A systems approach to project management pedagogy: Situating competencies and relationships to constellate emerging technical and professional communication practice

This brief article contributes a pedagogical discussion of project management in technical and professional communication. In the article, we argue for using a systems approach to scaffold project management curriculum. The article explains how we, as instructors, use a systems approach to teach students how project management activities constellate a range of workplace practices that technical and professional writers frequently engage in, such as digital governance and content strategy. The article defines systems thinking in the context of project management and further illustrates it in pedagogical practice by using examples from two courses at different universities. The article concludes by arguing that a systems approach can lead to more ethical project management practices through the design of inclusive systems.