Setting the standard for project management
Major projects are becoming increasingly complex, so it’s critical that the leaders at the helm of these developments understand every aspect of complex project management.
In an era marked by constant change, heightened interconnectedness, and intricate interdependencies, the successful execution of complex projects has become imperative for organisations across industries. To achieve favourable outcomes, a new breed of project leaders must emerge, equipped with the competence to navigate the complexities inherent in our modern project delivery environment.
Traditional project management approaches, while effective in many contexts, fall short when faced with the multifaceted challenges of today’s projects. The intricacy and scale of these endeavours necessitate a different approach, one that transcends mere task management and delves into the realms of systemic thinking, strategy, innovation, collaboration, and adaptability. Complex project leadership, therefore, emerges as a distinct leadership competency, essential for guiding organisations through the ever-evolving landscape of modern project delivery.
Motivation
As the peak body for complex project management, the International Centre for Complex Project Management (ICCPM) is committed to improving complex project delivery outcomes. This includes supporting the development of a highly skilled workforce.
As organisations faced increasingly complex and interconnected challenges, it became evident that a new approach to project leadership was required – one that could navigate the uncertainties, ambiguities, and intricacies inherent in modern project delivery environments. This was the motivation behind the release of the Complex Project Leadership (CPL) competency standards which ICCPM maintains on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Complex Project Leadership competency standards
The ICCPM CPL standards represent the collective wisdom and insights of an international group of experienced professionals, scholars and practitioners who have dedicated themselves to understanding and refining the art and science of leading complex projects.
Developed through extensive consultation and analysis, these competency standards provide a comprehensive framework that project professionals around the world can utilise to enhance their project leadership capabilities and drive exceptional results in complex project delivery.
The competencies outlined in the CPL standards encompass a broad spectrum of skills, attributes and behaviours that underpin effective complex project leadership. These competencies range from systemic thinking and action, focusing strategically on delivering project outcomes to engaging collaboratively with stakeholders, exercising contextual leadership and applying system governance and delivery assurance.
Project leaders who embody these competencies are able to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity, inspire teams, manage change, and leverage emerging technologies to create innovative solutions amidst complex project landscapes.
Why are competency standards necessary?
In today’s rapidly evolving and interconnected world, organisations face an unprecedented array of complex challenges and opportunities. The effective delivery of complex projects, which encompass a diverse range of industries and sectors, demand a unique set of leadership competencies to navigate the intricate webs of interdependencies, manage ambiguity, and drive successful outcomes.
In an environment where skilled workers are in high demand across industries, it is essential to be able to evaluate the fundamental skills and attributes required to successfully deliver complex projects to facilitate the establishment of skilled project teams and the movement of staff between projects and industries.
Performance-based competency frameworks are an internationally recognised way of aligning individual and occupational goals by clearly defining the expectations for job performance and competence. They serve as a roadmap for individuals to understand what is expected of them and provide a framework for assessing their performance against established criteria.
For professionals like complex project leaders who are in demand across industries, they identify the essential transferable skills and attributes upon which industry specific knowledge and experience can be built.
Additionally, these frameworks facilitate the development of training and development programs to bridge any competency gaps and support individuals in enhancing their skills and knowledge.
Intended audience
The ICCPM CPL standards were designed for a diverse range of professionals involved in complex project delivery, including project managers, program managers, engineers, senior executives and organisational leaders. These competency standards are applicable across industries, sectors, and project types, recognising the universal need for effective project leadership in the face of complexity.
While the standards provide a comprehensive foundation for complex project leadership, it is essential to acknowledge that leadership is a dynamic and context-specific practice. These competency standards should be viewed as a framework, allowing leaders to adapt and tailor their approach to suit the unique demands of their projects and organisations.
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the transferability of complex project leadership skills and competencies across industry sectors has become increasingly relevant and valuable. While each industry possesses its unique characteristics, challenges, and requirements, the fundamental principles of Complex Project Leadership remain constant.
Transformative potential
The adoption of the CPL standards holds the potential to transform how organisations approach and execute complex projects.
Although competency standards define individual skills and attributes, the skills and attributes defined in the CPL standards are those required to think and operate systemically and form highly effective teams across the project, program, portfolio or organisation.
By embracing and cultivating the identified competencies, leaders can elevate their capacity to navigate complexities, foster innovative thinking, manage risks, and inspire high-performing teams. This, in turn, will contribute to the successful delivery of projects with far-reaching impact and value.
Readers to download a copy of the CPL standards from the ICCPM website and delve into the pages with an open mind and a willingness to challenge conventional wisdom. ICCPM encourages individuals and organisations to embrace these competency standards as a catalyst for personal and professional growth, as well as organisational excellence.
About ICCPM
The International Centre for Complex Project Management (ICCPM) is the peak body for complex project management. It was established in 2007 by the Australian Government in response to an identified need to improve the performance of complex projects.
As an independent, not-for-profit, member-based organisation, ICCPM seeks to build capability in complex project leadership across government and industry and to work with organisations to improve their delivery of complex projects and programs.
ICCPM maintains the Complex Project Leadership competency standards on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia and delivers training, communities of practice and thought leadership in line with these standards. ICCPM is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO #41394) in Australia offering a range of accredited and non-accredited training.
