Systems Engineering And Project Management: Tools And Techniques

Mandatory Readings

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘Introduction to SE Transformation’;

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘SEBoK Users and Uses’;

·         Part 6: Related Disciplines – ‘Knowledge Area: Systems Engineering and Project Management’

·         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;

Case Study

·         Chief Counsel’s Report – Chapter 5 (PDF 700KB),

1.       Explain the relevance of systems thinking to the project, program and portfolio manager.

System Thinking is about utilizing expertise that is managerial as well as technical. This process can be used to manage different projects in every sector. However, the amount of managerial and technical expertise required changes with the types of the project. Systems thinking and its engineering is therefore vital for different projects. The project manager requires more technical knowledge than managerial perspective. The program manager on the other hand is more concerned about the managerial aspect of the project rather than the technical part. The portfolio manager needs a balance of technical and managerial perspective as the person is responsible for taking the ultimate decision about various investments along with a team of experts who provide support.

Arnold, R. D., & Wade, J. P. (2015). A definition of systems thinking: a systems approach. Procedia Computer Science, 44, 669-678.

Mandatory Readings

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘Introduction to SE Transformation’;

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘SEBoK Users and Uses’;

·         Part 6: Related Disciplines – ‘Knowledge Area: Systems Engineering and Project Management’

·         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;

Case Study

·         Chief Counsel’s Report – Chapter 5 (PDF 700KB),

2.       Identify different systems thinking tools and techniques to aid project managers solve project problems.

The tools that were identified that can help to implement systems engineering are tools that induce dynamical and structural thinking, tools that promote utilizing the brain and then there are tools that are based on the calculation power of the computers

Mandatory Readings

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘Introduction to SE Transformation’;

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘SEBoK Users and Uses’;

·         Part 6: Related Disciplines – ‘Knowledge Area: Systems Engineering and Project Management’

·         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;

Case Study

·         Chief Counsel’s Report – Chapter 5 (PDF 700KB);

3.       Assess the relevance of systems engineering to project cases.

The Deepwater Horizon that was on leash to BP had experienced a blowout. The rig was monitored from a control facility at Texas. Therefore, systems engineering could have used here to create scenarios emulating the blast beforehand. The project case shows that it was in dire need of the proper system tools that would have helped to better organize the project and prevent the blast.

Dickerson, C., & Mavris, D. N. (2016). Architecture and principles of systems engineering. CRC Press.

Mandatory Readings

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘Introduction to SE Transformation’;

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘SEBoK Users and Uses’;

·         Part 6: Related Disciplines – ‘Knowledge Area: Systems Engineering and Project Management’

·         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;

Case Study

·         Chief Counsel’s Report – Chapter 5 (PDF 700KB);

4.       Describe how systems engineering concepts and methodologies can help a project, program and portfolio managers organise a project.

Systems engineering is about implementing the right combination of technical as well as managerial experiences that is required to manage a project. The manager is responsible for determining the right combination and proceeding accordingly.

Mandatory Readings

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘Introduction to SE Transformation’;

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘SEBoK Users and Uses’;

·         Part 6: Related Disciplines – ‘Knowledge Area: Systems Engineering and Project Management’

·         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;

Case Study

·         Chief Counsel’s Report – Chapter 5 (PDF 700KB);

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.

The case study of the Deepwater Horizon shows that the importance of selecting the appropriate application systems is required. The internal objective of the project was profit making by using computers instead if human and the external objective of the project was to extract oil and natural gas at a faster rate. Therefore, these objectives could be fulfilled using the dynamic thinking tool. However, a computer-based simulation and the necessary brainstorming tools could have saved the project from failing.

Mandatory Readings

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘Introduction to SE Transformation’;

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘SEBoK Users and Uses’;

·         Part 6: Related Disciplines – ‘Knowledge Area: Systems Engineering and Project Management’

·         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;

Case Study

·         Chief Counsel’s Report – Chapter 5 (PDF 700KB);

6.       Describe how the use of project management (PM) application systems can lead to effective PM knowledge management and decision making.

The above mentioned tools could have used to make better decision making as better scenario analysis could have achieved using those tools.

Mandatory Readings

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘Introduction to SE Transformation’;

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘SEBoK Users and Uses’;

·         Part 6: Related Disciplines – ‘Knowledge Area: Systems Engineering and Project Management’

·         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;

Case Study

·         Chief Counsel’s Report – Chapter 5 (PDF 700KB);

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.

Manual application systems could have saved the Deepwater Horizon. Computer based system provides only the ideal conditions without considering any alternative to the decision making.

Buede, D. M., & Miller, W. D. (2016). The engineering design of systems: models and methods. John Wiley & Sons.

Mandatory Readings

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘Introduction to SE Transformation’;

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘SEBoK Users and Uses’;

·         Part 6: Related Disciplines – ‘Knowledge Area: Systems Engineering and Project Management’

·         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;

Case Study

·         Chief Counsel’s Report – Chapter 5 (PDF 700KB);

8.       Identify how project, program and portfolio (PPPM) application systems can assist project managers to monitor performance and manage changes within a project.

Project managers can better analyse the situation by gathering ample information from the system. It is vital that the project managers make informed decisions by using their technical and managerial expertise.

Kerzner, H., & Kerzner, H. R. (2017). Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.

Mandatory Readings

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘Introduction to SE Transformation’;

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘SEBoK Users and Uses’;

·         Part 6: Related Disciplines – ‘Knowledge Area: Systems Engineering and Project Management’

·         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;

Case Study

·         Chief Counsel’s Report – Chapter 5 (PDF 700KB);

9.       Propose appropriate project, program and portfolio (PPPM) application systems to support successful project, program and portfolio execution in different industry domains.

I propose a combination of dynamic thinking tool along with brainstorming and computer supported scenario making. This would make the decision making an informed and a successful one as the project manager would be able to effectively manage the project.

Mandatory Readings

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘Introduction to SE Transformation’;

·         Part 1: SEBoK Introduction – ‘SEBoK Users and Uses’;

·         Part 6: Related Disciplines – ‘Knowledge Area: Systems Engineering and Project Management’

·         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;

Case Study

·         Chief Counsel’s Report – Chapter 5 (PDF 700KB);

10.    Discuss contemporary developments in the use of project, program and portfolio (PPPM) application systems.

The recent developments in the application system is suitable for deployment in the field that would aid the project, portfolio and the program managers to take better decisions for their projects.

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