PMI Study Shows Project Success Depends on Managing Complexity, Calls for Action

Stories by Emma Okonji

A new global study by the Project Management Institute (PMI) shows that project complexity is becoming a major threat to successful delivery in sub‑Saharan Africa.

In PMI’s latest Pulse of the Profession report, titled “Driving Success in Complex Projects: From Navigating Tasks to Navigating Systems,” the findings indicate that projects are increasingly experiencing missed deadlines, decision bottlenecks, and heightened pressure on teams as organisations strive to deliver transformation amid rapid change.

The report draws on insights from project professionals and senior leaders in 35 countries. It finds that 81 % of project professionals worldwide believe projects have become more complex in recent years, and 37 % describe the increase as significant. The rise in complexity is attributed to organisational, environmental, and human factors, including the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), shifting stakeholder expectations, economic volatility, and more interconnected systems.

In sub‑Saharan Africa, the research highlights a pronounced pattern of delivery disruption. Regional data show that missed delivery deadlines (44 %) are significantly higher than the global average (35 %), while delays in stakeholder decision‑making (41 % versus 34 % globally) represent another major friction point for organisations in the region. The findings suggest that complexity is slowing value alignment, approvals, and execution, creating governance bottlenecks that compound delivery challenges.

George Asamani, Managing Director of PMI sub‑Saharan Africa, analysed the report and said: “These findings reflect the realities many organisations across Africa are already facing. Africa is currently undertaking some of the world’s most ambitious transformation agendas, from infrastructure and industrialisation to digital inclusion, energy access, fintech innovation, and public‑sector reform. But as the scale of ambition grows, so does the complexity behind execution.”

He added, “As organisations attempt to deliver more projects faster, many are discovering that traditional approaches focused purely on timelines and tasks are no longer enough. Success today depends on the ability to navigate interconnected systems, align stakeholders quickly, adapt to change continuously, and build resilient teams capable of operating in uncertainty.”