Understanding project interdependencies: The role of visual representation, culture and process

Project portfolio management is central to many organizations' strategic processes and requires consideration of multiple factors and the ability to envision alternative future consequences to support strategic project portfolio decision making. Complex project portfolios with multiple project interdependencies are characteristic of many project environments, yet existing methods do not provide the clear understanding of project interdependencies that is required.This exploratory study aims to improve organizational understanding of project interdependencies through two loosely coupled avenues of investigation conducted in tandem in a telecommunications and a defense organization. The first avenue of research introduces a new type of visual representation and shows that the creation of graphical network displays of projects and their interdependencies can provide benefits by supporting communication and strategic portfolio decision making. The second avenue of research tests a conceptual model and highlights the importance of both the culture and processes in an organization's understanding of project interdependencies.

► Investigated factors and methods that influence project interdependency understanding. ► Two-stream exploratory study with two organizations. ► Project process and culture factors correlated with better understanding. ► Tested network mapping approaches for visualizing project interdependencies. ► Findings suggest such visualizations may support communication and decision making.