Complexity in Construction Projects: A Literature Review
Abstract
:1. Introduction
- Question 1: What can be the proposed definition of complexity in construction projects?
- Question 2: What criteria impact the complexity level of construction projects?
2. Research Methodology
3. Results and Analysis
3.1. Complexity in the English Language
3.2. Proposed Definitions for Complexity
3.2.1. Definitions of “Complexity” in General
Definition | Keywords | References |
---|---|---|
The variety of tasks, the degree of interdependencies within these tasks, and “the instability of the assumptions upon which the tasks are based” |
| [51] |
A property of a language expression that makes it difficult to formulate its overall behavior even when we have almost complete figures about its atomic components and their interrelations |
| [25,26] |
Consisting of many varied interrelated parts and operationalized in terms of differentiation and interdependency |
| [39,56] |
The continually shifting battle zone between inactivity and disorder |
| [52] |
Interdependencies among the product and process technologies and novelty and difficulty of goals |
| [24] |
The edge of chaos |
| [53] |
How patterns emerge through the interaction of many agents. There are cause-and-effect relationships between the agents, but the number of agents and relationships defy categorization or analytic techniques. Emergent patterns can be perceived but not predicted |
| [36] |
The degree of manifoldness, interrelatedness, and consequential impact of a decision field |
| [55] |
A concurrence of ordered and chaotic behavior is designated as the edge of chaos |
| [37,54] |
The opposite of independent |
| [20] |
The level of difficulty associated with understanding a phenomenon in a given context, mainly because of the complex interaction among its constituents |
| [27] |
3.2.2. Definitions for Organization/System Complexity
3.2.3. Propositions to Project Complexity
3.3. Criteria for Complexity in Construction Projects
- Number of stakeholders
- Scope and project objectives
- Management Structure
- Familiarity with the technology
- Communication channels’ effectiveness
- Laws and regulations
- Availability of resources
- Budget and financial resources
- Project duration
- Project Location
- External-environment-related factors
- Change Orders
- Contractual Framework
- Project Planning
- Project phase overlapping
- Turnover and shortage of skilled labor
- Effectiveness of risk management
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Definition | Keywords | References |
---|---|---|
Systems that are self-organizing into stages of greater complexity |
| [57] |
Containing differentiated parts so that the greater the differentiation, the more complex the organization. This differentiation has two dimensions: the depth of the hierarchical organizational structure and the number of units and the task structure |
| [39] |
A combination of numerous interacting parts, each of which behaves in its local framework according to some rules, laws, and forces |
| [23] |
Comprises a large number of items that display a high level of interactivity |
| [22] |
Is more than the sum of its parts, and the whole often exhibits emergent behavior that cannot be predicted by studying the parts |
| [53] |
Is composed of a large number of independent entities, each capable of functioning by unique principles of interaction and relationships |
| [58] |
The multitude of incompatible components that place considerable cognitive demands on the task-doer for execution |
| [21] |
A system in which many different components interact in multiple ways. It is said to use interwoven components that introduce mutual dependencies and produce more than the sum of their parts. It is the quality of being intricate and compounded |
| [20] |
Is consistently characterized by recurring synonymic terms. These terms include (1) numerous, multitude, or large numbers of items, parts, or components; and (2) interaction, interactivity, and interrelation among the aforementioned constituents. The existence of such characteristics in a system that is situated at the midpoint between order and chaos |
| [38] |
Many interconnected parts with emergent properties and may, under certain conditions, behave chaotically |
| [59] |
Definition | Keywords | References |
---|---|---|
A project with many interrelated systems that need to be connected. It requires multiple trades to work together on a restricted site with limited access. A project with many complications that make it hard to determine how and when to achieve the desired goals |
| [67] |
A combination of various interrelated items that can be operated in terms of differentiation and interdependency |
| [39] |
Having a large number of interacting parts, whereas complexity science is the study of these interactions |
| [34] |
Is closely related to interactions among elements and subtasks of an organization |
| [24] |
A set of problems that consists of many parts with a multitude of possible interrelations, most of them being of high consequence in the decision-making process that brings about the final result |
| [28] |
Challenging to manage because of size, complicated interactions, or uncertainties |
| [20] |
The characteristic of a project that makes understanding and controlling its behavior difficult even while having complete project system information |
| [40,68] |
Demonstrates several characteristics to a degree or level of severity that makes it extremely difficult to predict project outcomes or control or manage the project |
| [29] |
Made up of many elements of varied nature that constitute it and many interactions and flows between these components |
| [30] |
Complex systems formed from many components with emergent behavior that contain interrelationships and feedback between increasing numbers of areas of uncertainty and ambiguity |
| [62] |
The interrelatedness, differentiation degree, and consequential impact of project elements on the decisions of the project |
| [63] |
Results from the interaction of different parts with structural, dynamic, and uncertain properties |
| [69] |
Differentiation, interdependencies, and connectivity are managed by integration, which involves coordination, communication, and control |
| [64] |
Involves various actions and states of the world parameters as they interact |
| [42] |
Is made up of networks of autonomous, independent systems, including people, who have a life of their own as they operate |
| [65] |
Understanding complexity | “Complexity” | Interdependency | Multiple parts | Objectives/results | Difficulty | Behavior | Instability | |
Organization/system | Interdependency | Multiple parts | System property | Difficulty | Behavior | Chaos/disorder | ||
Project complexity | Interdependency | Multiple parts | system property | Objectives/results | Difficulty | Behavior | Integration | |
Criteria | Internal criteria: Number of stakeholders and size of the project Scope and project objectives Management structure Familiarity with technology Communication channels’ effectiveness Availability of resources Budget and financial resources Project duration Change orders Contractual framework Project planning Project phase overlapping Turnover and shortages of skilled labor Effectiveness of risk management | External criteria: Laws and regulations Project location External-environment-related factors |
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Lafhaj, Z.; Rebai, S.; AlBalkhy, W.; Hamdi, O.; Mossman, A.; Alves Da Costa, A. Complexity in Construction Projects: A Literature Review. Buildings 2024, 14, 680. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14030680
Lafhaj Z, Rebai S, AlBalkhy W, Hamdi O, Mossman A, Alves Da Costa A. Complexity in Construction Projects: A Literature Review. Buildings. 2024; 14(3):680. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14030680
Chicago/Turabian StyleLafhaj, Zoubeir, Slim Rebai, Wassim AlBalkhy, Olfa Hamdi, Alan Mossman, and Angela Alves Da Costa. 2024. "Complexity in Construction Projects: A Literature Review" Buildings 14, no. 3: 680. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14030680