Leading Complex Projects

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Course Dates

STARTS ON

November 1, 2023

Course Duration

DURATION

2 months, online
4-6 hours per week

Course Fee

PROGRAM FEE

US$2,600 US$2,314 and get US$260 off with a referral

Course Information Flexible payment available
Course Fee

For Your Team

Enroll your team and learn with your peers

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Learning is better with your colleagues

Our participants tell us that taking this program together with their colleagues helps to share common language and accelerate impact.

We hope you find the same. Special pricing is available for groups.

The benefit of learning together with your friend is that you keep each other accountable and have meaningful discussions about what you're learning.
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Promotion and Events Specialist

Application Details

program fee

US$2,600 US$2,314

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Note: There will be no live learning sessions during the first full week, though you will have the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the learning platform and prepare for the program ahead. The capstone completion week will be a dedicated week to enable participants to complete their projects.

According to a recent series of surveys, 89 % of our participants agree that this program will help them with the skills to build cohesive teams and improve performance and decision-making in complex projects. We also have a special group enrollment pricing for this program.

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Enrolling in this program is the first step in your journey to alumni benefits.
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Why Take This Program?

No matter your industry, large-scale projects are necessary to remain competitive and innovative — but they’re also expensive and time-consuming, with a high potential for mismanagement. These types of projects require leaders who understand more than just their goals. They also require an understanding of the sociopolitical, emergent, and structural complexities that are most likely to derail them. UC Berkeley Executive Education's Leading Complex Projects program is designed to help you become more strategic as a project leader by providing the tools and frameworks to help you effectively navigate these complexities and drive successful outcomes for your organization.

2.5%

A PwC study of 10,640 projects by 200 organizations in 30 countries found that only 2.5% of the organizations successfully completed their projects.

SOURCE: Gallup

51%

According to a 2020 report by the Project Management Institute, 51% of organizations require project management professionals to have a certification for their role.

Source: PMI

$119 million

For every $1 billion invested in a project, project management issues cost organizations $119 million. 

SOURCE: PMI
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Who Should Attend

This program was designed to help mid- to senior-level professionals across industries drive their projects to success. It is ideal for:

  • Skilled PMP-certified project managers seeking to go beyond traditional PMP courses and to develop a capacity to perform at the highest levels in a global environment
  • Mid- to senior-level managers in technology involved in complex product development
  • Entrepreneurs and consultants looking to improve the success of their projects
  • C-suite executives and senior managers tasked with leading organization-wide projects
  • Other professionals interested in pairing their practical experience with proven frameworks and tools for project management and leadership

Key Takeaways

  • Apply tools, frameworks, and strategies to manage traditional and complex projects.
  • Evaluate and monitor performance in complex projects to achieve business objectives.
  • Implement strategic project planning and risk management methodologies to navigate uncertainty and change.
  • Leverage adaptive leadership in complex projects to drive innovation.
  • Build cohesive teams to improve performance and decision making in complex projects.

Program Topics

This eight-week program provides the tools and strategies that will prepare you to lead through three of the most common types of project complexity — structural, emergent, and sociopolitical — and ensure the success of your organization’s most critical large-scale projects.

Module 1:

From Traditional to Complex Projects: Understanding Complexities

Learn what makes projects complex, how chaos and complexity affect projects, and apply complexity theory to project management.

Module 2:

Strategic Project Management and Complexity Mapping

Explore the three types of project complexity — structural, emergent, and sociopolitical complexities — and use checklist models and weighted scoring models to select and prioritize projects.

Module 3:

Structural Complexities: Responding to the Challenges of Scale and Pace

Learn the five steps to defining a project and how to lead both planned and unplanned urgent projects.

Module 4:

Structural Complexities: Time and Resource Allocation

Assign resources and manage scheduling with the Integrated Project Schedule, and manage large, complex projects with tools, including The Convergence Plan, The Program Tool, and The Program Directorate.

Module 5:

Emergent Complexities: Planning, Monitoring, and Controlling Projects

Explore project management methodologies (traditional, iterative, and adaptive), performance evaluation methods, and learn to use complexity to deal with troubled projects.

