Interview on the Green Project Management Approach

Montevideo, December 2, 2022. 

The integration of sustainability must be a key element for organizations in project management. This makes it possible to develop new strategies with a sustainable development approach, considering sustainable criteria that generate a positive impact.

The Sustainable Project Management approach, or Green Project Management (GPM), invites organizations to go beyond traditional project management. It adds value by seeking balance and integration among environmental, social, and economic elements.

Cecilia Martínez, A.S., coordinator of Sofis Solutions’ PMO (Project Management Office), explains in the following interview what the Green Project Management approach consists of, the value of implementing good practices in project management, and why sustainability is considered key in project management. 

What does the Green Project Management approach consist of? 

“It consists of applying methods, tools, and techniques to achieve a specific objective, considering the full life cycle of the project and the resulting products to ensure a positive environmental, social, and economic impact. It also enables identifying, measuring, and managing the impacts of processes and products and delivering early benefits. Employing this type of approach demonstrates a true commitment to social responsibility, as it involves taking concrete actions to generate change.”

How does the implementation of this approach impact Sustainable Development? 

“The standards developed by GPM were based on the 10 principles of the United Nations Global Compact and the UN’s GRI G4 Reporting Framework. The key deliverables of this approach are aligned with and supported by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

What aspects must a project cover to be considered sustainable? 

“For a project to be sustainable, it must take into account the three dimensions: environmental, social, and economic, mitigate negative aspects in these areas, and achieve benefits. If this is accomplished, the project would be making an effective contribution to sustainability.” 

Why is sustainability considered a key element in project management? 

“It is no longer enough to measure project success by time, cost, and scope. The focus must be on meeting objectives and on the life cycle of the project and the products it generates. This is why adopting sustainability aspects is important for addressing social and environmental impacts, ensuring projects are not carried out at the expense of the planet and its limited resources, and without compromising future generations.”

How can organizations apply ‘green’ concepts? 

“By rethinking all their processes with the goal of causing the least possible environmental impact. This can be achieved through the application of standards and methodologies, such as those promoted by GPM, with a focus on creating value.”

What value does implementing good practices in project management provide?

“Applying good practices in project management ensures the achievement of project objectives, which is essential for obtaining results through optimization and efficient use of resources. It has been proven that projects succeed because of good management, while most fail—failing to achieve objectives, budgets, timelines, or customer satisfaction—if they only focus on technical aspects.”

Why is it relevant for Sofis Solutions to work under this approach? 

“Using GPM-based methodologies, applied both to processes and products, generates more environmentally friendly solutions and contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Working under this approach is aligned with and contributes to the company’s Green Sofis strategy, which seeks to incorporate sustainability elements into software development processes.”