arlene trimbleAssistant IT Director| Local GovernmentAlamo, Ca, United States
What types of projects did you manage in the sustainability arena?
How did you incorporate sustainability in your projects? Saving Changes...
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Richard MaltzmanPortfolio Manager| EarthPM LLCAndover, Ma, United States
Arlene,
Very good question. The intersection of project management and sustainability is an interesting one. Some think of this as limited to implementing eco-friendly initiatives, such as a wind farm or an effort to save a species, or to implement an electric/hybrid car.
These indeed are all valid and good examples of that intersection. And I have worked on some, in particular, with an Argonne National Labs effort on hybrid cars.
But the real 'step function' improvement that we need to push for is the integration of sustainability into ALL sorts of projects - a wholesale change in thinking beyond the 'end-date' of the project and through to the project's product in its steady state and even through to disposal. This thinking has to come back into the planning and even chartering of a project.
This is the difference between project management success and true project success.
Sorry for the long-winded answer, but I can't help it - I'm an author after all...
We have a new book coming out directly focused on this topic. It's called, "Driving Project, Program, and Portfolio Success", from CRC Press. So, if you want to accuse me of having written a book in response to your question: guilty as charged!
Cheers and keep asking good questions!
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Rich Maltzman, PMP
EarthPM, LLC Saving Changes...
Richard MaltzmanPortfolio Manager| EarthPM LLCAndover, Ma, United States
Arlene,
Very good question. The intersection of project management and sustainability is an interesting one. Some think of this as limited to implementing eco-friendly initiatives, such as a wind farm or an effort to save a species, or to implement an electric/hybrid car.
These indeed are all valid and good examples of that intersection. And I have worked on some, in particular, with an Argonne National Labs effort on hybrid cars.
But the real 'step function' improvement that we need to push for is the integration of sustainability into ALL sorts of projects - a wholesale change in thinking beyond the 'end-date' of the project and through to the project's product in its steady state and even through to disposal. This thinking has to come back into the planning and even chartering of a project.
This is the difference between project management success and true project success.
Sorry for the long-winded answer, but I can't help it - I'm an author after all...
We have a new book coming out directly focused on this topic. It's called, "Driving Project, Program, and Portfolio Success", from CRC Press. So, if you want to accuse me of having written a book in response to your question: guilty as charged!
