Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ebook Decision Making in Risk Management Quantifying Intangible Risk Factors in Projects Manufacturing and Production Engineering 1St Edition Cox Christopher O Online PDF All Chapter
Ebook Decision Making in Risk Management Quantifying Intangible Risk Factors in Projects Manufacturing and Production Engineering 1St Edition Cox Christopher O Online PDF All Chapter
https://ebookmeta.com/product/accounting-for-social-risk-factors-
in-medicare-payment-identifying-social-risk-factors-1st-edition-
and-medicine-engineering-national-academies-of-sciences/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/construction-risk-management-
decision-making-understanding-current-practices-1st-edition-alex-
c-arthur/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/endometrial-cancer-risk-factors-
management-and-prognosis-1st-edition-ph-d-ferrero/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/value-incommensurability-ethics-
risk-and-decision-making-1st-edition-henrik-andersson/
AI ML for Decision and Risk Analysis Challenges and
Opportunities for Normative Decision Theory
International Series in Operations Research Management
Science 345 Louis Anthony Cox Jr.
https://ebookmeta.com/product/ai-ml-for-decision-and-risk-
analysis-challenges-and-opportunities-for-normative-decision-
theory-international-series-in-operations-research-management-
science-345-louis-anthony-cox-jr/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/accounting-for-social-risk-factors-
in-medicare-payment-data-1st-edition-and-medicine-engineering-
national-academies-of-sciences/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/making-risk-management-work-
engaging-people-to-identify-own-and-manage-risk-2nd-edition-ruth-
murray-webster-penny-pullan/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/a-risky-business-an-actuary-s-
guide-to-quantifying-and-managing-risk-in-society-1st-edition-
catrin-townsend/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/understanding-risk-management-and-
hedging-in-oil-trading-a-practitioners-guide-to-managing-
risk-1st-edition-chris-heilpern/
Decision Making in
Risk Management
Manufacturing and Production Engineering Series
Series Editors: Hamid R. Parsaei, Texas A&M University at Qatar, &
Waldemar Karwowski, University of Central Florida
This series will provide an outlet for the state-of-the-art topics in manufacturing and
production engineering disciplines. This new series will also provide a scientific and
practical basis for researchers, practitioners, and students involved in areas within
manufacturing and production engineering. Issues envisioned to be addressed in this
new series would include, but not limited to, the following: Additive Manufacturing,
3D Visualization, Mass Customization, Material Processes, Cybersecurity, Data
Science, Automation and Robotics, Underwater Autonomous Vehicles, Unmanned
Autonomous Vehicles, Robotics and Automation, Six Sigma and Total Quality
Management, Manufacturing Cost Estimation and Cost Management, Industrial
Safety, Programmable Logic Controllers, to name just a few.
Christopher O. Cox
First edition published 2022
by CRC Press
6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
Except as permitted under U.S. Copyright Law, no part of this book may be reprinted, reproduced,
transmitted, or utilized in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or here-
after invented, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without written permission from the publishers.
For permission to photocopy or use material electronically from this work, access www.copyright.com
or contact the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (CCC), 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-
750-8400. For works that are not available on CCC please contact mpkbookspermissions@tandf.co.uk
Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are
used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
DOI: 10.1201/9781003168409
Typeset in Times
by KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd.
Dedication
Chapter 1 Introduction........................................................................................... 1
1.1 Introduction................................................................................ 1
1.2 Project Risk and Performance....................................................1
1.3 Intangible Risk Factors............................................................... 3
1.4 Goal and Objectives for Book....................................................4
1.5 Outline of Book..........................................................................5
vii
viii Contents
xi
Acknowledgments
I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to Dr. Hamid Parsaei for his con-
tinuous support. His wisdom and perspective were invaluable in helping me frame
this book.
xiii
Author
Christopher O. Cox, Ph.D., P.E., is a member of the Kimmel School of Construction
Management faculty at Western Carolina University. Prior to teaching he spent
38 years in the oil and gas industry where he held roles in engineering design, cor-
porate planning and strategy, production operations, and project management. While
having worked on projects in multiple countries he has lived in the Middle East,
North Africa, Australia, and the United States. He is a licensed professional engineer
and is a member of ASCE and ASEE. Mr. Cox received his Ph.D. from Texas A&M
University in College Station, Texas.
xv
1 Introduction
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Risk is a ubiquitous presence in all facets of human endeavor from investing in the
stock market to choosing a profession to the weather when planning an outdoor
event or vacation. Simply put, risk is the uncertainty surrounding any activity that
can affect its outcome in either a positive or negative way. In Greek mythology, the
beginning of the universe is said to have resulted from a game of chance played by
the brothers Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades regarding dominion. Who would rule the
heavens, the seas, and the underworld (Bernstein 1998) denotes the tangible outcome
of the event. However, the implications of behaviors, such as Poseidon’s jealousy and
plotting against the rule of Zeus, are not easily quantified. In a more mortal dimen-
sion, human agents within businesses make investment decisions under uncertainty
on a regular basis as they select specific projects to comprise a portfolio that will
enable the firm to meet its strategic goals. The business environment in which these
organizations operate and execute projects is complex (Elonen and Artto 2003) and
turbulent (William and Rūta 2017); adding to this complexity are human behav-
iors and mental frameworks that are dynamic nonlinear systems (Afraimovich et al.
2011). Therefore, the more effective an organization is at identifying and holistically
addressing uncertainty, the more likely it is to achieve its objectives (Hillson 2014).
has utilized the term “progressive elaboration” to describe the increasing level of
detail required as a project progresses through its development stages (PMI 2017);
changes in the internal and/or external project environment during this evolution can
create unforeseen circumstances that can impact project objectives. According to
industry surveys done by management consulting firms Deloitte (Deloitte Center for
Energy Solutions 2015) and Ernst & Young (EY 2014), fewer than half of projects
in the energy sector meet their objectives, and more than two-thirds of executives
are not confident that their organizations are experiencing optimal financial returns.
