PPMP20012 Final Essay: System Thinking in Project Management

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PPMP20012
Final Essay

Introduction
The system thinking is an approach which helps to define some aspects which could be
helpful to manage an entire process in significant manner. The system thinking could be
helpful to make some procedures which determines some resolutions regarding complex
issues and challenges. This particular essay will discuss about the relevance and importance
of system thinking to manage the complex situation. There will be the discussion about
different aspects related to the system thinking like general systems management,
organizational structures, forms and culture, value management and so on. The proper way of
application of the process in project management will also be discussed in significant manner.
The description over system thinking approaches to be used will also be justified in the
structured management of the essay. Thus, it could be stated the essay will provide brief and
critical information about the importance and values of system thinking approach in
significant manner.

1. A description of the theories and ideas specific to general systems management,
organizational structures, forms and culture, value management, engineering risk, risk
management, systems engineering and an assessment of the linkages between these?
General system management
The theory of general system management had been initiated by Ludwig von Bertalanffy in
1968. The theory states that complex system of organising the principles discovered with the
concepts of mathematics. This particular tern delivers different ideas which could be used to
explain different fields and ideas which relates to science (Klein, et. al., 2015). The theory
states that the model focuses on to deliver idea and principals depends on the subclasses
which relates to particular component. The theory does not focus on the physical environment
of the component. The theory focuses on to deliver realistic concepts rather than the
imaginative aspects.
Organizational structures, forms and culture
The organizational structure refers to the way of initiating the process of organization in the
way of attaining the desired aims and objectives. The main responsibilities which comes
under this approach includes the proper balance of roles, instructions and accountabilities.
The management of organization mainly depends on different factors and approach which is
using to initiate the performance structure (Lenfle, 2014). For an example, in the centralized
structure of organization the process of decision making depends on the top order. On the
other hand, in decentralized organizational structure entire process and decision making
varies level to level.
The form of organizational structure mostly depends on the procedure which have been
initiated to build the entire structure. These mainly includes the order of top, middle and
lower management business expertise. Whereas the organizational culture differs in four
types which are clan, adhocracy, market and hierarchy. The working clan culture refers to the
organized approach of doing the business collaboratively (Mir & Pinnington 2014). On the
other hand, adhocracy, market and hierarchy approaches respectively includes innovation,
competition and efficiency to ne delivered. The most common organizational function which
gets used is hierarchy function which works on top and down approach.
Value management

The values management is one of the concept which helps to attain different combinations of
planning tools and determines the valuable approach which gives the benefit of cost and risk
management. This approach gives the right concept to build the entire structure of way in that
manner which could be helpful to reduce the probability of risk and cost insertion in the
management process of project (Andersen, 2016). This could be considerate that formation of
the project accomplishes different type of risks and issues which can affect the management
in negative manner. The process of value management helps to implement the project in
significant and appropriate manner.
Engineering risk, risk management
The engineering risk refers to the probability of failure in the aspects of doing the engineering
functioning in any of the process. The major factors which causes the risk are related to the
designing and modification process. The process of engineering attains many type of aspects
which resolve the issues of complex factors. This could be indulgent that the process of
engineering helps to make the project management in more concise manner (Kivilä, et. al.,
2017). But this is also necessary to manage the associated risks to attain the advantages and
benefits in building the project management.
The risk management refers to the approach which helps to manage and resolve the risks
which are associated with the process of project management. The risks are some of the
negative factors which negatively affects the entire process of developing the project. The
nature of risk could be harsh or needs to be ignored depends on its impact on the process
management. While managing the risk this is also necessary to analyses the significance of
risk. This will help to manage and resolve the risk in significant manner (Too & Weaver,
2014). To manage the risk this is necessary to make proper about the ways which could be
used to manage or maintain the risks.
Systems engineering
The system engineering is one of the concept of engineering management that mainly
concerns to manage and design the critical system over the different process management
approaches (Too & Weaver, 2014). The system engineering process works on the concepts of
system thinking which helps to manage and maintain the entire management structure in
significant manner. The main role or expertise of system engineering is that it helps to
monitor and analyses different complex systems (Mir & Pinnington 2014). This also helps to

test and manage the complex systems which helps to attain more impactful results from
initiating them in the process.
Linkage between all the approaches
The management of complex project requires to follow different approaches and aspects
which helps to attain the main objective of attaining the project management (Too & Weaver,
2014). All of these factors like system engineering, risk management, general system
management and so on are some of the necessities to be followed to maintain the accessibility
of the project structure (Klein, et. al., 2015). This could be understanding that managing one
of the project in significant manner needs to attain these factors. As this will help to give
stability and efficiency to the management of the project.

