PPMP20012 Portfolio Week 1: Relevance of Systems Thinking in PM

This portfolio assignment, submitted by a student for the PPMP20012 unit, focuses on the relevance of systems thinking in project management. The assignment highlights the relationship between Systems Engineering (SE) and Project Management (PM), emphasizing how SE, as described in the SEBoK, complements PM, as outlined in the PMBoK. It discusses the importance of systems thinking in addressing complex project challenges and its application in various areas such as portfolio management, quality management, and organizational management. The assignment references key readings, including the SEBoK and Kerzner (2013), and underscores how mature project management practices, informed by systems thinking, can significantly impact project success. The document explains the role of portfolio management at an organizational level and how it aligns with strategic planning and objectives, supported by the principles of systems thinking. The student demonstrates an understanding of how systems thinking enhances project visibility, aids in risk and resource management, and improves decision-making capabilities.

(Insert Student Name) / (Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012 Unit 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
Systems Engineering
has been developed
from a variety of
practices and activities,
such as stakeholder
management,
representation of
system architecture,
integration of various
disciplines and many
more. The concept can
be applied to a variety
of applications and end-
to-end project life
cycles.
There are primary and secondary users involved in SE that work towards
achieving specific goals and objectives. Healthcare is one sector in which SE is
being largely applied in.
PPMP20012 Unit Profile
PPMP20012 Moodle
Web site
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(Insert Student Name) / (Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012 Unit 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;
SE and Project
Management are
closely related with
each other. PMBoK and
SEBoK have overlapping
scopes.
SE focusses on the technical project aspects to achieve the project goals and
objectives while project management is responsible for the overall project.
Maturing in Project
Management may
determine the project
success or failure. There
are several components
in Project Management
to achieve sustained
benefits as defined by
Project Management
Institute (PMI).
Portfolio Management is carried out at the organizational level with
organization vision at the top followed by its mission, objectives, strategic
planning and management. Systems Thinking are also carried out in parallel.
The failures and
difficulties in the
projects have been
found to be a result of
lack of Systems
Engineering (SE).
Systems Engineering
Body of Knowledge
(SEBoK) describes the
content, boundaries,
terminology, and
structure of SE.
There are various resources that are engaged with SEBoK for the drawing up the
content of the same. It includes lifecycle planning and management, change
analysis, verification and validation, and continuous improvement process.
System Thinking
provides a mechanism
Project visibility and awareness can be improved with the aid of SEBoK and
PMBoK. These methodologies and approaches provide the guidelines and
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(Insert Student Name) / (Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012 Unit 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
for the resolution of all
the complex problems
associated with the
projects, such as project
management, portfolio
management, quality
management, business
process improvement,
organizational
management and so on.
processes for the management of project risks, project resources, and all the
other elements in the projects. The decision-making activities and problem-
solving capabilities can also be enhanced with the application of the same.
References
Gasik, S. (2015). An Analysis of Knowledge Management in PMBOK® Guide. [online] Sybena.pl. Available at:
http://www.sybena.pl/dokumenty/PM-World-Journal-2015-January-Gasik-Analysis-of-knowledge-management-in-PMBOK-Guide-PMI.pdf
[Accessed 24 Mar. 2018].
Kerzner, H. (2013). A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. [online] Books.mec.biz. Available at:
https://books.mec.biz/tmp/books/55F1OL4WQC7HL2OBCGHS.pdf [Accessed 24 Mar. 2018].
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(Insert Student Name) / (Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012 Unit Portfolio for Week 1
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