A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT COMPLEXITY: SOURCES AND INTERVENTION

Abstract

The management of projects is primeval, renowned ancient architecture such as the pyramids and cathedrals would not exist if not for project management. During the development of such projects, complexity is always present, and it has systematically increased with globalization and the ubiquitous use of technology. Singapore is not excluded from the equation. As Singapore is a small red dot, it is important that it has an open economy, however such a characteristic would in turn cause projects to be more complex. The widespread occurrence of project complexity has led to the concept gaining traction. Despite many researchers releasing papers regarding project complexity, only a few papers have had a systematic review to examine current literature. This paper will add on to the limited number of systematic reviews, which will enable people to gain a more current insight about the topic.

To systematically review the topic of project complexity from 2002 to 2020, a conceptual framework in relation to the process of a systematic review has been followed. Literature have been extensively researched on in eight databases. Subsequently, selection criteria are applied, and 50 studies are included for further appraisal, data extraction and synthesized. These included studies are analysed according to their geographical distribution, keywords, year, and categories. The research is focused on managing project complexity. Moreover, key findings from the research are summarised. Together with the rest of the research papers on project complexity, this paper hopes that project managers would be more equipped to manage project complexity.