An effective risk management system identifies and addresses uncertainties with the
potential to impact project objectives (Hillson et al. 2006). This mediocre level of
project performance in the energy sector creates the impetus for further investigation
into current risk management methodology.
Project performance is measured in terms of meeting objectives and is influenced
by both hard (i.e., tangible) and soft (i.e., intangible) factors. Rolstadås et al. proposed
a five-aspect qualitative framework for assessing project performance that highlights
the importance of risk management using both hard (structure and technology) and
soft (culture, interactions, social relations, and networks) aspects (Rolstadås et al.
2014). PMI has defined risk as “an uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, has a
positive or negative effect on a project’s objectives” (PMI 2017). Although risk can be
either a threat or an opportunity, it generally carries a negative connotation (Chapman
and Ward 2003). Current project risk measures tend to focus on the tangible factors
that have a direct impact on project success in terms of cost, schedule, scope, and
quality (PMI 2017). However, organizations and their project teams can also face
challenges from other sources, such as stakeholder politics, misalignment of organi-
zational cultures, and conflicting human behavioral responses (Rasmussen 1997) cre-
ating resistance to initiatives that threaten vested interests or accepted norms (Ancona
et al. 1999). The ability to assign a risk exposure from intergroup politics, cultural
differences, or the interpersonal conflicts stemming from them is much more difficult
to quantify and “require[s] a greater degree of subjectivity and intuition” (Basu 2017).
Projects by their nature are dynamic, complex, sociotechnical systems (i.e., inter-
actions between humans and technology) consisting of many highly interconnected
components (Baccarini 1996; Carley et al. 2007). A complex system is defined by
the Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) as: “A system is complex if it is not possible to
establish an accurate prediction model of the system based on knowing the specific
functions and states of its individual components” (Aven et al. 2018). Project com-
plexity increases significantly as the number of elements, interactions, and interde-
pendencies expands (Elonen and Artto 2003). Accurately addressing issues that arise
can be arduous because of the cause and its resulting effect not occurring in time and
space proximity (Repenning and Sterman 2001). Compounding this are the nonlin-
earities inherent in human behavior, where a wrong attribution of cause can give rise
to what can be described as “wicked messes” (Roth and Senge 1996). These “wicked
messes” arise from human judgment being subject to systematic errors, where the
need to carefully analyze information is traded against the pressure to make a timely
decision (Skitmore et al. 1989). Flyvbjerg et al. found that many project failures are
caused in part by human behavior (Flyvbjerg et al. 2009). Behaviors are difficult to
measure, creating problems for project teams and other stakeholders (Dargin 2013).
Introduction 3
2.1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter is intended to create a bridge from the current view of project risk
focused on the tangible aspects of risk to the less tangible behavioral dimension
of project risk and uncertainty. The first section provides a common perspective
and definitions for projects and project portfolios. The second section identifies the
common project management frameworks and why the one used in this book was
selected. The third section discusses current risk practice evolution and applications.
The final section discusses intangible risks and their behavioral dimension.
DOI: 10.1201/9781003168409-2 7
8 Decision Making in Risk Management
Often, companies manage multiple projects of various sizes and complexities at one
time. Synergistic benefits can exist if they are combined and managed as a portfolio
(Jonas 2010), and the expected value to the firm can be maximized while maintain-
ing an appropriate level of risk (Markowitz 1959). Other benefits of portfolio man-
agement are as follows (Teller and Kock 2013; William and Rūta 2017):
• Aligns the project portfolio with the strategic goals and objectives of the
firm
• Forms a basis for holistic decision-making regarding trade-offs
• Effectively identifies, assesses, and mitigates risk
• Monitors and reports progress in terms of goals and objectives
• Realizes the business objectives
Again, the APM and PMI definitions for portfolio and portfolio management differ
but highlight the important aspects of using this approach:
In the US energy sector, many firms utilize the stage-gate process as their project
management framework. The stage-gate process is a decision-driven methodology
for managing a project throughout its life cycle. Each stage represents a series of
activities to increase the level project definition, ending with a gate where the work
completed during the stage is reviewed against predetermined criteria. The gates
are formal decision points to allow management to review the project and decide if
it should proceed to the next development phase, re-cycle the work, or be cancelled.
There is no set rule as to the number of stages; however, a standard process usually
has no more than six (Kerzner 2009). The steps for a typical four-stage process are
as follows:
Each project stage requires the completion of various deliverables that collectively
reflect project maturity from initiation to completion. One of these deliverables is
10 Decision Making in Risk Management
the project risk register, which is expected to identify the risks that were mitigated
during the current stage, as well as those that will be carried into the next stage.
At each gate, the relevant authority decides if the project has completed all of the
deliverables required to proceed to the next stage, if the project is still aligned with
business objectives, and if risks to delivery are being properly managed. If so, then
approval to proceed to the next phase if given; if not, the project is either re-cycled
for further definition or terminated.
However, many times in the early phases of project development, critical issues
are not properly addressed, such as clarity regarding roles and responsibilities, align-
ment of goals and objectives, and clearly defined requirements. Addressing these
issues can create conflict, so they are ignored to avoid any interference with meeting
gate approval timing, with the assumption that gaps will be addressed in the next
stage. Unfortunately, “kicking the can down the road” tends to make things worse as
the project proceeds through the development process.
In most instances, the focus of risk management is on the physical nature of the
project and on the traditional quantitative “lagging” indicators associated with the
“iron triangle” (cost, schedule, and scope). PMI has identified the components of risk
in terms of value, funding, market, data accuracy, time, cost, and scope (PMI 2017).
However, Clark-Ginsburg et al. asserted that the current linear approach to quantify
the value implication of a risk (impact × probability) does not adequately consider
the nonlinear risk attributes of the overall system (Clark-Ginsberg et al. 2018).
