Using a Systems Thinking Approach to Select Successful Projects

Why It Matters

Systems thinking equips project professionals with the foresight to navigate complexity, reducing costly surprises and aligning outcomes with stakeholder expectations in today’s fast‑changing business environment.

Key Takeaways

• Systems thinking reveals hidden interdependencies in complex projects
• Holistic analysis reduces unforeseen risks and improves stakeholder alignment
• Graphical models foster shared understanding across project teams
• Front‑end loading with systems tools enhances foresight and adaptability
• Adopting systems thinking is becoming essential for modern project success

Summary

The APM podcast episode introduces systems thinking as a strategic lens for selecting and delivering successful projects. Host Emma Dvita interviews three seasoned professionals—Andrew Wright, Esther Bennett, and Caesar Randura—who explain how the approach moves beyond linear, siloed planning to consider the dynamic interplay of technical, human, and environmental factors.

Key insights include the definition of systems thinking as recognizing that no element operates in isolation; tools such as mind‑mapping, causal loops, and visual models help map these relationships. Participants stress that traditional project methods are overly clinical, while systems thinking uncovers hidden stakeholder needs, regulatory constraints, and sustainability considerations, enabling more accurate problem definition before committing to solutions.

Illustrative examples range from a car’s interacting subsystems to computer operating systems crashing due to tangled processes. Caesar describes creating a collective graphical representation of project scope, stakeholders, and impacts, ensuring every party shares a common mental model. Esther highlights the inevitability of change and the need for continuous adaptation, while Andrew points to the discipline’s roots in life‑science and defense research.

The implications are clear: as projects grow in complexity, organizations that embed systems thinking can anticipate adverse events, shift analysis earlier in the lifecycle, and align diverse interests, ultimately delivering higher‑value outcomes. The new APM guide, "Doing the Right Project Using Systems Thinking," offers practical steps for practitioners seeking to embed this mindset.

Original Description

*The APM book Doing the Right Project: Using a Systems Thinking Approach to Select Successful Projects is available to purchase here: ⁠https://www.apm.org.uk/book-shop/doing-the-right-project-using-a-systems-thinking-approach-to-select-successful-projects/⁠*

In this episode, Emma is joined by the book’s co-authors – Andrew Wright ChPP FAPM, leader of the APM Systems Thinking Interest Network, Cesar Rendora ChPP and Estar Bennett.

They explore the world of systems thinking. Ever been daunted about the term or what it might mean exactly? Then we will enlighten you, helping to explain how you can put systems thinking into practice and what advantages it gives you in your projects.