Managing Complex Technical Projects

Managing complex technical projects is a massive effort well beyond the scope of a simple project plan. Complex systems are comprised of hundreds or thousands of interconnected components, each potentially developed by a different group of people distributed over multiple organizations. Cost and schedule overruns are common. How can technical program leaders better manage such a complex process?

This project management training program enables participants to reduce the complexity involved in large projects by restructuring development and management procedures in ways that produces small-team results. MIT’s innovative solution, based on the design structure matrix (DSM), is devised to streamline complex projects by developing detailed models to understand the intricate interactions and iterative nature of design. The course also discusses modern agile development methods and their application in complex technical projects.

Through lectures, exercises, interactive discussions, and teamwork, you will learn two sets of techniques which technical managers can use to better handle the complexity of large product and service development efforts. Two days of the course focus on the design structure matrix (DSM) method, while the third day teaches modern agile development methods.

DSM techniques have been used by MIT researchers to study complex system development and to help technical managers improve project performance. After field-testing DSM in dozens of organizations and industries around the world, the method is now being applied in a wide range of technical industries – automotive, software, aerospace, telecommunications, medical devices, energy systems, electronics, capital equipment, large-scale construction, and more.

Agile development techniques have been evolving in the software industry for many years. Today we are finding ways to apply agile methods in many other types of technical projects. However, some of the techniques that work for software projects are difficult to apply in other realms. The key to application of agile methods is to understand which of the many tools to use in any particular project.

Learn more about the live online experience. 

Upon successful completion of your course, you will earn a certificate of completion from the MIT Sloan School of Management. This course may also count toward MIT Sloan Executive Certificate requirements.

Through lectures, exercises, interactive discussions, and teamwork, participants in the program Managing Complex Technical Projects learn how to:

• Map existing product development processes using DSM
• Identify ways to facilitate planned iterations and reduce unplanned iterations
• Manage technical complexity
• Model system decomposition and architecture using DSM
• Find patterns of modularity and integration in systems
• Restructure development organizations based on system architecture
• Understand team-based agile development and scrum methods
• Select the most appropriate agile tools for specific projects
• Scale planning and coordination in larger agile applications

Managing Complex Technical Projects is designed for senior managers involved in complex product development, highly-interdependent system and service development and delivery, and project management as well as those responsible for speeding up the process of improving design procedures and designing and developing better products and services.

The primary focus is on technical, engineering-driven products, services, and processes, although discussion around others is welcomed as applicable.

Participants include:

• Vice presidents of engineering, manufacturing, and technology
• Directors of project, program or service management
• Product, service and business development
• Engineering and R&D program managers
• Chief project engineers
• Product design and process development engineers
• Technology strategists
• Project leaders