Risk has been a research topic since the end of World War II, with the first
academic books published in the 1960s (Dionne 2013). In response to the need
for ensuring that projects met their schedule requirements, two methods emerged
somewhat simultaneously in the late 1950s: program evaluation and review tech-
nique (PERT) and critical path method (CPM). PERT and CPM have similar for-
mats: PERT charts were created for the US Navy Polaris missile, while the CPM
was developed by DuPont to analyze the implications of trading cost for accelerat-
ing a schedule (Archibald 2017; Engwall 2012). Both are based on decomposition
Setting the Context 11
of the project into activities and utilize a linear flow-and-sequence format. PERT
and CPM provide a basis for identifying the activities vital to meeting objectives,
providing a basis for identification and management of risk.
Risk, in general terms, can be viewed as the implications of an activity, along with
its associated uncertainties on an outcome. PMI has defined risk as “an uncertain
event or condition that, if it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on a project’s
objectives” (PMI 2017). PMI has separated project risk into two categories: indi-
vidual project risk and overall project risk. Individual risks tend to be those managed
on a day-to-day basis and may not have a direct impact on the project cost, schedule,
scope, and/or quality. Some examples of individual risks would be a delay in mate-
rial arrival to a job site, weld rejection rate, productivity of labor, etc. Overall project
risk is the aggregate effect of uncertainty on the project as a whole and deals with the
broader project environment, such as labor action, social unrest, commodity price
fluctuation, etc. (PMI 2017). Consequently, risk should be regarded as a persistent
presence for the duration of any activity. The SRA has defined risk management as
“activities to handle risk such as prevention, mitigation, adaptation or sharing” that
“often [include] trade-offs between costs and benefits of risk reduction and choice of
a level of tolerable risk” (Aven et al. 2018). To accomplish this, a cyclic process with
the following steps is used:
1. Identify risks
2. Assess and prioritize risks
3. Group risks by risk breakdown structure (RBS) category
4. Identify leading and lagging indicators and risk responses
5. Monitor, close out, and adjust as required
Project risk has been studied through many lenses, such as Bayesian methods (Govan
2014), systems dynamics (Rodrigues 2001), neural networks (Skorupka 2004), fuzzy
logic, and the analytical hierarchy process (Zhang and Zou 2007). However, these
approaches have assumptions that are limiting. For instance, the analytical hierar-
chy process assumes that the risks act in isolation, and Bayesian methods do not
consider closed-loop systems (Wang et al. 2018). Although project risk management
has been recognized as an integral part of project management for decades and has
experienced many analytical advances, many projects still do not meet their objec-
tives. This performance gap has been attributed to an overemphasis on techniques
rather than effective identification and assessment of risks (Chapman 2001), as well
as utilizing approaches that are steeped in linear sequential thinking (Schroeder and
Jackson 2007).
The objective of managing projects as a portfolio is to maximize the expected
value to the firm while maintaining an appropriate level of risk (Markowitz 1959)
and achievement of the organization’s strategic goals (Sanchez et al. 2009). Although
the literature regarding financial portfolio risk is extensive, research in the context
of project portfolio risk is limited (Teller et al. 2014). While the basic definition of
risk is the same for projects and portfolios, the overall portfolio risk exposure is
greater than the sum of the affiliated projects’ risks (i.e., component risks). These
additional sources of risk come from the mix of projects comprising the portfolio
12 Decision Making in Risk Management
and the potential interactions among them (i.e., structural risks), as well as the emer-
gence of one or more overarching risks precipitated by the interaction among the
component risks (i.e., overall risks). Consequently, the approach to risk management
in a portfolio requires a broader systemic approach to risk identification, assessment,
and management when compared to individual project requirements (Olsson 2008;
Teller and Kock 2013).
Projects are developed and delivered by people, and it is fair to say that
people are significant contributors of complexity. We depend on the individual to
consistently and continually communicate effectively, cooperate, work altruistically,
etc. Scott Adams, the creator of the cartoon Dilbert, once said, “Nothing defines
humans better than their willingness to do irrational things” (BrainyQuote n.d.).
Consequently, intangible factors by their nature influence projects in ways that are
difficult to quantify.
attendant. The actions of project teams blocking each other and displaying oppor-
tunistic behavior with regard to resources is mentioned, but empirical evidence is
lacking (Jonas et al. 2013). Others have identified the clarity of roles, stakeholder
misalignment, coordination between projects, conflicting project objectives, lack of
cross-functional teamwork, and interpersonal conflicts as having effects at the port-
folio level (Beringer et al. 2013; De Reyck et al. 2005; Hofman et al. 2017). Although
behavioral conditions have been identified generally (interpersonal conflict) and
causal events specifically (conflicting project objectives), there is no information
regarding how they might emerge and interact, how to proactively address, or how
to analyze them.
heart, personality, team chemistry, etc. remains elusive. Aaron Shatz, founder of
Football Outsiders, summed this up quite well: “The intangibles are important, and
we just don’t have numbers for that” (Sauser 2009). Consequently, there is no gener-
alized formula or spreadsheet to quantify the implication of how individuals within
teams react to change, their ability to effectively adapt their behaviors or actions, or
how under- or overconfident they are (Dargin 2013).
The importance of teamwork can be seen across society, from athletics to aca-
demics to government to business. There is a seemingly endless supply of literature
regarding teamwork; the PMI library alone has more than 1,000 publications on the
topic. While the requirements and definitions regarding teamwork differ, there is
agreement that teamwork is the ultimate source of competitive advantage (Lencioni
2007; Salas et al. 2015). While a detailed assessment of teamwork is outside the scope
of this book, a general review of the literature is presented. In this context, teamwork
is defined as “a distinguishable set of two or more people who interact dynamically,
interdependently, and adaptively toward a common and valued goal/objective/mis-
sion” (Salas et al. 2015). In their review of the literature, Rousseau et al. identified
29 different frameworks identifying the dimensions of team behaviors (Rousseau et
al. 2006). Salas et al. proposed a framework composed of “core processes (composi-
tion, culture, and context) and emergent states (cooperation, conflict, coordination,
communication, coaching, and cognition).” They provided definitions and expected
results from the existence of these processes and states, but provided no means to
objectively determine their presence in a team (Salas et al. 2015). Lencioni explored
the effectiveness of teams from the perspective of the presence or absence of dys-
functional behavior in the following five dimensions: “trust, conflict, commitment,
accountability, and results” (Lencioni 2007). Unlike other frameworks, Lencioni’s
work provided a rubric to assess team behaviors.
