Measuring an “Internality” as a Performance Precursor
Under Quantum Project Management (QPM) Theory
FEATURED PAPER
By Bob Prieto
Florida, USA
In my initial paper on Quantum Project Management[1] I laid out a framework where QPM was a new management paradigm that replaces Taylorism’s Scientific Management paradigm upon which classical project management is founded. This paper focused on drawing a strong analogous framework from both relativistic theory and quantum theory recognizing their departures from classical physics.
The concept was further developed in this journal through a series of articles that developed various aspects of this broad analogy including identifying new metrics required to operationalize it and new AI enabled mapping approaches to assess likely performance trajectories:
As we moved through this development of QPM theory and its operationalization, we developed metrics related to:
These papers looked at the system level properties of large complex projects (LCP) through the lens of Quantum Project Management.
But system level properties are shaped not only by externalities or the interactions of various components but also by the inherent performance of individual elements in this complex system. I will refer to these as “internalities[12]” and in this paper I will focus on large complex construction projects and look at one performance shaper of a significant component of these large complex projects, namely the construction workforce, and its state of fatigue.
The propagation of fatigue across the project interface is not a linear transfer; it is a quadratic contagion[13]. When a specific work package—such as structural rebar—hits a “fatigue peak” due to a schedule push or environmental shock, it creates a steepening “slope” relative to the following task, such as the concrete pour…
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How to cite this work: Prieto, R. (2026). Fatigue Risk Index: Measuring an “Internality” as a Performance Precursor Under Quantum Project Management (QPM) Theory, PM World Journal, Vol. XV, Issue VI, June. Available online at https://pmworldjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pmwj165-Jun2026-Prieto-Fatigue-Risk-Factor.pdf
About the Author
Bob Prieto
Chairman & CEO
Strategic Program Management LLC
Jupiter, Florida, USA
Bob Prieto is Chairman & CEO of Strategic Program Management LLC focused on strengthening engineering and construction organizations and improving capital efficiency in large capital construction programs. Previously, Bob was a senior vice president of Fluor, focused on the development, delivery, and turnaround of large, complex projects worldwide across all of the firm’s business lines; and Chairman of Parsons Brinckerhoff, where he led growth initiatives throughout his career with the firm.
Bob’s board level experience includes Parsons Brinckerhoff (Chairman); Cardno (ASX listed; non-executive director); Mott MacDonald (Independent Member of the Shareholders Committee); and Dar al Riyadh Group (current)
Bob consults with owners of large, complex capital asset programs in the development of programmatic delivery strategies encompassing planning, engineering, procurement, construction, financing, and enterprise asset management. He has assisted engineering and construction organizations to improve their strategy and execution and has served as an executive coach to a new CEO. He is author of eleven books, over 1000 papers and National Academy of Construction Executive Insights, and an inventor on 4 issued patents.
Bob’s industry involvement includes the National Academy of Construction and Fellow of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA). He serves on the New York University Tandon School of Engineering Department of Civil and Urban Engineering Advisory Board and New York University Abu Dhabi Engineering Academic Advisory Council and previously served as a trustee of Polytechnic University. He has served on the Millennium Challenge Corporation Advisory Board and ASCE Industry Leaders Council. He received the ASCE Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) award in Management (2024). He was appointed as an honorary global advisor for the PM World Journal and Library.
Bob served until 2006 as one of three U.S. presidential appointees to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC). He chaired the World Economic Forum’s Engineering & Construction Governors and co-chaired the infrastructure task force in New York after 9/11. He can be contacted at rpstrategic@comcast.net.
To see more works by Bob Prieto, visit his author showcase in the PM World Library at https://pmworldlibrary.net/authors/bob-prieto/
[1] Prieto, R. (2024). Quantum Project Management, PM World Journal, Vol. XII, Issue I, January 2024.
[2] Prieto, R. (2024). Measurement of Complexity in Large Complex Projects, PM World Journal, Vol. XII, Issue IV, April
[3] Prieto, R. (2025). Artificial Intelligence, Complexity, and Quantum Project Management: A Transformative Approach, PM World Journal, Vol. XIV, Issue VII, July
[4] Prieto, R. (2024). Quantum Project Management and the Concept of Spacetime, PM World Journal, Vol. XII, Issue V, May.
[5] Prieto, R. (2025). Managing Uncertainty in Large Complex Projects, PM World Journal, Vol. XIV, Issue XI, November.
[6] Prieto, R. (2025). Metrics for Assumption Management in Large Complex Projects, PM World Journal, Vol. XIV, Issue XII, December.
[7] Prieto, R. (2026). Operationalizing Quantum Project Management: Defining Improved Metrics for Management of Large Complex Projects, PM World Journal, Vol. XV, Issue I, January.
[8] Prieto, R. (2026). Operationalizing Quantum Project Management: Anticipating and Managing Fragility in Large Complex Project Ecosystems, PM World Journal, Vol. XV, Issue II, February.
[9] Prieto, R. (2026). AlphaFold for Projects, PM World Journal, Vol. XV, Issue III, March.
[10] Net Promoter Score; National Academy of Construction
[11] Beyond SDRI: Turning a Predictive Index into Governance, Foresight and Action Key Points; National Academy of Construction
[12] Internalities are intrinsic human‑performance conditions—such as fatigue—that shape system behavior from within, in contrast to externalities or structural project factors.
[13] Quadratic contagion describes the nonlinear, accelerating spread of fatigue and stress across interdependent workstreams, where the impact of a localized fatigue peak grows disproportionately as the fatigue gradient between tasks steepens
