PPMP20012 Unit Portfolio - Systems Thinking in Project Management

This project, a unit portfolio for PPMP20012, explores the application of systems thinking in project, program, and portfolio management. The assignment covers the relevance of systems thinking, its impact on stakeholder understanding, project governance, and risk management. It examines the use of PM application systems for effective knowledge management, decision-making, and performance monitoring. The project also compares manual and electronic PM application systems, proposes suitable systems for different industries, and discusses contemporary developments in their use. The portfolio includes readings, learning outcomes, and reflections on weekly study, experience, and prior unit content, providing a comprehensive overview of systems thinking and project management principles. This assignment aims to provide insights into the impact of change and the role of application systems in monitoring performance and managing changes within a project lifecycle. The project includes various topics such as systems thinking, project management, and portfolio management. The assignment also covers how to support successful project execution in different industries.

(Insert Student Name) / (Insert Student Number) - PPMP20012 Unit Portfolio for Week 1
Week 1 Topic: 1. Explain the relevance of systems thinking to the project, program and portfolio manager
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
 Part 3: Systems
Engineering and
Management: Knowledge
Area: Systems
Realization;
 Part 3: Systems
Engineering and
Management: 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
1. Explain the
relevance of
systems
thinking to the
project,
program and
portfolio
manager.
System Thinking is referred to as process rather framework used to identify the
interrelationship between the different processes working within an
organization.
System thinking helps the program and portfolio manager to understand the
cause of problem based on the project scope and objectives. It gives a better
stakeholder understanding that increases the commitment of the stakeholders.
It also improves project governance by minimizing the unintended application
level consequences. The process of risks identification and risk mitigation also
becomes much easier with the implementation of the system thinking in the
business organization.
It has been assumed that if all of these processes work effectively and efficiently
the operational and functional issues associated to the organization will be
completely resolved. System thinking is a related discipline that must be used
both the program and portfolio managers. I have learnt that in order to manage
complex project scenario the system thinking approach is very essential. System
thinking is somewhere different from system engineering.
In other words, the process of system thinking is referred to as an analytical
approach that is strictly focused on the way that a system is constitute of
different parts interrelated and how the system work over time as well as within
the larger system context.
System thinking helps the project manager and project team members to
identify where actually the interventions may have most impact. It will not take
directly rather over time.
This is applicable for the project manager and portfolio managers to keep a
PPMP20012 lecture
notes.
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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
23;
 AS/NZS 15288:2015
Annex E
Optional Readings
 AS ISO 21504:2016
Web Sites
 YouTube: What is Portfolio
Management vs. Project
Management?
much bigger picture in mind. This approach is also applicable for complex
projects also. Different system thinking tools are also there such as trends map
and casual loop diagram. Two of these diagram are required to be sued by both
project and portfolio managers to accomplish the assigned project
References
Archibald, R. D., & Archibald, S. (2016). Leading and Managing Innovation: What Every Executive Team Must Know about Project, Program, and Portfolio
Management. Auerbach Publications.
Petro, Y., & Gardiner, P. (2015). An investigation of the influence of organizational design on project portfolio success, effectiveness and business efficiency
for project-based organizations. International Journal of Project Management, 33(8), 1717-1729.
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