Challenges in Applying System Dynamics to Address Scoping and Estimating Problems

Abstract

System dynamics (SD) is a fundamental model that facilitates research by defining and modeling a project’s scope and estimation. Scoping and estimation is a set of approaches that ensure engineering managers that a project’s accuracy and cost estimation are properly specified and mapped. Engineering management’s primary project planning responsibilities include project scoping and estimating. Insufficient project scoping and estimation criteria significantly fail the project plan. The study authors collaborated with five distinctive journal institutions to address project scoping and estimation challenges. The authors thoroughly analyzed one core research issue and five secondary research questions from each article. In terms of core issues, most project managers dislike SD modeling because of its complexity, especially if they lacked engineering, programming, mathematical analysis, or IT expertise. The first secondary question revealed that project managers’ awareness of scoping and estimating problems ranges from 78.3333% to 91.6666%. The secondary question revealed that 83.3333% to 90% of managers are familiar with SD, which can help resolve scoping and estimation issues in project management. The third secondary question showed that 83.3333% to 91.6666% of managers are aware of SD during the project’s scoping and estimating phases. The fourth secondary question found that 83.333% to 91.6666% of managers can use mathematical equations and programming for SD design during the scoping and estimating phases. The authors developed a novel SD scoping and estimating model since the last question indicated that there were no downloadable models from the five journals.