Change the Game: Sustainability in Projects and Project Management

Abstract

Sustainability is one of the most important challenges of our time. How can we develop prosperity, without compromising the life of future generations? Companies are integrating ideas of sustainability in their marketing, corporate communications, annual reports and in their actions. Many of these actions are organized in projects. The project management world, however, fails to address the sustainability agenda (Eid, 2009). This chapter explores the concept of sustainability and its application to project management. It aims to identify the questions that surround the integration of sustainability in project management and to provide practical insights to this challenge. After a review of the relevant literature on sustainability, its leading elements are identified. Based on an analysis of the scarce literature on the application of these elements in project management we will raise questions on the scope and definition on sustainability in projects and project management.