Human emotions and cognition are themselves dynamic nonlinear systems
(Afraimovich et al. 2011). Because projects are developed and delivered by teams
of people, it stands to reason that risks have emotional and cognitive dimensions.
This accentuates the importance of understanding behavior-centric intangible fac-
tors, which by their nature influence the work environment in ways that are diffi-
cult to quantify. Behavior-centric intangible risks can manifest themselves in human
interactions and can impact an individual’s ability to adapt, utilize experience, com-
municate, cooperate, adapt to culture, work effectively as a team, and engage in inter-
personal relationships, leadership, innovation, and conflict resolution (Bankolli and
Jain 2014; Nogeste and Derek 2008; Thamhaim and Wilemon 1975). However, many
important project causal factors can be associated with internal procedures (Barber
2005) and the project management process itself (Ward and Chapman 1995). These
nonlinear manifestations can cause fundamental changes in the network dynamics,
such as spreading or cascading of a particular risk or risks, leading to unexpected
outcomes (Yuan et al. 2018). These manifestations are likely to increase as auto-
mation and artificial intelligence make social, emotional, and cognitive skills more
important. Therefore, behavior-centric intangible risks should be viewed as an open-
system phenomenon (Clark-Ginsberg et al. 2018).
Current methods for the identification and prioritization of risks are linear in
nature and cannot accommodate the dynamic aspects of human behavior and their
Setting the Context 15
causal factors (Clark-Ginsberg et al. 2018; Wang et al. 2018). Risk classification is
process-focused (Tah and Carr 2001), and the categorization of behavior-centric
intangible risks, if addressed at all, is done at a high level. Empirical studies (pri-
marily interview or survey) have focused on a specific behavior-centric intangible
risk factor such as the issues arising from resource allocation (Sanchez et al. 2009),
management interaction (Beringer et al. 2013), and managing conflict (Brockman
2014; Gardiner and Simmons 1992; Thamhaim and Wilemon 1975). Thamhaim
and Wilemon found that behavior-centric intangible risks can vary throughout the
project cycle. During the initial stages where project requirements are being devel-
oped, input from key stakeholders is crucial; during the execution stage, appropriate
resource assignment is critical for project success (Thamhaim and Wilemon 1975;
Ward and Chapman 1995). However, there is no integrated approach for the develop-
ment, classification, categorization, and prioritization of intangible risks in projects
or project portfolios.
The existing literature regarding behavior-centric intangible risk in projects is
sparse and almost nonexistent when looking at project portfolios. What does exist
in the current literature tends to focus on the implications of individual behavior-
centric intangible risk factors, many times characterized generally as conflict or
interpersonal behavior, on project and portfolio performance (Hofman et al. 2017;
Olsson 2008; Sanchez et al. 2009; Teller et al. 2014). There are many stakeholder
perceptions and responses having differing relationships with each other that can
lead to the occurrence of intangible risk (Yuan et al. 2018). Effective identification
and management of these potential intangible risks require the ability to identify
their multifaceted interaction.
2.6 SUMMARY
Project management is an enabler for the delivery of strategy in multiple sectors of
society. Working definitions for projects, portfolios of projects, and their management
have been presented by different groups and researchers. Various project manage-
ment frameworks exist in the literature and in business environments, such as the
use of the structured stage-gate assurance system. The management of risk is foun-
dational to delivering agreed project objectives and requires a much more holistic
approach in the case of portfolios of projects. However, current risk management
practices tend to focus on the tangible risks associated with cost, schedule, scope,
and quality. Projects are developed and delivered in the context of company culture
by teams of stakeholders where barriers, biases, and internal controls can adversely
impact trust; if this occurs, then it is possible for dysfunctional behaviors to arise.
The ability to identify, quantify, and manage these less tangible factors is highly
important to project success, but is absent in the current frameworks. The concept
of behavior-centric intangible risk is of particular importance. This work seeks to
provide project professionals and company management with a holistic approach to
assessing intangible risks, as well as a user-friendly and comprehensive framework
to specifically address the evolution of intangible risks throughout the project
development process.
3 Systems, Networks, and
Metanetwork Analysis
3.1 INTRODUCTION
Leonardo Di Vinci said that we must “realize that everything connects to everything
else.” (Quotefancy n.d.). This statement provides an underpinning philosophy for
systems theory and network analysis; a holistic perspective is needed. This chapter
is intended to provide the reader with an overview of the development of general
systems theory (GST), system-of-systems engineering, and Social Network Analysis
(SNA), concluding with an introduction to Meta-network Analysis (MNA). The
MNA framework for the assessment of behavior-centric intangible risks is presented
in subsequent chapters. The terms “system of systems” and “network of networks”
will be used interchangeably throughout the text.
unforeseeable and unattributable (Zhu and Mostafavi 2017). In this complex environ-
ment, traditional planning and assessment tools are not effective (Schloss 2014). To
illustrate this, a small ecosystem can be compared to what the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) has described as the most complicated machine
ever built—the space shuttle—which “has more than 2.5 million parts, including
almost 370 kilometers (230 miles) of wire, more than 1,060 plumbing valves and con-
nections, over 1,440 circuit breakers, and more than 27,000 insulating tiles and ther-
mal blankets” (NASA 2010). While the space shuttle is truly an engineering marvel,
the whole is equal to the sum of its parts, the whole is static, and its outputs are highly
predictable. However, the ecosystem of a small pond exhibits a completely different
dynamic. A change in the food chain, the climate, or human intrusion can have adap-
tive and emergent effects that cannot be predicted, making the resulting whole can be
greater than the sum of its parts (e.g., emergence of new species). While both of these
examples are a collection of components that accomplish a particular function, the
space shuttle is considered a complicated system, while the small pond is a complex
system given its propensity for adaptation and emergent behavior.
