Understanding sustainability and regeneration in project management: a call to action
In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, sustainability is more than just a buzzword — it's a crucial aspect of project management that can no longer be ignored. APM has initiated an Interest Network on Sustainability (“Sus IN”), and we invite you to join us on this journey.
The sustainability imperative
Sustainability and regeneration (usually used together) in project management involve balancing environmental, social and economic considerations throughout the project lifecycle. We need to ensure that our projects not only meet current needs but also safeguard resources for future generations.
- Sustainability means not making things worse
- Regeneration means making things better – and putting right the wrongs of past generations.
As project professionals, we have a unique opportunity — and responsibility — to drive sustainable practices in our organisations and industries, and to emphasise the value of sustainable and regenerative outcomes. Everyone can get involved. Whether you're an early career project manager just starting out, a seasoned professional leading complex projects, or a board member shaping organisational strategy, your role in promoting sustainability is crucial.
The role of the APM Sustainability Interest Network
The APM recognises the importance of sustainability in our field. That's why we've established the APM Sustainability Interest Network — a community of like-minded professionals committed to integrating sustainable practices into project management.
This network is a platform for sharing knowledge, discussing challenges and collaborating on solutions. It's a space where you can learn from peers, access valuable resources and contribute to the evolving body of knowledge on sustainable project management.
Engaging with the community: we need your input!
To truly understand the landscape of sustainability in project management, we need to hear from you. Your experiences, challenges and successes are invaluable in shaping our collective approach to sustainable project management. We invite you to participate in our community by answering the following questions on Mentimeter:
- Sustainability drivers: when you implement sustainability in your projects, what are the primary drivers? Are they:
- Internal to the project (e.g., the project leadership team's initiative)
- External to the project (e.g., organisational sustainability reporting requirements)
- Client-driven (e.g., the project's primary goal is to deliver sustainability or regeneration)
- Tools and methodologies: what tools or methodologies do you use to incorporate sustainability into your projects? This could include sustainability assessment frameworks, life cycle analysis tools, or specific project management methodologies adapted for sustainability.
- Barriers to implementation: what challenges do you face when trying to deliver sustainability and regeneration in your projects? These might include budget onstraints, lack of stakeholder buy-in, or difficulties in measuring impact.
- Success stories: can you share a brief success story of a project where sustainability or regeneration played a key role? We'd love to hear about the project's goals, the strategies you employed and the outcomes achieved.
Your responses to these questions will not only help us understand the current state of sustainable project management, but also inform future discussions, resources and initiatives within the APM Sustainability Interest Network. A future blog will include some of the results.
You may also be interested in:
- What is sustainability in project management?
- APM Sustainability Interest Network
- What are sustainable projects and sustainable outcomes?
I'm a Chartered Project Professional and Chartered Manager - and I recognise the importance of tried and tested processes. However that doesn't stop me from looking for improvement – both improvement to the way projects are managed, and to my own practice. APM is an excellent environment to explore both – I chair the Benefits & Value interest group, and am a committee member on North East Branch, Nuclear PM interest group, and Enabling Change interest group.
I work in a public sector Arms Length Body as a benefits management SME (subject matter expert), with a focus on supporting decision-making to realise benefits and achieve objectives, rather than simply hitting milestones. This drives different decisions, and builds stakeholder confidence in project work delivering what the stakeholders really want as opposed to a successful but ultimately less-than-useful “thing”.
My motivation: people should enjoy and be inspired by what they do (because they can see the difference they are making - Benefits and Value).
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In today's business world, where sustainability is the new black, it's clear that project management isn't just about meeting deadlines and budgets anymore. It's more about ensuring that our projects don't just tread lightly on the Earth but actually help it flourish, so we leave a lasting legacy for our children and humanity. As we embark the journey with the APM Sustainability Interest Network, we must remember sustainability is like a good project manager that has the gravitas to deliver a balanced outcome, ensuring the business and the Enviroment benefits in a WIN Win solution. "Just as we juggle timelines, resources, and stakeholder expectations, we must also balance environmental, social, and economic considerations. I believe we can make our projects greener, and save the planet one Gantt chart at a time. Let's face it, if we don't embrace sustainability, we might find ourselves in a project that’s not just behind schedule, but also behind the times.;"like trying to run a Zoom meeting on a dial-up connection". So, let’s roll up our sleeves, share our success stories, and make sure our projects are not just sustainable but regenerative. Because in the end, the only thing worse than a project that fails is an Earth that fails. I personally do not want to go live on the moon or Mars with Elon Musk, even though he makes great EV's and can land a rocket on a penny backwards. Ashok Singha BTec BEng MSc MAPM