Layers and Components of Complex Projects

When talking about complex projects it is critical to understand their scope in the world of the early 21st century.They are much more than a standalone grouping of activities that are connected to each other. In reality, at least five different layers of projects can be identified.

The Layers

• The Project. This is what most people understand a “project” to be. It consists of a group of tasks performed by resources, linked in hierarchical or linear relationships.
• The Portfolio. This is a grouping of projects. Individual projects cannot be understood or managed as standalone entities since they are a part of an ecosystem of projects.
• Sub-Project. Particularly modern and large projects often are broken out into smaller parts that can by and large act independently. As their own entities, but part of the overall project, they introduce the concepts of decentralized management, self-organization, and self-adjustment. Particularly in the defense industry certain relationships between projects and sub-projects is known as “system of systems.
• Enterprise. Traditional project management focuses on projects as standalone entities. They never are. Projects interact with financial systems and departments, procurement and materials requirement planning, human resources, and many more corporate functions. 
• Supply Chain. Almost without exception, projects cross legal corporate boundaries. They involve contractors, suppliers of materials, business partners, and customers.