Project Management Assignment: Discussion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam's Complexity

Question

Task: You will be investigating the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD Project for your Group Discussion.

1. Evaluate the general aspects of complexity at the GERD Dam project.
Based on your review to the GERD Dam project, Introduce the causes of the complexity aspects in the case of the GERD dam, do you agree it is a complex project why do you think so
2. Define the Five main complexity factors in the DF tasks' sheet. Explain the proper meaning of each and elaborate on the case study – Chapter 1
In Chapter 1 Terry Cooke-Davies 2011 was talking about the five factors of complexity. Analyse these factors in the case of the GERD dam. (Refer to slide 21 in Week 1 and Ch. 1 in the textbook)

3. Analyse the GERD project by reflecting on the ICCPM roundtable outcomes (Fours outcomes to be discussed) – Chapter 2
In Chapter 2 we explained the ICCPM outcomes and the factors that contribute to the complexity in various project. Discuss five of these factors and map them to the GERD case. List specific relevant events from the GERD dam case that support your discussion Refer to Ch2 slides
4. Correct identification and analysis of critical stakeholders. How they disagree/agree and who are they
5. What are the main external varieties (as per Ashby Law) that have affected and contributed to the complexity aspects in the GERD Dam? Give specific examples!

6. Considering the complexity types, re produce the graph in Slide 22 (Week 3) and explain which complexity is the dominating one in the GERD dam.Justify your answers through examples from the case.

Answer

Executive Summary
Project management is a technique of managing the Project by using the standard practices and a well managerial approach to achieve the project goals. Still, complicated Project requires a high level of approach and project management skills to achieve the optimal results in them. The complexity of the Project refers to the level of uncertainty or ambiguity in the concerned Project due to either involved stakeholders, numerous unidentified sections,project timeline, the requirement of resources, etc. This report will present the discussion on the complexity of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)and various methods to tackle this problem. The development of the GERD project is creating several political issues in the sovereign, and this is creating complexity through significant stakeholders along with the engineering complexity requirements.This report aims to highlight these complex issues and methods to resolve these issues.This report will address the issues required for the complete ion of the Project. This complex Project requires providing strong engineering skills, sufficient funding, political agreement, and thorough consideration in using the potential resources in designing this Project.

Analysis of GERD by reflecting the ICCMP roundtable outcomes
GERD project is one of the most complex and highly efficient projects developed in the African subcontinents over the River Nile, which has been the lifeline for more than 300 Africans traditionally. GERD project aims to develop a more advanced and highly efficient dam over the river Nile so that several problems of transportation, electricity generation and other resource management through River Nile can be done efficiently but since this Project required to construct the dam between the boundaries of Ethiopia and Sudan created several political problems due to a freshwater supply through river Nile in these countries and religious sentiments associated with river Nile in both countries (Zaerpoor, 2015).

According to various published reports, the majorcomplexityfactors in the GERD project is due to following reasons-
• The dam is supposed to be constructed on the river Nile which is a traditional supplier of freshwater to Ethiopia and Sudan; according to reports, both the countries do not share good political relations and have a huge conflict on the issue of water source through River Nile.
• Another major problem is the arrangement of resources and financial aid through these countries in the construction of the dam.
• The third reason is several issues rose by natural conservation forums that this dam will have a severe effect on the natural surroundings of the river Nile.
• River Nile is a large river and has various geographical aspects associated with it that require an advance level of planning and technological aid to construct a dam over it.
• Another issue is the religious belief of Sudan, Ethiopia, and Egypt associated with the river Nile which is putting an effect on the governance of these countries (Ramalingam, Jones, Reba &Young, 2008).

According to the ICCMP roundtable outcomes, the suggestions to resolvethese complexity factor for the management study is as follows-
Complexity of Ambiguity- The GERD project requires handling the ambiguity in the overall Project; it requires a high level of management skills to understand the main requirements of the Project so that conflict canalso be resolved.
Complexity of Governance Issue- To resolve the governance issue of both countries, it is required to have a high level of communication skills in the project management team to address these issues.
Complexity of unknown features- The GERD project has many unknown features associated with it for resolving this proper management methodology are required to apply for it.
Complexity of Dynamic change- To resolve the issue of dynamic change in the governance of the Project, it is required to have robust features of coordination, control, and monitoring of the Project.
Complexity of Technological aspect- To handle the technological complexity of the Project, it is required to adopt a high level of technical skills and techniques (Zeb, 2019).

Identification of the critical stakeholders in the Project
stakeholder Role in Project influence

6. Evaluation of complexity through RADAR Diagram

As discussed in the previous section too, the complexity level of GERD project is very high from dealing with various geographical complexities in construction of Project, conflict among neighboring countries, religious sentiments associated with river Nile, Natural conservation forums, financial aid issue to the arrangement of resources and technology required for constructing this Project. It requires a high level of management techniques and evaluation methods to work on this Project (Ostrom, 2005).

The complexity factors and their scores and ranking related to GERD project is as follows-

Radar Diagram

Conclusion
GERD project is a highly complex project, and not only efficient construction techniques, but also a high level of project management skills is highly required in it. It is highly necessary to have excellent communication skills for resolving the various issues related to the political aspects of both countries. Adopting the right technology and awareness spread of benefits through the concerned Project is highly required. Along with this effective natural conservation, policies should be followed so that sentiments of both the countries are not affected.

References
Zeb, I. (2019). Role of Leadership in Organizational Development: A Study of Bank Alfalah Limited, Pakistan. Journal of Business Strategies, 13(1), 71-88. Retrieved from http://greenwichjournals.com/index.php/businessstudies/article/view/75
David, F., David, F., & David, M. (2020). Strategic Management: A Competitive Advantage Approach, Concepts [RENTAL EDITION], 17th Edition Strategic Management: A Competitive Advantage Approach (17th ed.). Pearson.
Ostrom, E. (2005). Understanding Institutional Diversity. Princeton University Press.
Ramalingam, B., Jones, D.,Reba, T.,&Young, J. (2008).Exploring the Science of Complexity Ideas and Implications for Development and Humanitarian Efforts. London: Overseas Development Institute.Retrieved from- http://www.odi.org/publications/583-science-complexity.
Zaerpoor, Y. (2015), When Efficiency and Feasibility Are Not Enough: A Scalar Comparison of Transboundary Water Management Approaches in the Nile Basin. Unpublished paper. MIT.
Rania .A, (2015), Grand Ethiopian Resonance , Worcester Polytechnic Institute, pp 1-64