TY - JOUR

T1 - Soft systems: a fresh perspective for project management

AU - Winter, Mark C.

AU - Checkland, Peter

PY - 2003

Y1 - 2003

N2 - Recent developments in the field of systems thinking show that conventional project management theory is essentially rooted in ‘hard’ systems thinking and there are now increasing calls to augment this theory with ideas and approaches from ‘soft’ systems thinking. This paper examines the essential differences between ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ systems thinking through a comparison of their different perspectives on project management practice. The core ideas for a new perspective on project management are presented together with implications for the education and training of future project managers.

AB - Recent developments in the field of systems thinking show that conventional project management theory is essentially rooted in ‘hard’ systems thinking and there are now increasing calls to augment this theory with ideas and approaches from ‘soft’ systems thinking. This paper examines the essential differences between ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ systems thinking through a comparison of their different perspectives on project management practice. The core ideas for a new perspective on project management are presented together with implications for the education and training of future project managers.

U2 - 10.1680/cien.2003.156.4.187

DO - 10.1680/cien.2003.156.4.187

M3 - Journal article

VL - 156

SP - 187

EP - 192

JO - Proceedings of the ICE - Civil Engineering

JF - Proceedings of the ICE - Civil Engineering

SN - 1751-7672

IS - 4

ER -