This document summarizes a study that compares the application of closed and open systems thinking in innovation projects. The study finds that open systems thinking, which allows flexibility and boundary management, is more useful for complex, uncertain projects like innovation projects. Specifically, projects using open systems thinking achieved more goals due to flexibility, internal/external boundary management, and alignment of strategic goals with activities. In contrast, projects using closed systems thinking lacked flexibility, had in-group problems, and could not deal with user-level complexity due to standardized boundary management and buffering of the system.