or receiving the results of a project in your organisation.

On completing the self assessment we will send you a diagnostic report containing a profile of strengths and weakness and an assessment of readiness to undertake different Basic, Intermediate or Advanced levels of project complexity. Also included is a suggested action plan to improve project management performance.

As mentioned above, if your upcoming projects are relatively simple, an informal project management approach might suffice. However, even for smaller initiatives, it’s essential to evaluate whether your current processes are truly up to the task.

For more complex projects, leveraging Early Equipment Management (EEM) tools can significantly enhance efficiency and long-term performance. But what exactly are these tools, how can you assess their value, and how do you equip your team with the necessary skills to implement them effectively?

Manufacturing Project Management Training

Enhance skills for effective project management and drive long-term business success with our training course developed for manufacturing and process industry projects.
Develop Project Team capability to deliver Flawless Operation from day one.

Essential Project Stakeholder Skills

What does it take to equip project teams with the capabilty to develop superior specifications, manage project risks and deliver better project added value faster?

3 Day In House Manufacturing Project Management Training Workshop

Our comprehensive 3-day course designed to elevate organisational project management capabilities, enhance project stakeholder collaboration and deal with barriers to best practice project management.

Contact us to find out more.

Reach out for effective project management training and support.

“"The course has helped me to understand how to get stakeholder engagement. The content on facilitation styles, behavioural tools, DILO, setting design goals and all the tools and templates behind these have given me the confidence to apply these ideas and share lessons learned across my organisation"

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