PPMP20012 Group Essay: System Thinking Tools in Project Management

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GROUP ESSAY PPMP20012

Various tools are being included in the system thinking tools such as brainstorming tools,
structural tools, dynamic tools, and computer-based tools. Each & every relevant tool is to be
designed by the project managers that can help them in not only resolving the various problems
related to the project but also enables them in enhancing the deep & effective combination for
achieving the deeper insights into the dynamic behavior. The complete essay will demonstrate
the relevant evidence that can highly support the argument which is being generated about using
the system thinking tools & techniques that can help all the project managers for solving multiple
project problems. The evidence will be based upon the argument of “the project managers can
solve any kind of the project problem with the help of system thinking tools”.
The deep & effective relevance of various tools & techniques of system thinking can be best
understood with the help of using & implementing the multiple theories as well as the unique
business ideas (Locatelli, et.al. 2014). The suitable & appropriate description of the effective
theories & ideas has been discussed following:
General systems management: This theory was developed by Ludwig von Bertalanffy in the
year 1968. This theory describes the organized principles that can help in discovering &
modeling the complex systems or the project problems in the mathematical form. This theory
helps in providing the deep & effective explanation of all the multiple systems in the different
fields of science. According to Bertalanffy, this theory was more than a scientific theory as it
proposes a new & unique way of doing science (Hornstein, 2015). A favorable set of concepts
have been described & presented that can be used by the project managers to solve various
problems during the project accomplishment. The system philosophy of this theory includes
three essential parts which are systems ontology (describes the meaning of the system), values
(the relations of world and man) and the system epistemology (principles of theories forming the
basis of knowledge of systems).
This theory is deeply in favor of the argument as it works as the doctrine of effective principles
that can apply to the different systems. This theory enables the project managers to only
understand about the multiple elements but also to enhance the effective inter-relationships
between the overall structures of the project and dynamics of the social systems (Locatelli, et.al.
2014).

Organizational structure, forms & culture: The term organizational structure refers to the
business norms, policies as well as the rules which are being formed by the business organization
for achieving the defined business objectives & aims. On the other hand, the organizational
culture involves the essential values, the changing attitudes & the changing behavior of all the
employees working in the business organization. Both the structure & culture of the business
organization are very essential for ensuring & enhancing the long term growth & success in the
competitive business market (Locatelli, et.al. 2014). It has also been identified that the
organizational culture & structure are closely inter-related to each other.
The overall culture of the business organization forms the big picture of the whole organizational
entity. The way of doing the business in both the internal as well as the external context is being
described by the company's culture, whereas, the moving of communication in a suitable manner
from one side to the other is being enhanced by the company's structure (Hornstein, 2015). It
also describes how the appropriate resources can be gathered to achieve common business
objectives.
The project managers are essentially required to deeply understand how the overall management
of the project can be greatly affected by the organizational structure along with their multiple
effects. Tracking all the activities for completing the project is very difficult which can be
enhanced positively with the help of favorable structure of the business organization (Hornstein,
2015). Along with these, the suitable organizational structure also enables the project managers
to greatly understand about the better working environment to eliminate the multiple issues
within the business organization & also leading the whole business towards the successful
running of the project management. Therefore, the idea of organizational structure, culture &
forms is effective evidence of the described argument (Braglia & Frosolini, 2014).
Value management: The concept of value management is majorly concerned with highly
improving & sustaining the desirable & standard balance between the different needs, wants as
well as the requirements of all the organizational stakeholders & multiple resources that are to be
needed to ensure the maximum level of satisfaction within the whole business organization
(Braglia & Frosolini, 2014). This theory also plays an essential role in affecting project
management because the values of different stakeholders vary with the changing period. This

theory can enable all the project managers to deliver the best value to all the stakeholders so that
their judgments may be maintained or balanced sustainably in a favorable manner.
As in the case of Texas City and Deepwater Horizon, the project managers were not able to
utilize the optimum or standard tool for developing the appropriate balance among the changing
needs & expectations of different stakeholders. Therefore, for this purpose, the project managers
by using this concept of value management can effectively & efficiently solve the various
problems about the project (Braglia & Frosolini, 2014). The suitable project brief can be created
with the help of which the priorities of the whole project can be reflected based on value as well
as the function. The functional basis can also be enhanced in the relation of the argument for
designing the overall development & management for improving the level of communication,
collaborative working & mutual learning (Martinsuo, 2013).
Engineering risk & management risk: The process of risk management includes the proper
identification, evaluation, assessment & the effective prioritization of all the risks that are to be
followed essentially by the coordinated & economical application of the limited available
resources for minimizing the negative impacts & maximizing the positive realization of various
organizational opportunities. With the help of proper risk & engineering management, the project
managers can reduce the risks involved in the whole project (Braglia & Frosolini, 2014). These
effective concepts set up the higher prioritized risks which are to be eliminated first along with
developing the possible & favorable responses to all the identified risks in the project.
This theory or the innovative idea also supports the defined argument enthusiastically as the
concept of risk management provides the useful paradigm within the field of the project
management for deeply understanding, categorizing & developing the different approaches for
solving the complex problems during the running of the project (Martinsuo, 2013). In the case of
Texas City and Deepwater Horizon, the project managers were not able to identify & evaluate
the risks effectively & efficiently. Therefore, this paradigm is being developed & implemented
which can be positively applied towards the achievement of institutional goals along with
acquiring the superior technical capabilities.
System engineering: The system engineering is the interdisciplinary field of both the
engineering & engineering management that can help all the project managers/ executives for

