One of the most successful areas for the application of system dynamics has been project management. Measured in terms of new system dynamics theory, new and improved model structures, number of applications, number of practitioners, value of consulting revenues, and value to clients, "project dynamics" stands as an example of success in the field. This paper reviews the history of project management applications in the context of the underlying structures that create adverse dynamics and their application to specific areas of project management, synthesizes the policy messages, and provides directions for future research and writing. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Syst. Dyn. Rev. 23, 157-189, (2007 ContextProjects abound in industry, public service, and many other endeavors. As a series of activities or tasks that (1) have a specific objective (scope) to be completed within certain specifications (requirements); (2) have defined start and end dates; (3) have funding limits; and (4) consume and/or utilize resources (Project Management Institute, 2000), projects have proven challenging to plan and manage. This is largely because project conditions and performance evolve over time as a result of feedback responses, many involving nonlinear relationships, and to accumulations of project progress and resources. This has made the application of system dynamics to project management a fertile and productive field of study. This paper surveys the large body of system dynamics work on projects, evaluates its progress, and suggests directions for future development.Many different types of models have been developed to improve project management. These models include some of the system features and characteristics addressed by system dynamics. For example, basic project models such as the critical path method explicitly model causally linked development activities and phases and cost control models use forecasted performance gaps (e.g., budget deficits) to allocate funds. More advanced models, such as the computational models developed by Levitt et al. (1999) and others, are quite system dynamics-like, as they include linked development activities as well as feedback. Another body of work models multiple projects, using system dynamics as well as other approaches. Surveying all of these works is beyond the scope of a single article. Therefore, we focus here on models of single projects built using the system dynamics methodology. But even models of single projects are too numerous to describe their structures or applications in detail. Therefore, in this article we focus on the most important and general model structures in conceptual form, and provide references to additional details. Our work is based primarily on the published literature and our experience using system dynamics to model projects. In particular, we describe contributions resulting from work we have done that has not, and very likely never will be, published or otherwise made available.The literature on system dynamics models of pro...

System dynamics models have been used extensively over the last 20 years on complex development projects and have proven their value in contributing to significantly improved project performance. System dynamics models facilitate the strategic management of projects, including planning the project (setting the initial schedule and budget, the organization structure, process model, etc.), determining measurement and reward systems, evaluating risks, and learning from past projects. The use of system dynamics for strategic project management is illustrated with a case study of the Peace Shield Air Defense System. On this project, the model was used to support the project bid, to identify and manage risks, and to assess the benefit of several process and organization changes which were implemented on the project. Upon completion, the project results were systematically compared to an earlier project to assess the management lessons—what worked and what did not, and what was the benefit. These lessons were systematized in a management learning system. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Detailed, calibrated system dynamics models offer an effective tool for supporting business strategy. They correspond to the business lines and planning approaches of the organization, serve as an important check on the adequacy of the model as a representation of the system, provide accurate assessments of the cost–benefit tradeoffs of alternative strategies, and allow results to be more easily sold to others. However, detailed models also have disadvantages: they are complex, can be more difficult to understand, and run the risk of becoming “black boxes”. This paper discusses a four‐phased approach to consulting that, building from other system dynamics modeling styles (“systems thinking” and small, insight‐based models), offers an effective means of developing detailed models while simultaneously educating the client. The approach is illustrated with case examples from the credit card and aircraft industries. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Educational programs leading to degrees in system dynamics are rare and thus of critical importance to the future of the field of system dynamics. However, to a large extent such programs have not yet been made transparent to the system dynamics community as a whole. The present article describes the design and rationale for undergraduate and graduate programs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). The goal of the article is to invite feedback from the system dynamics community about our specific programs as well as to facilitate wider discussion about the appropriate content, design, and pedagogy of degree programs and courses in system dynamics.

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