Role of Variability in Project Performance: A Few Theoretic Investigations

Abstract

There is sufficient empirical evidence that project performance continues to be problematic despite over six decades of research and practice attention. Theories of project management remain weak while research adheres to a dominant deterministic paradigm to search for explanations through conceptual or empirical lenses. The premise that a non-deterministic enquiry through the lens of variability would offer superior and theoretic explanations of performance motivates this study. The premise is justified through a comprehensive review of project management literature. The review uncovers trends in project management research. Analysis of non-deterministic research shows that Complexity and Uncertainty are the principal constructs of variability...