Managing complex projects involves various areas of the company and requires skilled professionals to develop a strategic plan capable of meeting the needs of this management. Furthermore, when dealing with a robust undertaking, teamwork and organization are essential for controlling the stages and aligning the processes.
Therefore, the “start” of a project is not when it begins to be executed, but rather much earlier, with the definition of strategies, creation of a team, and the creation of a schedule, among other things.
What is a complex project?
A single company may be involved in several projects, but how do you define which ones are complex? Generally, this characterization is based on the level of difficulty, volume, time frame, or objective.
Building a new branch, changing operating systems, or launching a product on a large scale are examples of complex projects. Understand the main characteristics:
High uncertainty : even with good planning, this type of project is more uncertain, as it can be subject to various external influences. Furthermore, some outcomes are difficult to predict, and decisions must be made during execution that can change the course of events.
Team involvement: also due to its expansive nature, it is common for this type of project to involve more than one team, or representatives from different areas of the company. This means that more people are involved, including the leaders of the sectors.
High risk: this type of project still presents a high risk, and could lead to financial problems if it does not achieve the desired results.
How to manage complex projects?
This type of action usually involves several steps, and for each one to be completed as expected, it is necessary to have professionals prepared to take on this management . In general, there is a main person in charge, whose role is strategic and supervisory.
From this central figure, other leaders emerge, working in different stages or teams related to the project. These individuals, together with the company’s top managers, such as the CEO, will define the strategic objectives of the action, as well as determine the resources needed for its execution.
From that point on, the planning is done by the manager, and the main leaders may not be directly involved. It is up to them to define schedules and set deadlines, as well as break down the objective into goals.
Their role also includes overseeing the execution of activities, monitoring to verify that the work is progressing as planned, and acting in case of unforeseen events.
Meanwhile, sector leaders, or project managers, will be more involved in the day-to-day work of their team members, monitoring task completion and managing unforeseen events within their team.
Actions that can help in the management of complex projects.
It became clear that undertaking highly complex projects requires a team and extensive planning before execution begins. Therefore, the company must work on aspects of its organizational culture that facilitate this process, as well as encourage actions that aid in management. Here’s what can be done to make large projects viable:
Strengthen teamwork
Whether it’s a group chosen for a specific project, or across departments in general, an action will only achieve the desired results if people know how to collaborate. Teamwork involves good communication, clarity about each person’s role, and valuing individuals.
Adopt a management methodology
There are several methodologies and tools that help manage a project, and this is necessary to have greater control and visibility of what is being done. Ideally, everyone should have the same access to the tool, because in addition to allowing them to include their updates, it offers a broader sense of scope and can even increase team engagement.
Prioritize organization
A plan will only work if it is organized in terms of stages, deadlines, and the responsibilities of each person. Therefore, in addition to the right tools, it is important to encourage leaders and teams to be organized with emails and digital files, checking dates and creating their own plans so they can fulfill their obligations.
Knowing how to prioritize
When something unexpected happens, it’s necessary to make decisions quickly and efficiently. This may require choosing which activities, resources, or steps should be prioritized.
Leaders need to develop an analytical vision that allows for efficient decision-making, taking into account the consequences of each choice, possible scenarios, and what is most important.