Managing R&D projects: a systemic approach

The present work deals with R&D engineering project management. Classical mechanisms and tools for project management are presented and a systemic model is proposed emphasizing the study of qualitative multidimensional relationships between systems and subsystems. The proposed model defines five main systems (or "environments"): the organization, the project, the customer, the "project management tools and techniques", and "other associated projects". Such a model provides a qualitative framework for analysis and observations of complex situations usually found in R&D projects. The relationships are not restricted to the mechanisms and techniques generally applied, but a holistic and systemic approach is considered regarding other factors like inter-personnel conflicts and exchanges. In order to optimize and to establish better definitions for the system's and relationships of the proposed model, a qualitative and exploratory field-research was carried out among some Brazilian organizations developing R&D projects.