A Review and Classification of the Uncertainties in Projects: The Way Forward

Abstract

This article aims to summarize existing research on various sources of uncertainty and to classify them based on the determinants and antecedents addressed in projects. A systematic review is conducted using a total of 140 research published in peer-reviewed scientific journals during the last three decades. We classify various uncertainty based on their individual, relational, group, organizational, project-oriented, and managerial characteristics. Additionally, we uncovered a few gaps such as, how uncertainties differ based on the size of the organization, the need for exploring uncertainty from a more cross-disciplinary perspective, differentiating the concept of complexity and risk with uncertainty and the role of chaos theory,  that require future study. By leveraging significant findings, this is study contributes from the perspective of theory and practice to academic, project, and industrial management discipline.