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Date
In my last post, I discussed how a simple poster at the PMI Global Summit in Phoenix, AZ, USA made me feel like there is real progress being made towards a value-based view of project management – a LEADESRSHIP role for project ‘managers’ (really project LEADERS) who see themselves – and through their mindset and actions convince others that they are indeed leaders and not just a project task overseer (manager).
In this brief post (more later) I will discuss the brand new PMBOK® Guide’s 8
th Edition, announced also at that PMI Global Summit – which I was honored to attend.
The 7
th Edition of the PMBOK® Guide did bring value to the forefront and in a limited way, encouraged project managers to think long-term and to think broadly about not only their projects’ outcomes but also of the impact (benefits and nasty impacts) of the product of the project in steady-state use. It made some steps forward in terms of triple-bottom-line thinking (as in the title of this very blog – People, Planet, Profits).
A scan of the document shows that “sustainability” in one form or another is mentioned quite a bit (see figure below).
Section-by-Section Summary
Below is an overview of how sustainability is referenced throughout the PMBOK® Guide – 8th Edition. While the PMBOK® Guide emphasizes sustainability most strongly in
Section 3.7, related themes thankfully are not only segregated into one section – they appear in several principles and performance domains.
Section 3.7 – Integrate Sustainability Within All Project Areas
This is the dominant focus area for sustainability. It contains the majority of the sustainability terminology and
establishes sustainability as a core project management principle. This is where the 8
th edition is taking leaps instead of steps forward.
Section 3.3 – Adopt a Holistic View
Sustainability is referenced through systemic thinking and interconnected project impacts. Now, I would have liked to have seen this say ‘impacts of the project’s product’ but this is still a big step forward.
Section 3.5 – Embed Quality Into Processes and Deliverables
Sustainability is included as one of the dimensions of quality (of course, quality itself should not be limited to any one section, a project leader would think broadly and deeply about what he or she is doing at any stage of a project and in thinking about the project’s product in use a week from now, a month, a year, a decade from now.
Section 2.3 – Schedule Performance Domain
Mentions integrating sustainability into scheduling considerations.
ValueHow about value? Does the PMBOK® Guide 8
th Edition value value? It certainly does. Here are a few highlights:
- “Value, also referred to as project value, is the ultimate success indicator and driver of projects.”
- “Value represents the overall worth of the project outcomes and the net benefits to stakeholders.”
- “Value per unit of investment is the ultimate indicator of project success.”
- “Project teams focus on outcomes that maximize value creation…”
- “A value-focused approach aligns the project with business outcomes…”
The “Focus on Value” principle is arguably the most emphasized of all principles—it is repeatedly presented as
the ultimate success marker, not scope, cost, or schedule.
I’ll close this quick review post with the very definition of PROJECT.
Here it is:
This is is no small change. And it is a change that is a long time coming As you'll hear in the video below, we thought this was etched in stone. Nope. Rather than taking my word for it, or hearing
my opinions on this change, I invite you to watch this video conversation between Cornelius Fichtner and Jesse Fewell (the Chair of the PMBOK® Guide 8
th Edition Development)
ttps://www.linkedin.com/events/insidepmbokguide8-whatprojectma7397053929219346432/
Posted
by
Richard Maltzman
on: November 30, 2025 08:33 PM |
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