How PMOs Can Lead on Social Impact

Elizabeth is a freelance writer and project manager living and working in London. She runs The Otobos Group, a project communications consultancy specializing in project management.

  PMO   Social Impact  

Social impact isn’t just the responsibility of project teams who deliver the results, or the business owners who realize the benefits. It can be led by the PMO, which is uniquely positioned to embed these outcomes at scale.

Why PMOs must engage with social value
PMI research shows that social impact is a concern for 87% of organizations, so the chances are that your business cares about making a difference. What the business cares about should be the concern of the PMO.

For example, increasing pressure from funders and government to show community benefit—especially in infrastructure, local authority, and public health projects—can be a critical part of whether a business case gets approved or not.

PMOs have visibility across portfolios, making them ideal for spotting opportunities to align projects with social goals and to join the dots between projects where collaborative working might accelerate results.

What leading with social impact looks like
So what does it mean to lead with social impact? Here are some things you can do to position your PMO as a leader in this area:

• Move from passive tracking to active enablement: Asking the right questions, setting up the right forums for discussion, connecting teams.
• Introduce social value KPIs: For example, include sustainability, diversity, local economic contribution, and accessibility in …

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