An Exploratory Literature Review and Analysis of Project Complexity Models

Abstract

The Information Communications Technology (ICT) industry has been experiencing challenges in project performance for years. Similarly, complexity has been identified as a primary contributor to the challenges in project performance for years. As project complexity is a long-standing issue to ICT performance, an analysis is needed to identify the existing state of research within project complexity and future research necessary to progress the field of research. This study, through literature research, analyzes 19 existing complexity models, including their definitions, factors, and tools of measurement. Findings identify a theoretical definition to project complexity, a general list of 33 factors used to measure complexity and identifies the current research within project complexity to be at a theoretical and conceptual state which has not yet reached a sustained and lasting practical level to the industry. It is proposed that future research into the perception perspective on ICT project complexity may provide novel insights into ICT project complexity.