Abstract:From the two research perspectives of ontology and epistemology, this paper analyzes the concept of project complexity, proposes that cognitive subject of project complexity should be project managers, and then defines the concept of NPD project complexity. Starting with the ultimate goal of NPD project, this paper takes structural and functional characteristics of new product as the origin of NPD project complexity. Based on different configuration processes of four project components (i.e., goal, decision, organization and task), this paper analyzes different formation processes of goal complexity, decision complexity, organization complexity and task complexity, which actually explores the formation mechanism of NPD project complexity.