PPMP20012: Unit Portfolio - Systems Engineering in Project Cases

This PPMP20012 unit portfolio delves into the application of systems thinking and systems engineering within project management contexts. It identifies various systems thinking tools and techniques that aid project managers in solving complex problems, emphasizing the importance of understanding the overall system and the relationships between its components. The portfolio assesses the relevance of systems engineering to real-world project cases, such as the BP disasters, highlighting how systems engineering principles can predict and prevent accidents. Furthermore, it describes how systems engineering concepts and methodologies can help project, program, and portfolio managers organize projects effectively. Finally, the portfolio explains the significance of selecting appropriate project management application systems to meet both internal and external project objectives. Desklib offers a wealth of similar solved assignments and study resources for students.

(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
21504:2016
Project,
programme and
portfolio
2. Identify different
systems thinking tools
and techniques to aid
project managers solve
project problems.
 System thinking can be determining as the process of identifying the
overall problem associated within a system and the approach that
can be made to solve the problems. System thinking deals with the
entire system and mostly studies the relationship between the
components of the systems (Costa and Lowery 2016). It examines
the entire linkage and the interactions made within the system. The
system thinking tries to solve all the problems within a system. It
tries to achieve the relationship within the subsystems.
 There are many tools that can make the system thinking work. The
tools are categorized into different category. The category of the
tools is brainstorming, dynamic thinking, structural thinking and
computer based tools. The techniques used are completely based on
the analysis of the system and on the design. System engineering
help in understanding the system in a better way and also helps the
management team related to the project in managing the system.
 System thinking comes with sets of tools and concept, by using it the
project managers can easily solve the problems. Certain steps are
involved for solving complex problems with the help of system
thinking. The steps are first understanding the problems, that graph
is drawn on the basis of the analysis, after understanding the
problem a statement is created, the structural planning is done, the
problem then undergo through a deeper analysis, and lastly the
collected information are used for problem solving (Young and
Leveson 2014). The problems can be solved with system engineering
with the use of modelling and simulation. Early detection methods
Costa, A. and Lowery,
L.F.,
2016. Technique
s for teaching
thinking.
Routledge.
Young, W. and Leveson,
N.G., 2014. An
integrated
approach to
safety and
security based
on systems
theory. Commu
n. ACM, 57(2),
pp.31-35.
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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
management—
Guidance on
portfolio
management;
Case Study
 Chief Counsel's
Report - Chapter 5
(PDF 700KB),
are also used for designing purpose.
 Project, program and portfolio management altogether helps in
solving the problem and it is true. It helps in different ways the
project management deals with the technical aspects, designing of
the project, the program manager deals with the management of the
project and the portfolio management looks after the organizational
governance. Thus overall it helps in solving problems by managing it
step wise.
 Lots of problem was faced by BP due to the disasters. The problem
faced where related with all the sectors. Starting from the
environment to the economy every sector faced problem. The
problem was how to handle all the related problem and to handle
the financial loss. System engineering and thinking made it easy to
prevent all the probable accidents and to reduce the outcome the
probable accident.
 Chief Counsel Report stated the outcomes of the extra efforts that
was carried towards the mission. The report also stated the cause of
the disaster. The report also discussed the impact of the disaster.
The report states that system thinking played a vital role in
recovering the loss that happened. System thinking with its dynamic
thinking capability helped by finding immediate solution.
Mandatory Readings
 SEBoK Part 2:
Foundations of
Systems
Engineering –
 'Knowledge
3. Assess the relevance
of systems engineering
to project cases.
 The principle of system engineering can be implemented on the
Deep water horizon in many ways. The system engineering helps in
the system safety by having an approach that can predict and
prevent disasters beforehand. The main concern of the principle is to
manage all the disasters. Hence the system engineering is related to
Reader, T.W. and
O’Connor, P.,
2014. The
deepwater
horizon
explosion: Non-
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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
Area: Systems
Fundamentals';
 'Knowledge
Area: Systems
Science';
 '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
the two BP disasters for predicting the probable accidents (Reader
and Connor 2014).
 There are many reports and investigation that serve as a relevant
source for the two BP disasters and gives a detailed about system
engineering. Lots of websites, movies and journal are present that
give detail knowledge about the disaster and system engineering.