Module 6:

Emergent Complexities: Risk Management

Understand the importance and benefits of risk management, explore qualitative and quantitative risk assessment, and learn to deal with complex projects with a large number of dependencies and external factors.

Module 7:

Sociopolitical Complexities: Navigating Power, Politics, and People

Explore stakeholder management and change management, learn to create high-performing teams and build successful virtual teams, and navigate change and uncertainty.

Module 8:

Leading Complex Projects

Understand the ASE leadership framework for leading complex projects — Adaptive Intelligence, Social Intelligence, and Entrepreneurial Intelligence — and learn how to govern and leverage complexity.

Module 1:

From Traditional to Complex Projects: Understanding Complexities

Learn what makes projects complex, how chaos and complexity affect projects, and apply complexity theory to project management.

Module 5:

Emergent Complexities: Planning, Monitoring, and Controlling Projects

Explore project management methodologies (traditional, iterative, and adaptive), performance evaluation methods, and learn to use complexity to deal with troubled projects.

Module 2:

Strategic Project Management and Complexity Mapping

Explore the three types of project complexity — structural, emergent, and sociopolitical complexities — and use checklist models and weighted scoring models to select and prioritize projects.

Module 6:

Emergent Complexities: Risk Management

Understand the importance and benefits of risk management, explore qualitative and quantitative risk assessment, and learn to deal with complex projects with a large number of dependencies and external factors.

Module 3:

Structural Complexities: Responding to the Challenges of Scale and Pace

Learn the five steps to defining a project and how to lead both planned and unplanned urgent projects.

Module 7:

Sociopolitical Complexities: Navigating Power, Politics, and People

Explore stakeholder management and change management, learn to create high-performing teams and build successful virtual teams, and navigate change and uncertainty.

Module 4:

Structural Complexities: Time and Resource Allocation

Assign resources and manage scheduling with the Integrated Project Schedule, and manage large, complex projects with tools, including The Convergence Plan, The Program Tool, and The Program Directorate.

Module 8:

Leading Complex Projects

Understand the ASE leadership framework for leading complex projects — Adaptive Intelligence, Social Intelligence, and Entrepreneurial Intelligence — and learn how to govern and leverage complexity.

Capstone Project: The two-month Leading Complex Projects program culminates with a capstone project in which you create a strategy to navigate structural, emergent, and sociopolitical complexities of your own project.

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Program Experience

Videos

Videos

Reflections

Reflections

Polls

Polls

Discussions

Discussions

Try-it activities

Try-It Activities

Crowd-sourced activities

Crowdsourced activities

Quizzes

Quizzes

Assignments

Assignments

Peer Reviews

Peer Reviews

Capstone

Capstone

Case Studies

Case Studies

Notable Guest Speakers

Notable Guest Speakers

Live Sessions

Live Sessions

Live Office Hours

Live Office Hours

Demonstrations

Demonstrations

Simulations

Simulations

Program Faculty

Faculty Member Omar Romero-Hernandez

Omar Romero-Hernandez

Continuing Lecturer; Business and Social Impact | Operations and IT Management | Sustainability

Omar Romero-Hernandez is a continuing lecturer in the Haas Operations and IT Management Group and the Institute for Business and Social Impact at the Haas School of Business. He leads the Advanced Project Management Practice for the Graduate Programs... More info

Faculty Member Homa Bahrami

Homa Bahrami

Senior Lecturer; Management of Organizations

Homa Bahrami is an international educator, advisor, board member, and author, specializing in organizational flexibility, team alignment, and dynamic leadership in global, knowledge-based industries. She is a senior lecturer at the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley and a faculty director at the Haas Center for Executive Education, and has served on the Board of the Haas Center for Teaching Excellence... More info

Faculty Member Omar Romero-Hernandez

Omar Romero-Hernandez

Continuing Lecturer; Business and Social Impact | Operations and IT Management | Sustainability

Omar Romero-Hernandez is a continuing lecturer in the Haas Operations and IT Management Group and the Institute for Business and Social Impact at the Haas School of Business. He leads the Advanced Project Management Practice for the Graduate Programs.

