PPMP20012 - Systems Thinking and its Relevance to Project Management

This portfolio assignment for PPMP20012 explores the relevance of systems thinking to project management. It covers key concepts of systems thinking and systems engineering, emphasizing their role in integrating project resources and understanding project problems. The portfolio addresses the importance of systems engineering methodologies in developing cost-effective solutions and the effective use of project management tools for knowledge management and decision-making. It also compares manual and electronic project, program, and portfolio management application systems, highlighting the advantages of automated project progress reporting. The assignment references academic sources and aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how systems thinking and engineering contribute to successful project execution.

(Insert Student Name) / (Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012Unit Portfolio for Week 1
Week 1 Topic: Explain the relevance of systems thinking to PM.
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
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
SEBoK'
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
Systems
Engineering';
 SEBoK:Part 7:
Systems
Engineering
Implementation
Examples
 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
management—
Guidance on
portfolio
1. Explain the relevance of systems
thinking to the project, program and
portfolio manager. This week’s learning has provided that basic concepts of
system thinking and system engineering. System thinking
helps in integrating the different resources of the project,
which further helps in effective understanding of the project
problems.
This week’s lectures have provided a brief idea about the
project program and the portfolio management and the
challenges that different projects face while implementation.
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(Insert Student Name) / (Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012Unit Portfolio for Week 1
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;
Mandatory Readings
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
SEBoK'
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
Systems
Engineering';
 SEBoK:Part 7:
Systems
Engineering
Implementation
Examples
 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
management—
Guidance on
portfolio
management;
2. Identify different systems thinking
tools and techniques to aid project
managers solve project problems.
Portfolio is an essential project management tool that
ensures that the project progress is documented and the
challenges that project faces while its execution. The project
managers play an important role in management of the
project.
System thinking helps in determining the purpose use and
the process of delivering a good project. It further helps in
understanding the need of good team players.
Sheffield, J., Sankaran, S.
and Haslett, T., 2012.
Systems thinking: taming
complexity in project
management. On the
Horizon, 20(2), pp.126-
136.
Mandatory Readings
 SEBoK:
3. Assess the relevance of systems
engineering to project cases.
This week’s learning has provided a basic idea of system
engineering which is an important component of project
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(Insert Student Name) / (Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012Unit Portfolio for Week 1
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
'Introduction to
SEBoK'
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
Systems
Engineering';
 SEBoK:Part 7:
Systems
Engineering
Implementation
Examples
 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
management—
Guidance on
portfolio
management;
development. For successful project development there is a
need for both system engineering and program
management.
Mandatory Readings
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
SEBoK'
4. Describe how systems engineering
concepts and methodologies can help
a project, program and portfolio
managers organise a project.
The system engineering methodology helps in development
of a reliable and cost effective computer based solution while
making an efficient use of the project resources.
3 of 11

(Insert Student Name) / (Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012Unit Portfolio for Week 1
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
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
Systems
Engineering';
 SEBoK:Part 7:
Systems
Engineering
Implementation
Examples
 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
management—
Guidance on
portfolio
management;
Mandatory Readings
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
SEBoK'
 SEBoK:
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.
It is essential to elect appropriately the different project
management systems and application since the project
implementation is largely based on that. The internal and
external objectives of the project are needed to be identified
properly in order to execute the project in a proper way.
Sheffield, J., Sankaran, S.
and Haslett, T., 2012.
Systems thinking: taming
complexity in project
4 of 11

(Insert Student Name) / (Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012Unit Portfolio for Week 1
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
'Introduction to
Systems
Engineering';
 SEBoK:Part 7:
Systems
Engineering
Implementation
Examples
 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
management—
Guidance on
portfolio
management;
management. On the
Horizon, 20(2), pp.126-
136.
Mandatory Readings
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
SEBoK'
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
6. Describe how the use of project
management (PM) application systems
can lead to effective PM knowledge
management and decision making.
The project management application system refers to the
effective use of the project management tools that help in
successful implementation of a project. These tools are
essential for knowledge management and effective decision
making.
5 of 11

(Insert Student Name) / (Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012Unit Portfolio for Week 1
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';
 SEBoK:Part 7:
Systems
Engineering
Implementation
Examples
 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
management—
Guidance on
portfolio
management;
Mandatory Readings
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
SEBoK'
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
Systems
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.
The electronic project, program and portfolio management
has definitely an advantage over the portfolio management.
It helps in easier record keeping.
Sheffield, J., Sankaran, S.
and Haslett, T., 2012.
Systems thinking: taming
complexity in project
management. On the
Horizon, 20(2), pp.126-
136.
6 of 11

(Insert Student Name) / (Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012Unit Portfolio for Week 1
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
Engineering';
 SEBoK:Part 7:
Systems
Engineering
Implementation
Examples
 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
management—
Guidance on
portfolio
management;
Mandatory Readings
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
SEBoK'
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
Systems
8. Identify how project, program and
portfolio (PPPM) application systems
can assist project managers to monitor
performance and manage changes
within a project.
This week’s learning gave an overview of the portfolio
application system that the project manager makes use for
monitoring the performance of a project.
7 of 11

(Insert Student Name) / (Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012Unit Portfolio for Week 1
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
Engineering';
 SEBoK:Part 7:
Systems
Engineering
Implementation
Examples
 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
management—
Guidance on
portfolio
management;
Mandatory Readings
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
SEBoK'
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
Systems
9. Propose appropriate project, program
and portfolio (PPPM) application
systems to support successful project,
program and portfolio execution in
different industry domains.
The reporting of project progress should be automated,
which in turn will help in successful project, portfolio
execution in the given project environment.
8 of 11

(Insert Student Name) / (Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012Unit Portfolio for Week 1
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
Engineering';
 SEBoK:Part 7:
Systems
Engineering
Implementation
Examples
 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
management—
Guidance on
portfolio
management;
Mandatory Readings
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
SEBoK'
 SEBoK:
'Introduction to
Systems
10. Discuss contemporary developments
in the use of project, program and
portfolio (PPPM) application systems.
I have gained a knowledge about the use of different project
management tools and project portfolio will help in proper
project implementation.
Sheffield, J., Sankaran, S.
and Haslett, T., 2012.
Systems thinking: taming
complexity in project
management. On the
Horizon, 20(2), pp.126-
136.
9 of 11

(Insert Student Name) / (Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012Unit Portfolio for Week 1
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
Engineering';
 SEBoK:Part 7:
Systems
Engineering
Implementation
Examples
 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
management—
Guidance on
portfolio
management;
References
Kerzner, H. and Kerzner, H.R., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
10 of 11

(Insert Student Name) / (Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012Unit Portfolio for Week 1
Sheffield, J., Sankaran, S. and Haslett, T., 2012. Systems thinking: taming complexity in project management. On the Horizon, 20(2), pp.126-136.
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