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Hot Topic - 1 April 2021

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Emily Luijbregts Project Manager| Siemens PLM Software Breda, Netherlands
During the month of April, projectmanagement.com will be focusing on the topic of social impact.

This is such a hot topic right now. PMI published a report called Megatrends (https://www.pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/megatrends) which does touch on the role of social impact within the project management profession and what it could look like moving forward.

My question for you today is: do you think social impact and project management go "hand in hand"? Do you need to provide social impact to be successful in project management/your projects?

I'd love to hear what you think!
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Giulio Zecca Optimiser and Productivity expert - Project Manager| innovAchievers London, United Kingdom
It's a very long topic if I'd answer fully... I am actually drafting an article that touches upon this as well, and it's intricated - not easy to keep it short and simple.

In short, more purpose, more social impact and more sustainability have each proved to yield to better results (and profits for the companies, since for some this seems to be the only metrics that matters).

I warmly suggest the work done by George Serafeim at Harvard Business School (you can finds some videos online, if not, just ask!)

Best
Giulio
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1 reply by Eiliyah Deewan
Apr 07, 2021 8:22 PM
Eiliyah Deewan
...
I agree Giulio! I would love to read your article when you're done writing. Please do share. Thank you!
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Eiliyah Deewan Team Lead| Catalyste+ Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Thank you Emily for your question. It is a very timely one. My view is that many projects (/project management) have gone hand in hand with social impact for decades, especially in the nonprofit/community/international development sector. However greater awareness about social and environmental issues has forced organizations to collaborate and many private corporations, who are traditionally not thought to be related to social impact, have started considering social impact in their work. This trend is increasing as more stakeholders including consumers gain awareness and demand for a more socially just and sustainable world. Thus, an ecosystem approach is a solution that the world has adopted to deal with many of the world's issues as highlighted in the SDGs.
I believe that while social impact and project management may not always directly go "hand in hand" but at least indirectly influence each other. In my view, you can't separate them if you're a socially conscious individual or organization.
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Eiliyah Deewan Team Lead| Catalyste+ Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Apr 06, 2021 11:00 AM
Replying to Giulio Zecca
...
It's a very long topic if I'd answer fully... I am actually drafting an article that touches upon this as well, and it's intricated - not easy to keep it short and simple.

In short, more purpose, more social impact and more sustainability have each proved to yield to better results (and profits for the companies, since for some this seems to be the only metrics that matters).

I warmly suggest the work done by George Serafeim at Harvard Business School (you can finds some videos online, if not, just ask!)

Best
Giulio
I agree Giulio! I would love to read your article when you're done writing. Please do share. Thank you!

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