Defence Project Management Seminar Series: Coping With Complexity in Programme and Project Management

09:00, 10 Sep 2008
RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET

Link to map: multimap

About the event:

This one day event covered the issue of ‘Coping with Complexity in Programme and Project Management.’

Whilst the term ‘complexity’ is open to a range of competing definitions, it is beyond doubt that defence programmes are not merely increasingly ‘complicated’ but increasingly ‘complex.’

The advances in technology and the demand for increasingly sophisticated equipment mean that acquisition programmes usually involve multiple interacting strands; altering one element will have a direct impact on the other constituent parts. Ineffective management of such fluid and intricate programmes will lead to incoherence at the integration stage and thus expanding timelines, burgeoning costs and dwindling profits. Coping with complexity involves operating at the ‘edge of chaos’ and thus requires a re-evaluation of behaviour and culture. Institutions must engender the correct cognitive approaches, skills and attitudes in their defence programme and project managers.

The one day seminar presented a range of views on complexity from representatives of the Ministry of Defence, industry and academia. Complexity in programme management has been evident in certain civil industry sectors for some time. As such, this event drew upon the experience of civil industries; providing an alternative perspective on a common challenge. This forum provided a unique opportunity for debate and discussion of this issue and a chance to explore new strategies to cope with complex programmes.

This event was the first of two BAE-sponsored seminars; the second event is scheduled for Monday 15 December and will cover the issue of the critical role of leadership in collaborative programme management.

Provisional Programme

0900–0930  Registration and coffee

0930–1100  Session 1: Analyses of the Problems of Complexity

Chair: Peter Fielder, Chairman of Corporate Project Management, BAE Systems

• Professor David Kirkpatrick, Associate Fellow, RUSI
• Professor Trevor Taylor, Head of Defence Management and Leadership Group, Cranfield University and the Defence Academy
• Dr Terry Cooke-Davies, Executive Chairman, Human Systems

1100– 1130  Morning Coffee

1130–1300  Session 2: Industry Approaches

• Professor David Stupples, Professor of Engineering Systems, City University
  'Understanding Complex Engineered Systems'
• Bob Barton, Capability Development Director, BAE Systems and Steve Kershaw, Managing Consultant, PA Consulting Group
  'Managing Complexity in Acquisition – The view from Shrivenham III'

1300–1400   Lunch

1400–1545  Session 3: UK Ministry of Defence Challenge and Approach

• Tim Banfield, Director, Defence and FCO VFM Audit, National Audit Office 
• Professor Keith Hayward, Head Researcher, Royal Aeronautical Society

1545–1600  Afternoon Tea

1600           Close

For further information please contact Richard Winstanley at richardw@rusi.org or call +44 (0)20 7747 2630.

  

Event manager: Rachel Bowden, +44(0)20 7747 2648