--- title: "System view of project management" subject: "ICT Project Management" chapter: 5 key: "semester_7/ict_project_management:system-view-three-parts" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/system-view-three-parts site: BCT Engineering --- # System view of project management ICT Project Management · Chapter 5: Project and Organizational structure - Asked in: year not given; year not given - Video: [Part 1 chapter 2: Project Management and Information Technology Context By Hanifah Musa](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p35uoq0DHZE) — Waidsum University - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/system-view-three-parts - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/ict_project_management/chapter-5 ## Question What do you mean by project management system? Explain with 3 parts (3 essences) of the project's system view of project management. ## Short answer The systems view of project management treats the project as part of a larger organisation. Its three parts are systems philosophy (thinking of things as systems), systems analysis (problem-solving by defining scope and evaluating alternatives), and systems management (addressing business, technological and organisational issues). ## Answer A **project management system** is the organised set of processes, people, tools and methods through which a project is managed. The **systems view** of project management (Schwalbe) means treating the project as part of a larger organisation and looking at all its interrelated parts, rather than viewing it in isolation. It is based on the **systems approach**: a holistic, analytical and problem-solving approach with three parts. #### The three parts of the systems view 1. **Systems philosophy** - A model for thinking of things as systems, i.e. sets of interacting components working within an environment to fulfil some purpose. - The project is seen as part of the organisation, and decisions are made considering their effect on the whole organisation. 2. **Systems analysis** - A problem-solving approach that requires defining the scope of the system, dividing it into components, and then identifying and evaluating its problems, opportunities, constraints and needs. - The analyst then examines alternative solutions and recommends the best one. 3. **Systems management** - Addresses the business, technological and organisational issues before making changes to a system. - Considers not only technology but also the people, politics and finances of the organisation. ```text Systems approach / | \ Philosophy Analysis Management (think as (solve (business, tech, system) problem) organisation) ``` #### Application to projects - Project managers must see how a project interacts with other projects, departments and stakeholders. - They must analyse the project's problems step by step (WBS, risk analysis). - They must consider organisational and technological issues, e.g. whether the new ERP matches the work culture. **Example:** Introducing new billing software in a hospital also affects finance staff, patients, training and existing databases. Systems thinking helps to plan all of these together. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What does systems philosophy mean? A. Dividing a problem into WBS tasks B. Addressing business, tech and organisational issues before change C. Thinking of things as systems of interacting components within an environment D. Choosing the cheapest tool Answer: C. It is a model for viewing the project as part of the larger organisation. (Key point: Systems philosophy) 2. What does systems analysis involve? A. Only coding the system B. Defining scope, dividing into components, then evaluating problems and alternatives to recommend the best solution C. Managing people and politics D. Closing the contract Answer: B. It is a problem-solving approach. (Key point: Systems analysis) 3. Systems management addresses which issues before changing a system? A. Business, technological and organisational issues B. Only technical issues C. Only cost issues D. Only schedule issues Answer: A. It considers technology plus people, politics and finance. (Key point: Systems management) ## Related in ICT Project Management - [Types of project system view](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Atypes-system-view) — ICT Project Management, chapter 5 - [Project management information system](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Apmis) — ICT Project Management, chapter 7 - [Project management body of knowledge](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Adefine-pmbok) — ICT Project Management, chapter 2 - [General management skills and project management](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Ageneral-management-skill) — ICT Project Management, chapter 2 - [Project portfolio management](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aportfolio-management) — ICT Project Management, chapter 3 - [Define project management](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Adefine-project-management) — ICT Project Management, chapter 4 ## Related in other subjects - [Event management system summary and class diagram](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fobject_oriented_analysis_and_design%3Aoems-executive-summary-class-diagram) — Object Oriented Analysis and Design, chapter 2 - [Function of project management in Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Acpm-function-nepal) — Construction Management, chapter 1 - [Types of projects; effect of project management](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aproject-types-effect-of-management) — Project Engineering, chapter 1 - [Project vs traditional management; external environment](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aproject-vs-traditional-mgmt-external-env) — Project Engineering, chapter 1