The Role of Project Managers in Driving Sustainability Across Industries

In this series expanding on the British standard BS 202002:2023 (Benefits Management for Portfolios, Programmes and Projects)¹, we have covered benefits management across the portfolio, and the key stages of benefits management in programmes, projects, and other related work.

As we face climate and environmental crisis after crisis, and breakdowns in community cohesion and mental health, sustainability must be crucial in most of our major projects, and the benefits of sustainability need to be quantified and justified.

The project leadership – the project manager, benefits manager, and sponsor – has a big part to play. Project leadership can adjust the objectives, so they consider sustainability, adjust outcomes (changes) so they deliver sustainability, and adjust activities so they not only are sustainable of themselves, but also that they change the way workers and suppliers work towards more sustainable practices.

In all of this, the golden thread is governance. Governance ensures that policies are followed, and policies that include sustainable outcomes in developing the benefits, and sustainable processes in developing the delivery, will ensure sustainable projects.

The Importance of the Project Manager

Project managers in the project leadership team play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the initial vision of a project and its successful completion. Their importance is magnified in projects aiming at sustainability goals, where they must balance technical requirements, stakeholder expectations, and environmental impacts. These pr...