Importance of Systems Engineering in Project Management

(
Insert Student Name) / (
Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012 Unit Portfolio for Week 2
Reading
samples
Learning
outcomes of
the unit
Learnings from your weekly study, experience,
this and prior unit readings and assignments
Supporting
documentation
including any
prior learning
Mandatory
Readings
 Part 1: SEBoK
Introduction -
'Introduction to
SE
Transformation
';
 Part 1: SEBoK
Introduction -
'SEBoK Users
and Uses';
 Part 6: Related
Disciplines -
'Knowledge
Area: Systems
Engineering
and Project
Management'
 Kerzner (2013)
Chapters 2.1;
2.6 - 2.8; 2.21;
 AS/NZS
15288:2015
Introduction;
Optional
Readings
 AS ISO
2. Identify different
systems thinking
tools and
techniques to aid
project managers
solve project
problems.
In this particular module, I came across a number of readings
that were suggested by my supervisor. I came to know that most
of these text books were based on project management and
systems engineering and I was required to follow the guidelines
as set in the books.
Each of the books mentioned on the left under mandatory
reading sections has its own advantage points and provides a lot
of knowledge towards to the understanding of project and
program management.
Personally, since this was the second week of my learning, I was
only trying to get the fundamental of the subject before I went
deep into it. In this weekly unit, l learnt about various system
thinking tools and other applications of program management
that were included within our course module.
The different types of Systems thinking tools are there which
aids the project manager to acquire and achieve the aim of the
project. The different tools are: affinity diagram (AD), decision
matrix, graphical analyzation, functional analysis, intangible
model, influence diagram (ID) and effective analysis.
Affinity diagram is a systems thinking tool that enables multi
tasking in projects like developing ideas, planning innovative
schemes and solving complex problems.
Graphical analyzation is about the knowledge and understanding
of data by means of graphs. There are two ways of using graphs
to represent data, time series plot and frequency plot.
PPMP20012 Unit
Profile
PPMP20012 Moodle
Web site
Have you any
insights you can add
from other units you
have studies or
readings you’ve
made?
Too, E. G., &
Weaver, P. (2014).
The management of
project
management: A
conceptual
framework for
project
governance.
Interna
tional Journal of
Project
Management,
32(8),
1382-1394.
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(
Insert Student Name) / (
Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012 Unit Portfolio for Week 2
Reading
samples
Learning
outcomes of
the unit
Learnings from your weekly study, experience,
this and prior unit readings and assignments
Supporting
documentation
including any
prior learning
21504:2016
Project,
programme
and portfolio
management—
Guidance on
portfolio
management;
Case Study
 Chief Counsel's
Report -
Chapter 5 (PDF
700KB),
Decision matrix is helpful in situations where there are multiple
solution to the problem. The matrix can be used to remove the
redundant solutions to choose the most effective solution for the
problem.
Effective analysis tool involves the teams to prioritise both the
cause and effect of failure of the project.
Functional analysis is highly structured model used to select and
develop the concepts and designs of a project. The aim of the
analysis is to achieve project functions.
Influence diagram is used to develop and identify important
relationship in the components present in the system.
Intangible model is another important tool to which is used to
enable project team associates to build a operational and
behavioural model that will help the system.
Mandatory
Readings
 SEBoK Part 2:
Foundations of
Systems
Engineering –
 'Knowledge
Area:
Systems
Fundamental
s';
 'Knowledge
Area:
Systems
Science';
3. Assess the
relevance of
systems
engineering to
project cases.
In this module, I learnt the relevance of systems that are
associated with the project and program management and
planning procedures. I gained considerable knowleage through
the learning this course using the learning reference books,
lecture nodes and personal understanding. This module was one
of my building blocks in for my development through learning in
this entire course that will also help me in the future.
During this module, I was presented with some challenging
project cases that I needed to solve using system engineering
techniques. Although I found it hard at the start, I used my skills
to solve the problems and progressed further through the unit.
Prior assignments in the module also somewhat helped me
progress through this unit as I gathered knowledge and skills
through all the previous units and modules.
The main learning outcome that I gathered in this module
PPMP20012 Unit
Profile
PPMP20012 Moodle
Web site
Have you any
insights you can add
from other units you
have studies or
readings you’ve
made?
Zhu, J., & Mostafavi,
A. (2014, March).
Towards a new
paradigm for
2 of 12

(
Insert Student Name) / (
Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012 Unit Portfolio for Week 2
Reading
samples
Learning
outcomes of
the unit
Learnings from your weekly study, experience,
this and prior unit readings and assignments
Supporting
documentation
including any
prior learning
 'Knowledge
Area:
Systems
Thinking';
 'Knowledge
Area:
Representing
Systems with
Models';
 Part 6: Related
Disciplines –
 'Knowledge
Area:
Systems
Engineering
and
Industrial
Engineering';
 'Knowledge
Area:
Systems
Engineering
and Specialty
Engineering';
 Part 7: Systems
Engineering
Implementation
Examples:
 How Lack of
Information
Sharing
Jeopardized
the
includes some in-depth knowledge in systems engineering. I
learnt that systems engineering plays a major role is ensuring a
specific and systematic approach towards the development of
project cases based on the requirements. Furthermore, I learnt
that systems engineering approach allows technical
development in the project in a much more risk free manner as
it also prioritises the technical performance of the system.
In this module, I also learned that the development of a project
case depends on a lot of internal and internal factors. In order to
determine these factors and develop a suitable project case,
systems engineering allows the project manager to develop a
specific model towards systems and project development
approach.
management of
complex
engineering
projects: A system-
of-systems
framework. In
2014
IEEE International
Systems Conference
Proceedings (pp.
213-219). IEEE.
3 of 12

(
Insert Student Name) / (
Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012 Unit Portfolio for Week 2
Reading
samples
Learning
outcomes of
the unit
Learnings from your weekly study, experience,
this and prior unit readings and assignments
Supporting
documentation
including any
prior learning
NASA/ESA
Cassini/Huyg
ens Mission
to Saturn;
 Project
Management
Case Study;
 Kerzner (2013)
Chapters
17.12-17.17;
 AS/NZS
15288:2015
Chapter 5;
Optional
Readings
 AS ISO
21504:2016
Project,
programme
and portfolio
management—
Guidance on
portfolio
management;
Movies and Web
sites
 YouTube:
 "Systems
Engineering"
(by
ThinkTVPBS)
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