2. A demonstration of thorough knowledge and application of relevant project and
portfolio management principles, concepts, methods and theories in a systems context?
The portfolio or project management could be stated as the concept or approach of managing
and building the entire structure of project which helps to attain the objectives which needs to
be initiated from the formation of project.
Portfolio alignment
The portfolio alignment refers to the process which could be initiate by an organization to
accomplish the project management in significant manner. This could be understanding that
the non-systematic approach of attaining the project execution could affect the organization
in negative manner. this could better understand by the example of incidents of deep water
horizon and Texas cities (Lenfle, 2014). There are some of the principals or approaches of
portfolio management which could be helpful to attain systematic management of project.
The very first thing which is necessary to be determined while initiating the project is related
to align or define the appropriate strategy. After defining the strategies or idea which needs to
be initiated further approach is related to defining the processing strategies. Thus is also
necessary to execute and complete the project in appropriate manner. That could be
understand that executing the project with proper management of risk is the basic
requirements to attain effective growth and development (Andersen, 2016). This is the basic
portfolio alignment which needs to be followed while executing the project.
Business value
The business values refer towards the values and authenticity of the business principles. The
process indicates towards the elements and factors which describes the values and moral
initiating the business process. This includes many of the factors which are linked with the
business entities. In context of Texas cities, the values could be defining as the alignment of
the organizational structure (Kivilä, et. al., 2017). This is necessary for different organization
to manage the impactful and growing business management structure which requires different
strategies to be followed.
This is necessary to initiate some innovative and different project plans which could be
helpful to grow the business structure in more effective manner. This is necessary to define
the objectives which needs to be fulfilled by initiating the project and to determine the
objectives this is necessary to define and manage the vision of the organization. that was also

one of the drawback in the case of deep water horizon as the idea or mission was not intended
before accomplishing the project which affected the entire processing of project management
and negatively affected the business.
Portfolio management process cycle
The portfolio includes the steps including defining, managing analysing the executing the
project in significant manner. There is the structured lifecycle of the approach which defines
it in significant manner (Kivilä, et. al., 2017).
The very first step indicates towards defining the project this mainly includes the aspects
which could help to define the entire processing. The further step is related to optimizing the
entire project structure which gives an idea about different factors which needs to be
managed in project execution. The next step indicates towards determining the values from
the execution of the project. The last stage or phase refers towards defining and managing the
project execution in significant manner (Andersen, 2016). These are some of the aspects of
project portfolio lifecycle which describes the management and execution process of the
project for the long term usage.

3. Appropriate and well structured, concise and clear expression of systems engineering
arguments in response to the assessment task?
The approach of system engineering could be helpful to resolve the complex and difficult
tasks which could affect the processing of entire project in negative manner. The assessment
had focused to learn from the challenges which have been raised in the situation of
Deepwater horizon and Texas cities (Mir & Pinnington 2014). This could be understanding
that the major drawback in those situations was related to the imbalanced management and
processing of the project in appropriate manner. This could be defining that the systematic
use of system engineering could be helpful to make some effective changes to grow in
significant manner.
Organizational maturity
The organizational maturity could be describing as the values and authenticity of their project
management. This refers towards the strategies and values which have utilized by the
organization to attain the aims and objectives which are interlinked with the project
management and portfolio (Too & Weaver, 2014). This is necessary for the organizations to
use different approaches which could be helpful to manage and initiate the processing of
project management in significant and appropriate manner (Kivilä, et. al., 2017). There are
different aspects like system engineering, risk management and so on which could be used by
the manage the process of project management in an organization. This is also necessary to
understand the importance and values of initiating the concept.
There are many of the benefits which could be attain by an organization by implementing the
approach of organizational maturity (Lenfle, 2014). The concept will be helpful to attain
more impactful growth and development to the organization. This will help the organization
to build some cost effective plans and execution of different tasks. One the other hand, it will
also increase the performance management which will help to attain the more improved
productivity or qualities (Klein, et. al., 2015). The execution of project in significant manner
is not only necessary to improve the internal structure of organization but it also helps to
build the processing of external environment also improved. Thus, the organizational
maturity is necessary to be considered.

Conclusion
The essay had concluded about the importance of system thinking and relevance of the
concept while initiating the project. this could be understanding that execution of the project
in significant manner will be helpful to attain growth and development in the organizational
performance. The system engineering and risk management are some of the aspects which
defines the resolution regarding complex issues and challenges of implementing the project.
there was also the discussion about different portfolio alignment and lifecycle which needs to
be followed in the successful execution of the project. the organizational maturity also plays
vital role for an organization to resolve the complex issues related to managing and analysing
the process of project management. Thus, the essay had described about the tactics of
managing the project.

References
1. Andersen, E. (2016). Do project managers have different perspectives on project
management? International Journal of Project Management, 34(1), 58-65.
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docId=10.1016%2Fj.ijproman.2015.09.007
2. Kivilä, Martinsuo, & Vuorinen. (2017). Sustainable project management through
project control in infrastructure projects. International Journal of Project
Management, 35(6), 1167-1183.
https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.cqu.edu.au/search/advanced?
docId=10.1016%2Fj.ijproman.2017.02.009
3. Klein, Biesenthal, & Dehlin. (2015). Improvisation in project management: A
praxeology. International Journal of Project Management, 33(2), 267-277.
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4. Lenfle, S. (2014). Toward a genealogy of project management: Sidewinder and the
management of exploratory projects. International Journal of Project Management,
32(6), 921-931. https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.cqu.edu.au/search/advanced?
docId=10.1016%2Fj.ijproman.2013.10.017
5. Mir, & Pinnington. (2014). Exploring the value of project management: Linking
Project Management Performance and Project Success. International Journal of
Project Management, 32(2), 202-217. https://www-sciencedirect-
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6. Too, & Weaver. (2014). The management of project management: A conceptual
framework for project governance. International Journal of Project Management,
32(8), 1382-1394.
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