3.2.1 System-of-Systems Engineering
The term system of systems is used in industries ranging from healthcare to aero-
space; however, a proper demarcation between a conventional monolithic system
(e.g., space shuttle) and a system of systems (e.g., a pond) is elusive (DeLaurentis
2005; Maier 1998). Monolithic systems are based on the reductionist view given
the following assumptions: (a) independent components that cannot operate on their
own, (b) no distortion in the results due to analyzing each component separately, (c)
component performance individually or collectively being the same, (d) no nonlinear
interactions or feedback loops, and behaviors being treated as distinct events over
time (Leveson 2017). A simple example of a monolithic system is a traditional watch.
A system of systems, on the other hand, is a collection of interacting systems that
can perform an independent stand-alone function, as well as interact with the others
as a single entity. In light of this, Maier proposed five characteristics to differentiate
a system of systems from a monolithic system: operational independence, manage-
rial independence, emergent behaviors, evolutionary development, and geographic
distribution (Maier 1998). Maier’s definition of these terms are shown below.
the managers of support groups to make decisions within their disciplines (Ford
and Randolph 1992; Rousseau et al. 2006). All of these components are man-
aged independently, but must deliver in concert to achieve project objectives.
• Emergent behaviors are defined as events that cannot be predicted from
existing knowledge of the system’s subsystems (DeLaurentis 2005).
Emergence is the phenomenon that makes a system of systems greater than
the sum of its constituent parts (Sage and Cuppan 2001). In projects, behav-
iors emerge because of intangible factors including culture of the organiza-
tion, beliefs of the human agents, interactions among them, and the firm’s
political landscape (Ancona et al. 1999; Rousseau et al. 2006). These causal
factors cause human agents to adapt to changes in the environment and
can precipitate behavioral responses (Cook and Rasmussen 2005). The
behavior-centric responses can impact the project outcomes.
• Evolutionary development has been defined by DeLaurentis and
Ayyalasomayajula as the “system of systems [being] never completely,
finally formed; it constantly changes and has a ‘porous’ problem boundary”
(DeLaurentis and Ayyalasomayajula 2009). Sage and Cuppan pointed
out that the “development of these systems is evolutionary over time
and with structure, function and purpose added, removed, and modified
as experience with the system grows and evolves over time” (Sage and
Cuppan 2001). PMI has described the evolution of a project as progres-
sive elaboration, which involves continuously improving and detailing a
plan as more specific information and accurate estimates become available.
Progressive elaboration allows a project management team to define work
and manage it to a greater level of detail as the project evolves (PMI 2017).
The project stage gate process detailed earlier is a visual representation of
this evolution.
• Geographic distribution has been defined by DeLaurentis and
Ayyalasomayajula as “constituent systems [that] are not physically co-
located, but [that] can communicate” (DeLaurentis and Ayyalasomayajula
2009). In large energy projects, it is not uncommon for the engineering to
take place in one location, the fabrication of the facilities to be in at least
one other location, and the installation in another. While communication
efficiency can vary, there are a number of technologies available for project
teams and contractors to effectively interact.
A system of systems will exhibit all of the aforementioned characteristics and levels
of management control to some extent. Based on previous work (Maier 1998; Schloss
2014), a project can be classified as a complex system of systems. However, projects
have a social network dimension in that they are defined, developed, and delivered
by a potentially diverse group of human agents. The focus of systems science is on
the technical dimension of projects, but the interaction of human agents must be
accounted for; this is the focus of network science.
3.3.1 Sociotechnical Networks
Major accident assessment is another area of study in which the complexity of socio-
technical systems exists. O’Hare proposed the “wheel of misfortune” to concep-
tualize the interactions among aircraft technology, human agents, tasks, policies,
local actions, procedures, and philosophies specific to aviation accident investiga-
tion (O’Hare 2000). In the arena of industrial-plant operational safety, Rasmussen
conceptualized the interaction between human agents and plant technology as a
dynamic model of safety and system performance. His framework (discussed in fur-
ther detail in Chapter 4) presents three constraints (economic, workload, and per-
formance), with operating points being influenced by the subjective preferences of
the human agents. Rasmussen referred to human actions as exhibiting Brownian
movements within a space of possibilities. As human agents make choices given the
influence of the aforementioned constraints, it is possible to become complacent with
regard to safety factor margins, eventually breeching the boundary of safe opera-
tions (Rasmussen referred to this as the boundary of functionally acceptable perfor-
mance) and causing a major accident to occur (Rasmussen 1997).
Both Rasmussen and O’Hare believed that existing tools used for risk assessment
and accident investigation are not sufficient for use in sociotechnical systems given their
complex nonlinear (or causal web) nature. While neither of their conceptual models
directly addresses human behavior, they recognized it as being “idiosyncratic and unpre-
dictable,” where a seemingly innocuous decision to deviate from a standard activity can
lead to a catastrophic event (O’Hare 2000; Rasmussen 1997). Projects face a dynamic
similar to Rasmussen’s safety and systems model, where multiple influences (sched-
ule constraints, workloads, and cost control) exist within the overall delivery network.
O’Hare’s and Rasmussen’s models of complex dynamic networks are conceptual and
do not provide a means to quantify the forces working within the boundary constraints.
Carley, on the other hand, proposed an analytic approach to assessing multiple interact-
ing networks using the metanetwork construct and network simulation (Carley 2002).