highly focusing on how the various complex systems can be managed & designed properly &
suitably over the lifecycle of the project. It has been founded that the unique principles are to be
included & organized by the system engineering of the system thinking approach for organizing
the whole body of the knowledge (Martinsuo, 2013).
According to AS/NZS 15288 Systems engineering, different project problems can be solved as
the system engineering enables the project managers to design the transport solutions for
supporting the thriving societies. The developed argument is greatly supported because it also
leads towards the achievement of various capabilities, needs & requirements of all the project
stakeholders (Killen, et.al. 2012).
Linkages: All the above theories or ideas are completely linked to each other as in case if anyone
theory gets skips by the project manager, then they may not be able to achieve the defined aims
& objectives of the project. Until & unless, the proper organizational structure is not being
developed, the favorable culture cannot be enhanced & because of which the theory of value
management can also be not able to meet the changing needs & requirements of all the
stakeholders. Therefore, all these theories are to be linked essentially & effectively (Unger, et.al.
2012).
The principles, concept & various methods of project & portfolio management are being
discussed, effectively & efficiently. Some of the principles include the aligned strategy which
states it is definite to align the portfolio of changing the work with the corporate strategy. It is the
basic principle for managing the whole portfolio & supporting or hindering the defined business
goals. According to the principle of Align governance, it is to be ensured that all the things are
being done to ensure the clarity & higher level of consistency to govern the company, effectively
& efficiently. Closing projects confidently principle takes up the hard look at the different facts
as well as the act on the project data & figures (Killen, et.al. 2012). Leading actively which
states that the core principle of portfolio management is the leadership. A proactive & change-
driven team is to be created & developed for the leadership courses of training & development.
Embracing risk is that principle which ensures the risk of the project that is to be embraced by
properly managing & calculating the changing levels of risk along with making the greater leaps
forwarding towards the business. Be transparent is the key principle of portfolio management.

Also, all the things should be embedded by the whole culture of the business organization
(Unger, et.al. 2012).
Hence, it has been identified that all the defined principles, methods, concepts & other effective
theories strongly support the established argument as the whole method or the concept of project
portfolio management describes how all the complex problems can be managed, inter-related &
dependent to the project. The grouping of the whole project is being enhanced at the past, present
& future level. This concept includes the necessary steps of creating an inventory, establishing
the effective strategy, analyzing the strengths & weaknesses of the project, ensuring the proper
alignment, managing the different aspects of the project and testing or adapting the multiple
changes to be implemented during the running of the project (Killen, et.al. 2012).
The project managers are necessarily required to enhance the better level of understanding with
the help of system engineering approach/ arguments about different needs of the different
stakeholders. This approach also helps the project managers for changing & enhancing the
configuration in the effective as well as in an efficient manner. The rational arguments are being
provided through system engineering in the relation of the various decision-making processes.
The arguments are being designed & classified in the multiple ways of surveys, computations &
simulations, tests & practical experience. Surveys design those arguments that provide increasing
support or highly challenge the design decision (Unger, et.al. 2012). Computations & simulations
develop the arguments based on the physical as well as the chemical laws. Tests & practical
experiences provide rational facts by the practitioner authorities to develop the arguments. All
these basics have to be understood & enhanced by the project managers so that they can
implement the favorable application of the development argument in a positive & suitable
manner.
It can be concluded from the complete essay that all the evidences are effectively presented in
the context of the developed argument which is that the project managers can favorably &
positively solve all the issues related to the project with the help of the various effective tools &
techniques of the system thinking approach, multiple steps involved under the concept of project
& portfolio management & many other suitable theories.

References
 Locatelli, Mancini, & Romano. (2014). Systems Engineering to improve governance in
complex project environments. International Journal of Project Management, 32(8),
1395-1410. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijproman.2013.10.007
 Hornstein, H. (2015). The integration of project management and organizational change
management is now a necessity. International Journal of Project Management, 33(2),
291-298. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijproman.2014.08.005
 Braglia, & Frosolini. (2014). An integrated approach to implement Project Management
Information Systems within the Extended Enterprise. International Journal of Project
Management, 32(1), 18-29. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijproman.2012.12.003
 Martinsuo, M. (2013). Project portfolio management in practice and context.
International Journal of Project Management, 31(6), 794-803. DOI:
10.1016/j.ijproman.2012.10.013
 Killen, Jugdev, Drouin, & Petit. (2012). Advancing project and portfolio management
research: Applying strategic management theories. International Journal of Project
Management, 30(5), 525-538. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijproman.2011.12.004
 Unger, Gemünden, & Aubry. (2012). The three roles of a project portfolio management
office: Their impact on portfolio management execution and success. International
Journal of Project Management, 30(5), 608-620. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijproman.2012.01.015