Why do complex projects so frequently fail?

“The wider world within which the project sits - matters.”
Fran Ackermann, School of Management and Marketing, Faculty of Business and Law, Curtin University

Complex projects often spiral out of control, blowing budgets and schedules due to unforeseen issues cascading through interconnected systems. Concorde, Denver International Airport, the Scottish Parliament building - all experienced massive overruns.

Why do complex projects so frequently fail despite extensive planning and risk management processes?

I would argue that one of the reasons projects fail is that we fail to take a holistic, systemic view of risks. We focus narrowly on assessing and mitigating risks in isolation rather than understanding the complex interrelationships between financial, technical, political, environmental, and social systems surrounding projects. By modeling these connections, we can illuminate the feedback loops, conflicting stakeholder interests, and unintended consequences that undermine projects. Sy…