 System thinking and System engineering helps in predicting the
probable disasters and in preventing it. It also helps in designing and
implementing certain methods to prevent the probable disasters. It
helps in the safety of many plants and it is based on the concept of
the entire linkage of the system.
 Project, program and portfolio management helps in many ways. It
helps by making a well structural plan to face and to prevent
disasters. All of the aspects collaborate together in order to make
and perform a particular strategy.
 There are certain facts that state that system engineering is relevant
and BP can make their investment in system engineering. System
thinking is completely based on providing assistant in predicting the
accidents, it is mostly concerned with the quality, it helps in
management of the accident and identify the causes and closely
analyse all the circumstances (MacKenzie, Baroud and Barker 2016).
Such features of system engineering make it reliable and a good
investment can be made on it for maintaining the safety.
 The attack of the BP was a well-planned attack. BP had a well design
program, project managers and portfolio management. The attack
was somehow planned and it can be clearly seen that the plant had a
well-planned management system and BP had lots of money. System
engineering provided assistant to the BP and helped in maintaining
the after effect of the disasters.
technical skills,
safety culture,
and system
complexity. Jour
nal of Risk
Research, 17(3),
pp.405-424.
MacKenzie, C.A., Baroud,
H. and Barker,
K., 2016. Static
and dynamic
resource
allocation
models for
recovery of
interdependent
systems:
application to
the Deepwater
Horizon oil
spill. Annals of
Operations
Research, 236(1)
, pp.103-129.
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(Insert Student Name) / (Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012 Unit Portfolio for Week 2
Reading samples Learning
outcomes of the
unit
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prior unit readings and assignments
Supporting
documentation
including any
prior learning
NASA/ESA
Cassini/Huygen
s 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)
 Modeling the
Management of
 The chief counsel report consisted of all the causes and impacts of
the disasters. The way system engineering helped and played its role.
BP had a well idea about system engineering as its plants were well
designed, lots of models and laws was also implemented. The entire
plant was well designed with safety system that consists of all the
knowledge related to system engineering and safety.
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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
Systems
Engineering
Projects (by
VitechCorp)
 Web Sites:
 International
Council on
Systems
Engineering
(INCOSE)
 Systems
Engineering
Society of
Australia
 The Guide to Lean
Enablers for
Managing
Engineering
Programs - MIT
Mandatory Readings
 SEBoK Part 2:
Foundations of
Systems
Engineering -
'Knowledge Area:
Systems Approach
Applied to
Engineered
Systems';
 Part 5: Enabling
Systems
Engineering;
 Kerzner (2013)
4. Describe how
systems engineering
concepts and
methodologies can help
a project, program and
portfolio managers
organise a project.
 Concept deals with having a clear understanding about a particular
topic, methodology refers to the set of methods that are performed
to explain a particular theory or to interrelate with something.
Concept can be stated as the axiom as it gives an idea about of the
theory and the knowledge can be then forwarded for next
proceedings (Rosas 2017). On the other hand, methodology can be
related with taxonomy as it is a procedural description of the objects
like methodology.
 In the SEbook there is no such specification of the concept and
methodology. However, it is explained it can be explained with the
perspective of a stakeholder. There is a relationship between all the
three aspects because as a whole they focus on achieving there set
Coker, J. and Mukundan,
A., Siebel
Systems Inc,
2013. Computin
g system and
method to
implicitly
commit unsaved
data for a world
wide web
application. U.S.
Patent
8,359,335.
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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
Chapters 1.21;
2.16-2.18; 17.18;
 AS/NZS
15288:2015
Chapter 6.1-6.2;
 Al-Mamary Y.H.,
Shamsuddin A, &
Aziati N., (2013)
"The Impact of
Management
Information
Systems Adoption
in Managerial
Decision Making:
A Review"
Optional Readings
 AS ISO
21504:2016
 Portfolio
Management;
 Movie: Enterprise
Project Portfolio
Management
(EPPM).
targets. Altogether they create a unique solution to manage things.
There are relevant explanation regarding the guidelines required for
a project with the idea about system engineering. Hence the books
are helpful and provides knowledge (Coker and Mukundan Siebel
Systems Inc 2013.).
Rosas, S.R., 2017. Group
concept
mapping
methodology:
Toward an
epistemology of
group
conceptualizatio
n, complexity,
and
emergence. Qu
ality &
Quantity, 51(3),
pp.1403-1416.
