3.1 A System View of Project Management


Project manager must be able to relate the project to the organizational environment.
This can be achieved by adopting what is called the system approach which is discussed next.

What is a system approach

A system approach emerged in the 1950s to describe an analytical approach to management and problem solving.
In this approach, problems are viewed as part of an overall system;
Where a system can be defined as a set of elements that are related to each other to perform a task or achieve a target.
The management system is an open system; where open system is one that is influenced by, and is continually interacting with its environment.
Environment factors which the management system interacts include:
Customers,
Suppliers,

3.1 A System View of Project Management


Competitors and
Government.
The systems approach is a problem-solving method which helps to:
Define the need/problem clearly.
Analyse the problem and identify different solutions.
Select the most feasible solution among the various options.
Implement and test the solution.
Evaluate the effectiveness and worth of the solution.

The three sphere model for systems management

As projects cannot run in isolation, the project manager must operate within the environment of the organization and identify how different projects situated within the larger organization.
Business, organization and technology are the three sphere models of systems management that aids IT project managers in choosing and managing projects.

3.1 A System View of Project Management


Example: Consider an example of a project concerned with the development of a web site to market a product for a company. Figure 3.1 illustrates the business, organizational and technological factors that could affect the management of the project.
Figure 3.1: Example of Business, Organizational and Technological Factors in a Project