Increasing the effectiveness of project management: using causal mapping to integrate risk, uncertainty, and stakeholders

The challenge and value of managing uncertainty, risk and stakeholders in complex projects is well recognised in both academic and practitioner literature. However, literature tends to look at these managerial processes separately rather than holistically. In this chapter we present causal mapping as a technique that can facilitate the integration of these processes, help address the challenges identified in practice, and offer a more holistic perspective of the project and its context. We present three interrelated factors to consider when integrating, highlight the benefits of a structured approach to manage complexity (structural and social) and uncertainty and propose some areas for future research.