Mandatory Readings
 SEBoK
 Part 3: Systems
Engineering and
Management:
Knowledge Area:
Introduction to
Life Cycle
Processes;
5. Explain the
importance of
appropriate selection of
project management
(PM) application
systems in regards to
meeting the internal
and external objectives
of a project.
 An application contains different program and it is designed
especially for the end user. The application system consists of
number of different software and program in it. PMIS is an essential
thing required for the management of the project. The systematic
approach is very important for everything. Decision making vital part
in any organization as it is one of the main and first step for any
project .The PMIS is essential and many top companies promotes
that their software comes with one of the best decision making
Ansari, A., Cowgill, G.A.,
Masina, R.,
Ramayya, J.P.,
McQuarters,
A.R., Raissyan,
A. and Nicholls,
L.E., PRODEA
SYSTEMS Inc,
2013. Multi-
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Reading samples Learning
outcomes of the
unit
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prior unit readings and assignments
Supporting
documentation
including any
prior learning
 Part 3: Systems
Engineering and
Management:
Knowledge Area:
Life Cycle
Models;
 Part 3: Systems
Engineering and
Management:
Knowledge Area:
Concept
Definition;
 Part 3: Systems
Engineering and
Management:
Knowledge Area:
Systems
Definition;
 Part 6: Related
Disciplines -
'Knowledge Area:
Systems
Engineering and
Software
Engineering';
 Kerzner (2013)
Chapters 15.16-
15.23; 23.5-23.6;
 AS/NZS
15288:2015
Chapter 6.3-6.4;
 Raymond L., &
Bergeron F.,
quality (Chudik, Grossman and Pesaran 2016). The PMIS provides a
centralized monitoring process and examines all the help whether it
is related to finance or physical.
 The fact cannot be denied that collecting of information and
examining takes times as well as costing. At the same time it is
helpful and this fact cannot be ignored. The management helps in a
strategy approach with a step wise to every problems. As stated in
one of the theory it is easy to implement the theory as the flow from
the program to the project is done in step wise manner. The BP
purposely did not implemented the program, project managers and
the portfolio management as the disaster was purposely done and
planned. BP had enough money so that it can invest in the
implementation of such safety guards for the plants (Ansari et al.
2013).
services
application
gateway and
system
employing the
same. U.S.
Patent
8,543,665.
Chudik, A., Grossman, V.
and Pesaran,
M.H., 2016. A
multi-country
approach to
forecasting
output growth
using
PMIs. Journal of
Econometrics, 1
92(2), pp.349-
365.
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unit
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Supporting
documentation
including any
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(2008) "Project
management
information
systems: An
empirical study of
their impact on
project managers
and project
success"
Optional Readings
 AS ISO
21504:2016
 SWEBOK V3
Guide.
Web Sites
 SAP
 Oracle Primavera
 IBM Maximo &
BPM
 Microsoft
Project.

Mandatory Readings
 SEBoK
 Part 3: Systems
Engineering and
Management:
Knowledge Area:
Systems
Realization;
 Part 3: Systems
Engineering and
Management:
6. Describe how the use
of project management
(PM) application
systems can lead to
effective PM knowledge
management and
decision making.
 Application are the systems containing all the software and
application that helps in effective decision making and management
of the project (Incardona et al. 2014). The application system is
important at helps in the decision making which is essential for any
project at gives a clear idea about the probable that can happen.
 Project realization can be stated as a method by which a project can
again regain its form. That a program if due to circumstances not
happening properly can be again brought into the track for the
proper working of it .Lots of problem that arises in the project
Incardona, J.P., Gardner,
L.D., Linbo, T.L.,
Brown, T.L.,
Esbaugh, A.J.,
Mager, E.M.,
Stieglitz, J.D.,
French, B.L.,
Labenia, J.S.,
Laetz, C.A. and
Tagal, M., 2014.
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Supporting
documentation
including any
prior learning
Knowledge Area:
Systems
Deployment and
Use;
 Part 3: Systems
Engineering and
Management:
Knowledge Area:
Systems
Engineering
Management;
 Part 3: Systems
Engineering and
Management:
Knowledge Area:
Product and
Service Life
Management;
 Part 3: Systems
Engineering and
Management:
Knowledge Area:
Systems
Engineering
Standards;
 Kerzner (2013)
Chapters 23;
 AS/NZS
15288:2015
Annex E
Optional Readings
 AS ISO
21504:2016
realization. When it is related to bring back to it track lots of
information and system with the investment are required. The first
challenge is related with the momentum, which means study the
past aspects of the project so that the required information can be
easily gathered. The second challenge that comes is the Naysayers. It
means the implementation of project need to be in such a way that
effective outcomes are observed. Lastly the challenges is related
with the access, proper access is required so that the project can be
back into the track (Dupont and Eskerod 2016). Hence the challenges
or rather the problems that are faced by the project realization is
related with the information collection, implementing it in an
effective way and getting access to all the requirement so that the
outcome is effective and the project is back on the track.
