Projects often involve complex processes and require an adequate commitment of resources to all stages of the project process. It is essential that continuity be maintained throughout the process to avoid delays and potential errors in decision-making through inadequate information management and communication within the project team and senior management. It is therefore essential that a project team is established at an early stage in the project, and that it operates with a clear set of objectives and lines of accountability.
The project management framework is determined largely by the complexity of the project. Project teams need to operate within an established governance framework, with the objective of ensuring that adequate resources are committed to the project, the project team is set clear objectives and realistic timeframes, and the project management process is transparent to all interested parties. Ideally, complex projects should be managed by a Steering Committee comprising relevant stakeholders to oversee the project's implementation.
Project team members should be selected on the basis of the particular skills required for each stage of the project, and membership may vary through time as the project moves through the various stages of project specification, financial modelling, tendering, assessment, contract negotiation and project implementation.