Working in a Paperless Environment

Kenneth has 14 years of healthcare experience in government and private industry. Over eight years of experience managing healthcare IT projects, operations, contracts, and personnel. His work experience includes project management, contracts and procurements, data analysis, claims adjudication, business writing, and business process modeling. Kenneth was certified in 2006 as a Project Management Professional.

  Organizational Culture   Sustainability  

When computers and email began to be used by most of the workforce, it seemed as though paper would disappear. However, in many offices, the opposite happened--it became easier to print things and the paper just increased.

In fact, to look at some people’s desks, paper is the most important thing in an office. Removing that paper and working in a paperless environment is certainly good for the environment; but how can project managers help make an impact and encourage project teams to stop hauling around their beloved hard copies of manuals and processes--or reviewing documents with pen and paper in hand?

The paperless office environment can exist, but it can take some effort to get there…

Lead by Example
If you are going to start enforcing paperless policies, then you had better make sure that you can work paperless as well. There is nothing worse than making project team members work with electronic documents while the manager sits in an office surrounded by notebook binders. If changes are made to help the office go paperless, the project manager or executives should be the first to implement and follow them. Whatever processes are put in place to reduce paper in the office must be followed by everyone, or no one will follow them.

As in all other areas of leadership, leading by example is the best policy to truly make any change or policy …

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