 The need for application system to implement various types of
software and techniques for the function of the project. The
application system is necessary as it allows and helps in quick
decision making and helps in getting effective outcomes.
 The knowledge management helps in the project management
process as it ensures minimum time is consumed for gathering the
information at the same time minimum data is stored. The project
information helps the project managers in making effective decision
so that the resulting outcomes of the project is up to the
expectation.
 We need effective decision making in any project sop that the
information is collected properly within small time. The energy as
well as the time are saved. For making a decision effective the very
first thing that need to be done is to make an environment that is
constructive, that accordingly the investigation needs to be done, the
alternatives are decided, the other options related to the project are
Deepwater
Horizon crude
oil impacts the
developing
hearts of large
predatory
pelagic
fish. Proceeding
s of the National
Academy of
Sciences, 111(15
), pp.E1510-
E1518.
Dupont, D.H. and
Eskerod, P.,
2016. Enhancing
project benefit
realization
through
integration of
line managers as
project benefit
managers. Inter
national Journal
of Project
Management, 3
4(4), pp.779-
788.
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Reading samples Learning
outcomes of the
unit
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prior unit readings and assignments
Supporting
documentation
including any
prior learning
Web Sites
 YouTube:
What is
Portfolio
Management
vs. Project
Management?

given a thought, then according the decision are made and
communicated to the next level for taking the action. Effective
decision making helps the overall system as well as help the
members related with the project in a much easier way. The decision
making process in a step wise manner and that helps in approaching
to any problem in a very practical way.
Mandatory Readings
 SEBoK Part 4:
Applications of
Systems
Engineering;
 AS/NZS
15288:2015
Annex F & G
Optional Readings
 AS ISO
21504:2016
 BP News Wrap-
up
Web Sites
 -
7. Compare and
contrast the advantages
and disadvantages of
different manual and
electronic project,
program and portfolio
(PPPM) application
systems within each
PPPM knowledge area
over the life cycle of a
project, program or
portfolio.
 Accordingly it can be stated that the application is comprehensive to
some extent. The reason behind it that it helps in the effective
decision making and it also helps in creating a scope for the future
and at the same time it helps in the ongoing process of the project.
The data can shared within a short period of the time at the same
time in a much simpler ways (Lüdeke-Freund and Zvezdov 2013). The
application system comprises of all the information stored within it
and helps in the effective performance of the project.
 It cannot be stated that with the invention of the computer
technology human do not need to read and write. There can be
situation where the access to the technology is not possible. The
system fails and the system is no more able to perform any function
at that time read and write method comes into play as the decision
need to be made manually. It can be said that the decision made by
human might not be so appropriate but effective for the ongoing
time. Read and write sometimes becomes important when the
humans are performing some project on field where tools and
application are not accessible.
 The functioning and the requirement completely depends on the
project environment. For this reason only the very first step that is
required for effective decision is creating of an environment which is
creative enough. Once the application or the technology used
Lüdeke-Freund, F. and
Zvezdov, D.,
2013. The
Manager's Job
at BP: Decision
Making and
Responsibilities
on the High
Seas. Internatio
nal Journal of
Case Studies in
Management, 1
1(2), pp.1-32.
Foster, W.R. and
Rosenberg, J.D.,
Cisco
Technology Inc,
2013. System
and method for
optimizing
communications
between session
border
controllers and
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changes the environment changes as the consumption of time,
energy and cost parameters completely changes (Foster and
Rosenberg, Cisco Technology Inc 2013). The entire process of the
decision making changes at the same time the outcome result is also
effected with the changes in the use of the required technology. The
environment is the factor that defines that what technology and
application need to be applied. However with the change in the
environment the read and write method can be applied. The
application system to be used is also decided with respect to the
environment.
endpoints in a
network
environment.
U.S. Patent
8,432,896.
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