3.3.2 Metanetwork Analysis
The metanetwork (i.e., a network of networks) is a framework that is useful in repre-
senting the interactions among various entities. The fundamental building blocks of
networks are nodes that can represent tasks, agents, information, resources, etc. in
organizations, and their interactions are referred to as links. Carley proposed a gen-
eral model consisting of ten interlinked networks to assess how changes in one net-
work impact the others in the metanetwork (Carley 2002). Once these networks are
combined, the inherent metanetwork complexity can be quantitatively assessed in
terms of the individual elements and their interactions. Taking this approach makes
available a number of existing SNA measures that are widely accepted and have
been quantitatively validated. The metamatrix construct put forth by Carley et al.
22 Decision Making in Risk Management
TABLE 3.1
Generic Metamatrix (National Book Council 2003)
Agents Knowledge Tasks Organizations
Agents Social network Knowledge network Attendance network Membership network
Knowledge Information network Needs network Organizational capability
Tasks Temporal ordering Institutional support/attack
Organizations Interorganizational network
is shown in Table 3.1 and is composed of ten individual subnetworks (Carley et al.
2007). For example, the social network identifies who works with whom, while the
attendance network identifies who works on what tasks, and the temporal ordering
network identifies which tasks are interdependent. The metamatrix can be extended
to analyze multiple sociotechnical networks and assess topics such the adequacy
of resources for employees to perform their work or to identify problems with how
information flows within an organization (Carley et al. 2007).
Li et al. recognized the implications of the project delivery environment and
the complexity of human interactions to not be adequately addressed in traditional
approaches to the allocation of tasks in projects. They extended the metanetwork to
construction projects using a six-network construct of agents, knowledge, and tasks
(Li et al. 2015). Wang et al. highlighted the role of tangible risk factors (e.g., con-
struction quality, not following procedures, etc.) in industrialized building construc-
tion projects (Wang et al. 2018). Others have utilized a ten-network metanetwork
(agent, information, resource, task) to assess construction project performance under
uncertainty (Zhu and Mostafavi 2017). In this book, the metanetwork construct is
extended to include behavior-centric intangible risks, their potential causal factors,
and a method to analyze and provide measures to make the intangible tangible.
3.4 SUMMARY
Rasmussen’s dynamic model of safety and system performance is a functional abstrac-
tion of commercial plant operations activities being bounded by economic, workload,
and performance requirements that influence the behavior (i.e., causal factors) of the
people within the system. Projects and portfolios have similar boundary conditions and
behavioral responses. Consequently, plant operations safety and project execution can
be conceptualized as a number of interacting systems with a human behavior dimen-
sion. MNA can be used to model either of these as a system of networks composed
of multiple nodes and links. The nodes can be people (i.e., agents); knowledge, equip-
ment, objectives, or actions (i.e., behaviors); tasks or events (i.e., risk factors); or organi-
zations. MNA provides a means to express complex relationships and has been utilized
for project management in the areas of resilience (Zhu and Mostafavi 2017), tangible
risk factors (e.g., construction quality, not following procedures, etc.) in industrialized
building construction projects (Wang et al. 2018), and task assignment (Li et al. 2015).
Therefore, the use of MNA creates the opportunity to utilize existing SNA measures to
objectively assess causal factors and their behavior-centric responses.
4 Intangible Risk
Assessment
Methodology for Projects
4.1 INTRODUCTION
There is an African proverb that says the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a
time. This concept of decomposition can be traced back to the earliest of the reduc-
tionist philosophers, Thales of Miletus (ca. 600 BC). His underlying hypothesis of
water being the fundamental substance from which everything else is composed
laid the foundation for looking at the world from an atomistic perspective. In sci-
ence and engineering, this approach is referred to as analytic reductionism and has
been the conventional approach to address complex systems. This process simply
decomposes the system into physical, functional, and behavioral components, ana-
lyzes each individually, and then recombines them to get an overall result; said
another way, the whole is equal to the sum of its parts. While the role of behavior is
recognized, it is treated as distinct events occurring over time and not as a continu-
ous flow of influence. This approach rests on the assumption of independence of
subelements. There is no distortion in the results because of analyzing each com-
ponent separately; the components’ performance is the same whether operating
individually or as part of the system, and there are no nonlinear interactions or
feedback loops (Leveson 2017). The use of decomposition to address complexity
has become somewhat of a dogma in project assessment; however, in light of the
current state of project performance, a more integrative or gestalt-like approach
must be considered.
Currently, decomposition of a project into its subsystems (work breakdown
structure [WBS]) or risks (RBS) to a detailed level is common practice. These
approaches are extremely useful but tend to be highly prescriptive and mecha-
nistic, with disproportionate emphasis placed on the techniques of the process
(Chapman 2001). A project by its nature is a complex sociotechnical system of sys-
tems, where feedback loops, adaptive behaviors, and emergent properties make the
whole greater than the sum of its constituent parts. This stands somewhat in oppo-
sition to the current approaches that are both linear and decomposition-focused,
which must be supplemented if they are to be useful. Consequently, risk processes
and tools must address complexity to effectively identify and assess the project
risk landscape. Examining projects as systems of systems is foundational to the
development of tools and techniques to assess performance in complex projects
(Zhu and Mostafavi 2014). The proposed intangible risk assessment methodology
DOI: 10.1201/9781003168409-4 23
24 Decision Making in Risk Management
for projects ( IRAMP) framework begins with the common practice of decomposi-
tion and extends it to the emergent and nonlinear dimension of behavior-centric
intangible risks.
The RBS is a source-oriented grouping of risks that organizes and defines the
total risk exposure of the project or business. Each descending level represents an
increasingly detailed definition of the sources of risk (Hillson 2003), providing the
project team with the ability to develop a detailed response plan to proactively man-
aged potential threats. The RBS is considered an extension of systems theory in
that it provides a forum for multiple disciplines (e.g., engineering, procurement,
safety, etc.) to identify the implications of events from various perspectives. This
approach, if all stakeholders are effectively engaged, can be highly effective in the
identification of project or portfolio risks (Chapman 2001). The RBS is a hierarchical
tree structure similar in format and utility to the WBS. The WBS has the ability to
significantly influence the project management process by decomposing all project
work packages into manageable levels of detail. Like the WBS, the RBS provides a
structure on which the entire risk management process can be developed. In addition
to providing structure, the RBS framework can enhance communication and trans-
parency by organizing risk information in a standard format for oversight, reporting,
and collecting lessons learned (Hillson 2003).
