Sustainability and social responsibility are becoming unavoidable in project management. 69% of project professionals already consider sustainability an important factor in project success. For a long time, the financial aspects of a project’s success have been scrutinised and the extent to which the initiative benefits society. Sustainability and social responsibility are increasingly important considerations when choosing a project. Clients are increasingly looking for partners who are aware of social responsibility and environmental standards. However, this does not rule out the possibility of successful, long-term businesses. On the other hand, sustainable project management results in long-term organisational performance, value creation, and economic growth. In addition, resources are conserved, and a more sustainable planet is preserved for future generations.
This blog outlines the trend, what it is, how it can be achieved, and how Execview can help.
What is sustainable project management?
Sustainable project management is the planning, monitoring, and controlling project delivery and support processes while considering the environmental, economic, and social aspects of the project’s resources, processes, deliverables, and effects. It is done in a transparent, fair, and ethical manner with proactive stakeholder participation to realise benefits for stakeholders. Having that aim in mind from the start of the project is a smart strategy to ensure that it remains sustainable. It cannot be forgotten after it has been included in the project’s concept. Making sustainability a priority in all project areas will help to reduce environmental impact.
As project managers direct project resources, they should consider all aspects, both inside and outside the organisation, throughout the project’s life cycle. That is why, from the beginning to the finish of a project, they must adopt a sustainable life cycle mindset. This is because sustainability necessitates the balance of four separate areas: the environment, the economy, wider society, and administration.
What role may project managers play in ensuring sustainability?
Because projects are temporary, many people may be confused about how they may be sustainable overall. On the other hand, projects assist organisations in achieving long-term investment goals. Projects and project management occur in a far larger context than the project itself. Because all projects are part of an organisation’s strategy, internal and external elements influence their success. Those elements either aid in the project’s success or make it more difficult to succeed. Understanding them can assist in designing a project and ensuring that it remains “green.” Similarly to how a project manager must balance cost, time, and scope, some trade-offs must be made between the project’s economic, social, and environmental considerations.
Most project managers are solely concerned with going from a concept to a completed project, ignoring the long-term implications of manufacture and disposal. They must begin to accept responsibility for the project’s outcomes, as the impact will last long after the project is over. The project management profession should advance the Sustainable Development Goals by creating objectives and strategies and putting them into reality in a specific environment.
How do we achieve sustainability in our PMO’s?
All personnel participating in the project, programmes, and portfolios must have an active role in achieving sustainability. Projects are a way of bringing about change, delivering new products and services, and shaping our society — projects and project management aid in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainability should not be an afterthought but one of the project’s primary objectives. As a result, project management must consider sustainability as one of the most significant success factors.
Sustainable project management using Execview
Some key areas of project management that can incorporate sustainable practices, as well as how Execview can help, are listed below:
Human Resource Management
Do people have everything they need to be successful? Addressing practices that support individual employees is part of creating a sustainable work environment. However, assessing everyone’s needs is a significant task that frequently results in some needs being overlooked. Execview allows you to micro-manage your business’s operations and ensure that everyone is invested in and that their experience is consistent with your sustainable philosophy. How do they manage their work-life balance? Is the proper training being provided to them?
Resource and procurement management
Project managers face a challenge in ensuring that resources and services are delivered sustainably throughout the supply chain. If you want to take a long-term approach to business sustainability, you must avoid unsustainable resource and service providers. Execview allows for tracking internal, external, and outsourced resource and service suppliers, allowing for transparency across the chain and the detection of unsustainable practices. Our platform is also entirely electronic, so no physical resources are required. Furthermore, our software enables you to manage your resources to reduce waste.
Risk Management
Do you appear to be avoiding bad practice or driving good practice? The risk assessment of sustainable practice is all about predicting the direction of society’s expectations. The risk assessment tool from Execview ensures that potential risks are identified early on, allowing managers to make informed decisions. Project managers can commit to the responsibility of sustainable practice by evaluating, assessing, and tracking risk. This means asking whether their current practises are ‘right’ in meeting future needs. Environmental or social challenges can significantly impact a project or the company’s overall reputation. Execview’s software allows you to assess the risk of your project’s long-term viability through effective risk management.
Communications Management
Sustainable practices must be effectively communicated, and everyone involved must ask how we are meeting today’s demands while also considering tomorrow’s needs. Execview’s platform facilitates cross-company collaboration, ensuring that your sustainability message is consistent and aligned. Our powerful reporting software will ensure that all parties involved can see how your projects and goals progress.
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