Romero-Hernandez is a Chemical Engineer with graduate studies in Economic Policy and Government and a PhD in Process Economics and Environmental Impact from Imperial College, England. He has worked for a diverse range of public and private organizations such as Procter & Gamble, PEMEX (Oil & Gas), Accenture, and the Federal Government. He has over 25 years of experience working in medium and large complex projects. He has led several internationally awarded projects in the field of digital transformation, sustainable business strategies, renewable energy, and business processes – sponsors include the United Nations, USAID, Industry consortiums, S&P 500 companies, the Stock Exchange, and NGOs.

Currently, he is an international educator, board member, national researcher, and author of various books including: Introduction to Engineering, Renewable Energy Technologies and Policies, and Industry and the Environment and several peer-reviewed international publications on project management, business modeling, green operations, and sustainable development.

In 2010, Romero-Hernandez was a first place laureate for the Franz Edelman Award, the world’s most prestigious award on operations research and management science applications.

Faculty Member Homa Bahrami

Homa Bahrami

Senior Lecturer; Management of Organizations

Homa Bahrami is an international educator, advisor, board member, and author, specializing in organizational flexibility, team alignment, and dynamic leadership in global, knowledge-based industries. She is a senior lecturer at the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley and a faculty director at the Haas Center for Executive Education, and has served on the Board of the Haas Center for Teaching Excellence.

Bahrami is the co-author of a major textbook (with Harold Leavitt, Stanford University), "Managerial Psychology: Managing Behavior in Organizations," published by the University of Chicago Press, and translated into many languages. Her latest book, "Super-Flexibility for Knowledge Enterprises," (second edition published by Springer and co-authored with Stuart Evans, Carnegie Mellon) focuses on practical approaches for strategizing, organizing, and leading knowledge workers based on their collective experience and field research in Silicon Valley during the past 30 years.

She has served on the boards of directors of three public technology companies and has been a member of all three board committees: audit, compensation, and governance. She is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and is active in executive education and executive development in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

Participant Testimonials

The fireside chats were a highlight of the program, as they were related to practical experiences. The simulation exercise in module seven was also great, as it offered an understanding of practical application of the information in the module.

— Deshnidevi Govender, Fragrance Manager, Beiersdorf

The modules were really clear with related visuals to support conceptual understanding. I like the application-based assignments for each module that required us to apply the concepts to our own work.

— Shivesh Puri, Principal, Rocketship Public Schools

It was great to learn from the variety of experiences and perspectives within the cohort, from instructors, and from fireside chats.

— Jennifer Cecil, Project Manager, The Davenport Group

Professor Omar was excellent! He is a great presenter and very approachable.

— Laura Schaefer, Chief Operating Officer, ProtoCall Services

Case Studies

To get a clear understanding of how businesses mitigate risks and achieve project goals, you will examine several case studies involving these prominent companies:

Autodesk

Learn how Autodesk adopted Integrated Project Delivery for risk management and multi-objective optimization in building projects.

CarMax

Learn how the largest used vehicle retailer in the US has undertaken a major digital transformation to become a customer-centric, product-driven organization.

PFM Devices

Learn how a traditional organization is transformed into an agile one.

Sattva eTech

Learn how Sattva eTech manages uncertainty in the project network through the design, prototyping, and manufacturing of embedded system products.

Path to Alumni Benefits

Enrolling in the Leading Complex Projects program can become your first step toward pursuing the UC Berkeley Executive Education Certificate of Business Excellence (COBE). The Certificate of Business Excellence gives individuals the opportunity to acquire and hone new skills and do it on a timeline that works with your busy schedule. Participants will earn a mark of distinction with certification from a world-class university, and enjoy the flexibility of completing the program in up to three years.
Learn more about the program and associated alumni benefits here.