Project success is defined in terms of cost, schedule, and quality (termed the
“iron triangle”), along with compliance with policies, procedures, and regulations.
However, defining project success in terms of intangible factors is much more dif-
ficult. Consequently, the measurements for success and assurance are inclined to
focus on the tangible aspects of the project (Atkinson et al. 2006; Teller et al. 2014),
which can be seen in the tangible risk orientation of current practices and publica-
tions. Effective risk identification and assessment is considered a strategic enabler to
manage the discrete risks, as well as the interactions/interdependencies of multiple
risk factors. As projects move through the development cycle, the risk profiles at each
of the stages can change, and these changes can have emergent effects at the proj-
ect or portfolio level. In addition to the complexity and turbulence of the business
environment, sociotechnical systems face internal uncertainties that are both quan-
titative (e.g., resource allocation, financial resources, structure) and qualitative (e.g.,
behavior, effectiveness of communication and information). The RBS, while useful,
utilizes a decomposition approach, and risks are independent of the risk factors and
remain that way throughout time (Chapman 2001). Therefore, existing risk manage-
ment methods like the RBS are appropriate for simple or complicated systems, but
must be supplemented to address complexity (Schloss 2014).
FIGURE 4.1 Dynamic model of safety and system performance (Rasmussen [1997]).
26 Decision Making in Risk Management
FIGURE 4.2 Extension of dynamic model of safety and system performance to project perfor-
mance (adapted from Rasmussen [1997]).
Intangible Risk Assessment Methodology 27
the IRAMP framework that provides integration of the current systems theory-
based approaches with human cognition.
TABLE 4.1
General Project Risk Frameworks
Acronym Definition
PESTLE Political, economic, social, technological, legal, environmental
STEEPLE Social, technology, environmental, economic, political, legal, ethics
InSPECT Innovation, social, political, economic, communications, technology
SPECTRUM Sociocultural, political, economic, competitive, technology, regulatory/legal,
uncertainty/risk, market
TECOP Technical, economic, commercial, operational, political
VUCA Volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity
28 Decision Making in Risk Management
TABLE 4.2
Generic Example of RBS
Level 0 simply identifies the overall content of the tree structure; in this instance,
it is project risk. Level 1 is the overall project risk framework, which is usually
determined by company procedure or using one of the aforementioned frameworks
(Table 4.1) that fits the project context. Level 2 identifies the next level of detail
(and so on) until the specific risks are defined to the level required for preparing
an effective response plan. While this framework is useful, there is an underly-
ing assumption that risks are independent of the risk factors and remain that way
throughout time (Chapman 2001). Once the RBS is completed to the appropriate
level of decomposition where cause and effect can be articulated, then risk state-
ments can be developed using the generic structure: “Because of <one or more
causes>, <risk> might occur, which would lead to <one or more effects>” (Hillson
2006). However, there is not a conspicuous category for behavior-centric intangible
risks in any of these frameworks.
In the existing frameworks, there are several social or sociocultural categories, but
none provides a mnemonic for identifying behavior-centric intangible factors (e.g.,
implications of outsourcing on team motivation) as a potential risk to meeting objec-
tives. This is a gap—the ability to proactively address intangible factors like respect,
trust, and openness in a systematic way early in the project cycle is necessary for robust
risk management (Uher and Toakley 1999). Therefore, a risk framework that specifically
highlights these characteristics has the potential to enhance a project’s ability to meet
its objectives.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
»... Dann muß ich ja gehen ... Aber ich werde diese Nacht daheim
für Sie beten.«
»Tun Sie, was Sie nicht lassen können. Was Sie in Ihrem Hause
machen, geht mich nichts an.«
»Gott ... befohlen,« sagte der Schuster bewegt und streckte Peter
die Hand hin. Dieser zögerte erst, dann berührte er sie flüchtig mit
seiner Linken.
Der Mann sah ihm in die irren, glühenden Augen und bat sanft:
»Lieber Herr Lehrer, bitte, gehen Sie gleich ins Bett. Nicht wahr, das
versprechen Sie mir?«
»Wenn Sie nur erst hinaus sind!« sagte Peter, erregt mit dem
Fuße aufstampfend.
Da ging der Mann. Draußen hallten seine Schritte, und der Hund
schlug an. Dann verhallten die Schritte und der Hund kroch wieder in
seine Hütte, die hohl schnurrende Kette nachschleifend.
Nun atmete Peter auf und ließ sich schwer auf seinen Stuhl fallen.
Da horchte er auf. Was war das wieder für ein Geräusch? ... Jetzt
war's still. Plötzlich fiel ihm ein, das ganze Dorf ringsum steckte voll
von Menschen, Menschen. Hinweg! Da draußen, in der Heide, da
sind keine Menschen. Er nahm hastig Mütze und Stock und taumelte
hinaus.
