Why Sustainability is Critical for Your Project

So you have your next big project to plan, design and manage. What are your first thoughts in relation to:

• Scope?
• Constraints?
• Risks?
• Stakeholders?
• Methodology?
• Technology?

Would you agree if I suggested that sustainability could tie into any and all of those areas? This can be the case no matter what industry you are in, but particularly so when you require an environmental assessment approval to proceed. Only, it should be viewed as a driver (aka, requirement) and as an opportunity (cost savings, schedule optimization, environmental performance improvement)!

I have previously written on the integration of environmental assessment, stakeholder engagement and other related requirements into projects. I didn't hone in on the many reasons for integrating sustainability into your projects, so thought it worth the time to share the factors that stand out the most.

Project Failure Rates
As project management processes mature, more and more data is becoming available to understand project failure--the rates of failure, the cost and schedule impacts, and the causes. Many studies are now available and can be used to improve our own work.

Upon reviewing a number of reports and stats, it became clear that project failure is very common, applicable to every sector and with many common …