Systems thinking for project management: implications for practice and education
| dc.contributor.author | Taylor, Robert | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2016-06-13T13:55:14Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2016-06-13T13:55:14Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2010 | |
| dc.description.abstract | English: Deriving from a critique of the theory of management that has influenced the practice of project management, this article explores an alternative paradigm in the form of systems thinking. The known multi-disciplinary usefulness of systems thinking is proposed as a means of reconsidering project planning, implementation and control, leading to potential implications for the education of project managers. The appropriate selection of systems approaches for use in the planning and control of complex projects in any development sector, including construction, is considered. Although the specific details of any specific ‘process-based’ systems approaches are not presented, the conceptual rationale for such approaches to project planning and control is presented. This is done within a framework of critical consideration of those factors that are argued to contribute to failure to meet key project outcomes, especially in complex projects. Contemporary literature (extensively referred to in this article) increasingly suggests that there are limits to the established ‘rational-oriented’ approaches to project management. The current body of practice knowledge requires the addition of complementary, ‘process-based’ approaches for a new generation of strategic project managers. Specific recommendations for educational development in this regard are made. This article explores the influence of contemporary organisational theory on project management and hence the need to add critically necessary soft skills capacity to the current body of knowledge. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | Afrikaans: Hierdie artikel ondersoek ’n alternatiewe modelwoord in die vorm van sisteemdenke wat afgelei is van ’n kritiek oor die teorie van bestuurswese wat ’n invloed op projekbestuur gehad het. Die bekende multidissiplinêre bruikbaarheid van sisteemdenke is voorgestel as ’n manier om projekbeplanning, implementering en beheer te heroorweeg, wat kan lei tot potensiële implikasies vir die opleiding van projekbestuurders. Die toepaslike seleksie van stelselsbenaderings vir gebruik in die beplanning en beheer van komplekse projekte in enige sektor van ontwikkeling, insluitende konstruksie, word oorweeg. Alhoewel dit nie die aanbieding van die spesifike besonderhede van enige spesifieke ‘proses-gebaseerde’ stelsels voorstel nie, word die konseptuele rasionaal vir sulke benaderings aan die projekbeplanning en beheer voorgestel. Dit word gedoen binne ’n raamwerk van kritiese oorweging van die faktore wat aangevoer word om by te dra tot versuim om te voldoen aan die belangrikste projek-uitkomste, veral in die komplekse projekte. Kontemporêre literatuur (volledig uitgebrei en na verwys in hierdie artikel) dui toenemend daarop dat daar grense is aan die gevestigde ‘rasionele-georiënteerde’ benaderings tot die projekbestuur. Die huidige liggaam van die praktykkennis vereis die byvoeging van addisionele ‘proses-gebaseerde’ benaderings vir ’n nuwe generasie van strategiese projekbestuurders. Spesifieke aanbevelings vir die opvoedkundige ontwikkeling word in hierdie verband gemaak. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die invloed van eietydse organisatoriese teorie op projekbestuur en vandaar die nodigheid om krities nodige sagte vaardighede-kapasiteit tot die huidige liggaam van kennis toe te voeg. | af |
| dc.description.version | Publisher's version | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Taylor, R. G. (2010). Systems thinking for project management: implications for practice and education. Acta Structilia, 17(1), 79-103. | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.issn | 1023-0564 (print) | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2415-0487 (online) | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11660/2822 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | University of the Free State | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | University of the Free State | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Review articles | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Project management | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Systems thinking | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Complexity theory | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Project management education | en_ZA |
| dc.title | Systems thinking for project management: implications for practice and education | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Article | en_ZA |