{"id":18287,"date":"2020-11-17T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-17T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/the-challenge-of-enterprise-complexity-and-how-to-manage-it\/"},"modified":"2020-11-17T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-11-17T06:00:00","slug":"the-challenge-of-enterprise-complexity-and-how-to-manage-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/the-challenge-of-enterprise-complexity-and-how-to-manage-it\/","title":{"rendered":"The Challenge of Enterprise Complexity and How to Manage It"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Increasingly, complexity is the name of the game in project management. For enterprise-level service organizations, challenges come from both inside and outside the business. Particular projects carry inherent complexity, while the evolving nature of project management continually expands the methodologies, techniques and tools at managers’ disposal.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

So how can project managers keep projects on track while keeping stakeholders informed and continuing to serve customers? Let’s take a look at some common sources of enterprise complexity and discuss some solutions for managing it.<\/p>\n

The (Expected) Unexpected<\/b><\/p>\n

The biggest hurdle in projects today is a lack of visibility and predictability. Without a clear understanding of the potential risks and setbacks that lie ahead, it’s difficult to make informed decisions about how to act to keep the project on track.<\/p>\n

It’s important for PMs to recognize that some unpredictability is unavoidable. While risk management<\/a> and resource management<\/a> are designed to mitigate problems as best as possible – and you should use best practices in both areas – these approaches do not predict the future.<\/p>\n

The best way to deal with uncertainty is to embrace it from the beginning. When setting expectations with stakeholders, be as clear as you can about areas where the unexpected might arise. Recognize and communicate about the team or project’s limitations, and embed flexibility into your processes.<\/p>\n

Methodology Matters<\/b><\/p>\n

Project management is a growing field with a number of methodologies that continue to be refined. Some common methodologies<\/a> include:<\/p>\n