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The last decade has seen a growing interest in the benefits of applying project management (PM) and system engineering (SE) in an integrated way toward complex projects and programs. The concept of project complexity dimensions, with roots in both disciplines, is suggested as a component of an integrated project complexity narrative. This paper investigates how such a project complexity narrative is reflected when informants talk about the role of PM and SE in two academic organizations. Most informants address uncertainty and social‐political risks as part of their work, but any consistent use of a project complexity narrative is related to environmental and technical systems. The findings also indicate difficulty differentiating between the concepts of complicated and complex. The paper further contemplates how these findings inform efforts to manage complex research projects and programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increased complexity in applied research projects that demand more researcher skills, especially in managing the research project and interdisciplinary work. Researchers receive little training in how to manage such projects, yet most manage to deliver project results. There is a tradition of project management and systems engineering which benefits complex development projects in industrial settings. Despite the apparent benefits, we found limited application of either project management or systems engineering practices in academia. Furthermore, we found barriers to applying these practices in the first place, such as a lack of clear guidance or tools for their execution. A case study based on 18 semi‐structured interviews provides a perspective on academic research projects, and how the application of project management and systems engineering in an academic setting shows promise to improve the realization of concept design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]