The role of the Project Management Office in Sustainable Project Management

Abstract

Abstract The transition towards more sustainable business practices requires the changing of products, services, processes, policies and resources of organizations. Acknowledging the role projects play in these change, the concepts of sustainability should be integrated in the way projects are planned, organized, executed, managed and governed. This sustainability perspective evolved into the concept of Sustainable Project Management, which is considered one of the most important global project management trends today. Within organizations, the project management office plays a leading role in the standards, methods and practices of project management. However, the role of the PMO in sustainable project management is still unexplored. This paper explores how sustainable project management impacts the responsibilities and tasks of a PMO. Based on an analysis of relevant literature, a list of responsibilities and tasks of a project management office is developed. The study shows that a PMO can play an key-enabling role in the sustainability of projects and project management and thereby in the transition of organizations towards more sustainable business practices.