Networking and events

  • Join local alumni chapters or clubs in your region
  • Participate in the annual Berkeley Haas Alumni Conference
  • Attend select UC Berkeley Haas and Berkeley Executive Education networking events open to the COBE community

Exclusive Berkeley Resources

  • Activate an @haas.executivealumni.berkeley.edu email forwarding address
  • 15% discount on the list price of future eligible Berkeley Executive Education programs.
  • 30% discount on the list price of future eligible programs after completion of your Certificate of Business Excellence.
  • Public visitor access to select campus libraries and university database services

News and communication

  • A one-year complimentary digital subscription to California Management Review
  • Berkeley Haas Alumni newsletter
  • Berkeley Haas Alumni Jobs e-Newsletter featuring job postings from distinguished employers
  • Haas Insights offering the latest research and thought leadership from industry speakers and faculty

Note: All benefits subject to change.

Certificate

Example image of certificate that will be awarded after successful completion of this program

Certificate

Get recognized! Upon successful completion of the program, UC Berkeley Executive Education grants a verified digital certificate of completion to participants. Participants must complete 80% of the required activities including a capstone project (if any) to obtain the certificate of completion. This program also counts toward a Certificate of Business Excellence.

Successful completion of this program fulfills two curriculum days (minimum requirement of 17 curriculum days) towards the UC Berkeley Certificate of Business Excellence (COBE).
Learn more on how it works here.

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Note: This program results in a digital certificate of completion and is not eligible for degree credit/CEUs. After successful completion of the program, your verified digital certificate will be emailed to you in the name you used when registering for the program. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of UC Berkeley Executive Education.

Example image of UC Berkeley Certificate of Business Excellence
This program counts toward a Certificate of Business Excellence

Curriculum Days: Two days

Pillar(s): Strategy & Management

A UC Berkeley Certificate of Business Excellence gives individuals the opportunity to create a personal plan of study structured by our four academic pillars. Participants will earn a mark of distinction with certification from a world-class university and enjoy the flexibility of completing the program in up to three years.

Learn more

FAQs

  • How do I know if this program is right for me?

    After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.


    Are there any prerequisites for this program?

    Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.


    Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.


    What is the typical class profile?

    More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.


    What other dates will this program be offered in the future?

    Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.

  • How much time is required each week?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.


    How will my time be spent?

    We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:



    • Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
    • Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific program schedule
    • Reading or engaging with examples of core topics
    • Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities
    • Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
    • Completing your final project, if required

    The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.


    What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?

    More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.

    All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.

    A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.


    How do I interact with other program participants?

    Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.

  • What are the requirements to earn the certificate?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.

    This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.


    What type of certificate will I receive?

    Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.
    The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.


    Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?

    No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.


    Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?

    No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.


    How long will I have access to the learning materials?

    You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.

  • What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?

    Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.


    Do I need to be online to access the program content?

    Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.

    Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.

  • Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?

    Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.


    What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?

    The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.

    • Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to FEE).
    • Tuition assistance is available for participants who qualify. Please email learner.success@emeritus.org.

    What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?

    Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.


    I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?

    Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.


    How can I obtain an invoice for payment?

    Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.


    Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?

    Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.


    How can I obtain a W9 form?

    Please connect with us via email for assistance.

  • What is the policy on refunds and withdrawals?

    You may request a full refund within seven days of your payment or 14 days after the published start date of the program, whichever comes later. If your enrollment had previously been deferred, you will not be entitled to a refund. Partial (or pro-rated) refunds are not offered. All withdrawal and refund requests should be sent to admissions@emeritus.org.



    What is the policy on deferrals?

    After the published start date of the program, you have until the midpoint of the program to request to defer to a future cohort of the same program. A deferral request must be submitted along with a specified reason and explanation. Cohort changes may be made only once per enrollment and are subject to availability of other cohorts scheduled at our discretion. This will not be applicable for deferrals within the refund period, and the limit of one deferral per enrollment remains. All deferral requests should be sent to admissions@emeritus.org.

Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at learner.success@emeritus.org or Schedule a call with one of our Academic Advisors or call us at +1 864 668 8832 (US) / +44 121 387 3504 (UK) / +65 3129 7057 (SG)

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