Aah, wie das wohltut, so ein kühler Nachtwind, nach der dumpfen
Stubenluft ... Wenn mir nur keiner begegnet. Ach nein, die schlafen
alle. Die Art hat es gut. Des Tags über arbeiten sie sich müde, und
des Abends kriechen sie in ihre Butzen, zu zweien oder zu
mehreren. Jeder hat welche, die zu ihm gehören. Und das ganze
Dorf gehört zusammen. Da versteht einer den anderen, und jeder
findet am anderen Rückhalt. »Wi sünd alltohopen gode Lüe,« sagt
Clas Mattens. Ha! ... Da brennt ein Licht! ... Ach ja, da wohnt der
Schuster. Der gute Narr ... er will diese Nacht für mich beten. Wie
damals: Herr, bringe auch unseren lieben Schulmeister aus der
Finsternis zum Licht, ha! ... Wie das gleich anstrengt, wenn der Weg
ein wenig bergan steigt. Das Herz rast, wohl hundertzwanzig
Schläge in der Minute ... Ach, der schreckliche Husten ... So, nun
geht es wieder ... Hier hören die Äcker auf, die Heide fängt an. Wie
das duftet ... Ach ja, es ist August, die Heide blüht ... Und da oben
glühen die Sterne ... Mutter, was waren das für glückliche Zeiten, als
du da oben noch an den goldenen Himmelsfenstern saßest! Mutter,
wo bist du? Kannst du deinem verlorenen Kinde nicht nahe sein in
diesen schrecklichen Stunden? Hier geht es, in dunkler Nacht, durch
die öde Heide, den Tod in der Brust, von den Menschen gehaßt, und
muß sich selbst verachten. Und du hast so kalte, tote Augen ... Zum
goldenen Tore? ... Ha! ... Einst leuchtete es vor uns, und das Herz
war all seines Suchens und Sehnens so froh, nun ist's verschlungen
in Nacht und Grauen ... Das war alles, alles Lüge ... Das Grab ist tief
und stille, und schauerlich sein Rand, es deckt mit dunkler Hülle ein
unbekanntes Land ... Vielleicht auch einen Ort der Qual, voll Heulen
und Zähneklappen ...? Ach einen Ort mit mehr Qual als diese
»schöne Erde« kann's ja gar nicht geben. Hier stoßen sie einen mit
Füßen, werfen einen mit Steinen ... machen fromme Redensarten,
und es steckt nichts dahinter ... Aber nein, mach' dir selbst nichts
vor! Du selbst bist Störer deiner Ruh, du zogst dir selbst dein Leiden
zu ... Ja, so ist's ... Und das ist das Schlimmste ... Das
Allerschlimmste ... Das bringt einen so herunter ... Das jagt einen in
die Nacht hinaus ...
So weit schon? Da ist ja die Mergelgrube ... Wie die Füße schwer
sind ... ein wenig liegen und ruhen. Ah, wie das wohltut ... Da unten,
zwischen den hohen, steilen Wänden, blinkt das tiefe Wasser ... War
es nicht hier? ... Ja, hier haben sie vor Jahren ein armes
Menschenkind herausgezogen, dem des Lebens Bürde zu schwer
geworden ... hinterm Zaun liegt's begraben in Brundorf ... Wenn sie
morgen wieder einen herausziehen ... niemand würde eine Träne
weinen ... niemand ... »Der elende Selbstmörder« würden sie sagen
und ein Grab hinterm Zaun graben, wo der Weg drüber hingeht ...
Aber was schadet das ... es sind ja Menschen ... wen sie im Leben
von sich gestoßen haben, der braucht ja auch nicht im Tode bei
ihnen zu liegen. Warum langsam und qualvoll hinsiechen ... wem
geschieht damit ein Gefallen ... Vier Schritte weiter gekrochen, ein
Sturz, ein kurzer Kampf, und alles ist vorbei ............. Ja es ist das
Beste ... »Ich eile von der schönen Erde hinab in dieses dunkle
Haus.« Noch einen Blick zurück ... Was ist das für ein heller Stern
dort über der Höhe? Ach so, es ist das Licht im Hause des Frommen
... »Ich werde diese Nacht für Sie beten ...« Da unten ist Ruhe ... So,
jetzt nur noch ein wenig Übergewicht und ... Was hat der Mann für
einen anderen zu beten ... Zu wem betet er denn? ... Gott! ... bist
du? So gib mir Antwort! ... Der Nachtvogel schreit — denn er ist. Das
Gras säuselt — denn es ist, Aber du? — — — — — — — — — —
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Wie kommt es denn aber,
daß, solange Menschen atmen, Menschen an ihn glauben? Wie
kommt es, daß der da auf dem Berge an ihn glaubt? ... Er sagt,
Jesus Christus ist der Weg zu Gott. Aber da sind wir gleich wieder
mitten in der Ungewißheit. Die einen sagen, der ist ein irrender,
schwacher Mensch gewesen und am Kreuze an seinem Gott
verzweifelt. Und die anderen sagen, er ist der Sohn Gottes, lebet
und regieret in Ewigkeit ... Ja, als wir in den Büchern deiner Jünger
von dir lasen, da hob deine Gestalt sich groß und herrlich vor uns.
Da wurde uns, als könntest du uns das wahre Leben schenken,
wonach wir uns sehnten, und uns helfen, die Welt zu überwinden,
mit ihrer Lust und ihrem Leid ... Und Karfreitags haben wir unter
deinem Kreuze gestanden ... und haben gesungen: All Sünd hast du
getragen, sonst müßten wir verzagen, erbarm dich unser, o Jesu. Ja,
das war einmal — — — — Das war einmal — — — — — — — — —
Oder? — — — — — Oder? — — — — — — — —
Fußnoten:
[1] Warte nur.
[2] Erde.
[3] Husten.
[4] Brust.
[5] Qualen.
[6] leer.
[7] gieße.
[8] gekostet.
[9] Art.
[10] ziehen
[11] in Ordnung
[12] kocht
[13] Aufwartung
[14] vermieten
[15] unterkriechen
[16] Brüder und Schwestern
[17] damit ist sie sehr zufrieden
[18] getroffen.
[19] schlägt.
[20] sofort.
[21] sonst.
[22] leihen
[23] betrunken
[24] schwermütig
[25] Worte
[26] Wurst
[27] warte nur
[28] verdrossen
[29] durchgehauen
[30] draußen
[31] rate
[32] gilt
[33] oberste
[34] Häuslinge
[35] gebräuchlich
[36] Himmel
[37] hoffen
[38] dazu lernen
[39] Entzweischlagen
[40] Rücken