Gilbert Silvius

A maturity model for integrating sustainability in projects and project managementAuthors: Gilbert Silvius, HU University of Applied Sciences and Van Aetsveld, the NetherlandsRon Schipper, Van Aetsveld, the Netherlands

1-3 November 2010, Istanbul, Turkey

24th IPMA World Congresswww.ipma2010.com

Sustainability?

Sustainability

?

Projects

Emerging literature

• 2005: • C. Labuschagne: Sustainable project life cycle management

• 2006: • APM Supports Sustainability Outlooks

• 2008: • J. Russell: CSR: What does it mean for the PM?• T. Taylor: A sustainability checklist for managers of projects

• 2009: • M. Eid: Sustainable Development & Project Management• Several papers on IPMA and IRNOP conferences

• 2010: • IPMA International Expert Seminar• Happy Projects conference: Sustainability & Projects• I. Oehlman: Master’s thesis • PMI research conference: panel discussion• More papers on this conference

Society level

Corporate level

Individual level

Project level

Key concepts

• Sustainability is about balancing or harmonizing social, environmental and economical interests

People, Planet, Profit

Key concepts

• Sustainability is about balancing or harmonizing social, environmental and economical interests

• Sustainability takes into account both the short term and the long term

Natural friends?

Regular organization• Permanent• Short term + long term

oriented• Goal oriented• Goal is chosen

Project• Temporary

• Short term oriented

• Deliverable oriented• Deliverable is given

Key concepts

• Sustainability is about balancing or harmonizing social, environmental and economical interests

• Sustainability takes into account both the short term and the long term

• Sustainability is about consuming income, not capital

The key is

Okay…..

But what does it mean for projects?

What does it mean for project managers?

How can we implement sustainability in projects?

Sustainability in projects and projectmanagement

• Projects deliver change to organizations

• So, a more sustainable society requires projects

• The relationship between sustainability and projects is still emerging field

• The current state of research is mostly interpretive, rather than prescriptive

A maturity model

• Maturity models are a practical way to ‘translate’ complex concepts into organizational capabilitiesand to raise awareness for potential development.

• They provide guidance for action plans and allow organizations to monitor their progress

(Dinsmore, 1998).

You cannot change what you cannot manageyou cannot manage what you cannot measure

Approach to maturity model

• Most maturity levels are derived from Capability Maturity Model and based on the maturity of controlling the processes

• This process control approach seems not applicable to capture the specific impact of sustainability

• Therefore a different approach was chosen.

Sustainability crieria

Sustainability crieria

Sustainability criteria??

Economic Sustainability

Return on Investment - Direct financial benefits - Net Present Value

Business Agility - Flexibility / Optionality in the project - Increased business flexibility

Environmental Sustainability

Transport - Local procurement - Digital communication - Traveling - Transport

Energy - Energy used - Emission / CO2 from energy used

Waste - Recycling - Disposal

Materials and resources - Reusability - Incorporated energy - Waste

Social Sustainability

Labor Practices and Decent Work

- Employment - Labor / Management relations - Health and Safety - Training and Education - Organisational learning - Diversity and Equal opportunity

Human Rights - Non-discrimination - Freedom of association - Child labour - Forced and compulsory labor

Society and Customers

- Community support - Public policy / Compliance - Customer health and safety - Products and services labeling - Market communication and Advertising - Customer privacy

Ethical behaviour - Investment and Procurement practices - Bribery and corruption - Anti-competition behaviour

Learning curve

Integrating sustainability

Business Resources

Business Processes

Business Model

Products/Services

The maturity model

Sustainability in projects is considered at the level of the Non Resources Business Business Products / existing Processes Model Services

People criteria

Planet criteria

Profit criteria

Sust

aina

bilit

y as

pect

s

The questionnaire

• Short introduction and description• Descriptives

– 4 questions about the respondent (person)– 6 questions about the project– 2 questions about the organizational context

• Measurement– 4 questions about Profit perspective– 7 questions about Planet perspective– 8 questions about People perspective

Unit of analysis

Company X

Project 1

Project 2

Project 3

Project n

Project 1 to n (unit of analysis of the maturity assessments)

Example

√

√ √

√

√

0

20

40

60

80

100

Nonexisting

Resources BusinessProcesses

BusinessModel

Products /Services

Profit (Current)

Profit (Desired)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Nonexisting

Resources BusinessProcesses

BusinessModel

Products /Services

Planet (Current)

Planet (Desired)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Nonexisting

Resources BusinessProcesses

BusinessModel

Products /Services

People (Current)

People (Desired)

Reporting(Profit perspective)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Nonexisting

Resources BusinessProcesses

BusinessModel

Products /Services

Profit (Current)

Profit (Desired)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Nonexisting

Resources BusinessProcesses

BusinessModel

Products /Services

Planet (Current)

Planet (Desired)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Nonexisting

Resources BusinessProcesses

BusinessModel

Products /Services

People (Current)

People (Desired)

Profit

Planet

People

No judgement in the model

• Not about the 3 P’s

• Not about the levels of integration

• Not about what an organization should do

Summary

• The maturity model– translates the abstract and interpretive concepts of

sustainable development into practically applicable prescriptive actions.

– assesses concrete projects as unit of study, thereby specifying overall corporate strategies.

– allows organizations to set their own standards and ambitions in accordance with company values..

– allows organizations to monitor and report their development.– is not normative as to whose responsibility (project sponsor,

project manager, etc.) the actions are, but allows discussion and agreement about this

Conclusions

• Projects can make a contribution to the sustainable development of organizations

• Concept of sustainablity therefore must be reflected in project(management)

• This needs further development of methodes, attitude and skills

• The maturity model helps organizations prepare itself on this new and complex task on developing the projectmanagement profession

Questions?