Measuring project complexity: a project manager’s tool

This paper describes a framework that measures complexity within the various stages of a project, together with a measure of complexity for the complete project lifecycle in the form of a complexity index (CI). In essence, the framework provides the project manager with a tool that helps identify the possible manifestation of complexity within the project process and the ability to plan accordingly to minimize its impact. This framework was developed and evaluated based on engineering design projects. Initially, the paper provides an overview of the framework describing each of its component parts. An account of how the framework generates complexity measures is provided by means of an example. Case studies used for the evaluation of the framework are summarized.