The factors of project complexity

Construction projects are often described as being complex, however, the factors which make a project complex and the impact that they have upon a project are not widely understood. As part of a global research project aimed at establishing the impact of project complexity at the pre construction stage, research has been carried out to investigate these factors. Interviews with industry experts were conducted to establish a current definition of project complexity in the context of the construction industry as well as to identify the factors of project complexity and other aspects of a project. Case studies were then analysed to establish the frequency and impact of the project complexity factors. The research has identified factors of complexity, however there is a need to develop a methodology to effectively measure the complexity of a project focussing specifically on the pre construction stage.