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    Portfolios of Agile Projects: A Complex Adaptive Systems’ Agent Perspective


    Sweetman, Roger and Conboy, Kieran (2018) Portfolios of Agile Projects: A Complex Adaptive Systems’ Agent Perspective. Project Management Journal, 49 (6). pp. 18-38. ISSN 8756-9728

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    Abstract

    While agile methods can be extremely effective at a project level, they can impose significant complexity and a need for adaptiveness at the project portfolio level. While this has proven to be highly problematic, there is little research on how to manage a set of agile projects at the project portfolio level. What limited research that does exist often assumes that portfolio-level agility can be achieved by simply scaling project level agile methods such as Scrum. This study uses a complex adaptive systems lens, focusing specifically on the properties of projects as agents in a complex adaptive portfolio to critically appraise current thinking on portfolio management in an agile context. We then draw on a set of 30 expert interviews to develop 16 CAS-based propositions as to how portfolios of agile projects can be managed effectively. We also outline an agenda for future research and discuss the differences between a CAS-based approach to portfolio management and traditional approaches.

    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: agile; project portfolio management; complex adaptive systems;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Business
    Item ID: 11325
    Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1177/8756972818802712
    Depositing User: Roger Sweetman
    Date Deposited: 17 Oct 2019 11:48
    Journal or Publication Title: Project Management Journal
    Publisher: Sage Publications
    Refereed: Yes
    URI:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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