ABSTRACT
The pressures that drive IT project complexity are numerous. IT application project complexity is generated from a variety of sources. It can be taken as an IT project precept that virtually every project will increase in complexity once it has been approved. Two basic issues tend to drive the increase in complexity. First, IT projects are generally approved for development before all the ramifications of what is to be delivered from the project are clearly understood. For whatever reason, there is always an urgency to set a completion date for the project, regardless of how limited the information concerning the scope of the project. Second, once approved, IT projects are too often seen as opportunities to load on any number of ancillary items which, while they may be of benefit, do not justify extending project development time and associated risk. This second item can be considered as a cost/benefit issue — namely, that the benefits to be gained from adding on items are usually not justified by the additional risk those items pose to the project.
