Implementation of sustainable choices through project management

Abstract

Once the question about sustainability was, should we do something about it? Now it is, what can we do about it? Times has changed and with all the new knowledge on the subject, people has become aware that this is something that cannot wait. To implement sustainability in an organization requires thorough planning of the organization and its strategies. This is required from the very beginning of every new project that is started and therefore an important step for the project managers. To implement sustainability, it is important to coordinate all the smaller steps in a project and assure the sustainable thinking with every decision. The industry is rising as never seen before and the request for new buildings, clothes electronics and production in general is flourishing. This improves the pressure that already is on the project managers around the world, and the choices they must make revolving sustainability. How do you rate if a project is a success now that sustainability also has to be considered? Does economy beat sustainability when it comes to the success of a project? Sustainability and project management is often talked about in the same sentence but has not been researched very much [1]. With a sustainable mindset, the project manager and the entire team and organization, might achieve greater results that without it.

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Sustainable choices

The world can no longer tolerate the way we use the natural resources and produce products, like we do in the present day. Furthermore, is the way we neglect the conservation of the planet clearly shown every year in climate report from the UN [2]. This can show the importance of implementing sustainable choices in the earlier stages of a project. The responsibility for this, lies primarily on the project manager, but can also be traced back to the organization. Sustainability might therefore change the way the project manager works and thinks. With multiple standards and literature in mind, a set of principles was constructed. These work as a guideline for project managers, to achieve a more sustainable project [3]. In total, six lines are created:

“Sustainability is about balancing or harmonizing social, environmental and economic interests” [3]: These three interests are interrelated. They affect each other and can only be achieved in a good way, if they are all achieved together.

“Sustainability is about both short-term and long-term orientation” [3] It is important that both these aspects of the project are considered. Many companies might be tempted to focus on only the short-term part of sustainability, because it might improve their strength on the stock market and in the public.

“Sustainability is about local and global orientation” [3] It is important to balance the local and global way of running an organization. With organizations expanding and moving business around the globe, sustainability might come in second place to economy. The three circles in Figure 1, might therefore become mismatched on a global scale, or even locally.

“Sustainability is about consuming income, not capital” [3] Here it states that sustainability is that the nature’s rate of producing or generating resources or energy continues to be intact. This is mostly said for the environmental part of the three interests, and it is important for a project manager to ensure that this is a part of the project. The social aspect of this is making sure your workers and employees are not overworked and mentally exhausted. Furthermore, the economical aspect is not using your capital to pay for the costs in the organization, but the income. Again, all of these aspects have to be involved at all times.

“Sustainability is about transparency and accountability” To have an organization that is transparent and is held accountable for its actions, will improve the need of being sustainable. More of the people involved in this, is more likely to make the sustainable choices every time they present themselves, and the organization can succeed in more of their goals.

“Sustainability is about personal values and ethics” With the project manager leading on, and the employees listening and agreeing, the organization has a greater chance of remaining sustainable. The entire thinking of an organization might, in some cases, be due for a rework. When many companies revolve around some of the same traditions and believes, sustainability can be a tough challenge to take on. Therefore, it is key to make sure, that all the project managers and leaders have a positive mind, great personal values, and ethics regarding sustainability.

References

[1]Marcelino-Sádaba, S., González-Jaen, L. F., & Pérez-Ezcurdia, A. (2015). Using project management as a way to sustainability. From a comprehensive review to a framework definition. Journal of Cleaner Production, 99, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2015.03.020

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