Systems Thinking and Corporate Strategy
Grand Canyon University MGT-
440: Project Management
2
Systems Thinking and Corporate Strategy
Introduction:
To ensure smooth operation, corporate strategy covers every aspect of setting up a
business's operations, including hiring, projects, budgeting, and human resources. By integrating
systems thinking, which considers the larger context and interconnectedness of organizational
elements, it goes beyond operational planning. Systems thinking looks at how projects impact
and are impacted by their organizational and systemic environments, as Schmidt (2021) explains.
This makes the case that companies can achieve long-term objectives like sustainability and
profitability in increasingly complex and dynamic markets, improve operational efficiency, and
drive transformative changes by integrating systems thinking into corporate strategy.
The Connection Between Systems Thinking, Projects, and Corporate Strategy:
A project is a targeted business endeavor that is directed by company strategy and serves
as an example of how the larger plan is translated into practical actions. For instance, a project
includes the full execution process, whereas corporate strategy includes a marketing plan to
, increase consumer visits. The link between strategic planning and execution, highlighting the
importance of well-structured projects in accomplishing the objectives of the business and
fostering its success (Kunc, 2024). This means all facets of the company are aligned by effective
corporate strategies to guarantee productivity and long-term success.
Corporate strategy provides the foundation for business operations, ensuring that all
components work cohesively toward organizational success. To further enhance this cohesion,
systems thinking plays a critical role in aligning strategies and projects effectively. "In simplest
terms, systems thinking is a way of seeing and talking about the reality that helps us better
understand and work with systems to influence the quality of our lives," according to the