“The Project Managers Sustainability Accord” (PMSA)

“The Project Managers Sustainability Accord” (PMSA)
“The Project Managers Sustainability Accord” (PMSA) is patterned after “The Designers Accord” (www.designersaccord.org) with The Natural Step (www.naturalstep.org) sustainability framework as its foundation.  It is the first step in a sustainability call to action for the Project Management community or profession.

The Designers Accord is a global coalition of designers, educators, and business leaders, working together to create positive environmental and social impact.
The Natural Step is an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to education, advisory work and research in sustainable development. Since 1989, we have worked with thousands of corporations, municipalities, academic institutions and not-for-profit organizations that have proven that moving strategically toward sustainability leads to new opportunities, reduced costs, and dramatically reduced ecological and social impacts.  The Natural Step Framework is a proven, scientifically robust model that helps organizations make pragmatic decisions to move toward sustainability.  The Natural Step is the sustainability inspiration and framework of IKEA, Interface, Scandic Hotels, Sånga-Säby, ICA/Electrolux, McDonald’s, Walmart, Nike…
Project Management and PMI History of Collaboration
Project Managers and the Project Management Institute have a long history of collaboration along with a culture that strives to learn from others and avoid reinventing the wheel or having the ‘not invented here’ syndrome.  The Designers Accord model coupled with The Natural Step Sustainability Framework is being embraced by project managers and the community, especially since the adaption of both of these organizations’ frameworks accelerates Project Manager application of sustainability and enables PMI to contribute faster to sustainability progress.
5 Principles of Sustainability for Adopters
“The Project Managers Sustainability Accord”, like “The Designers Accord”, asks Project Managers and Project Management oriented companies to commit to 5 principles of sustainability as individual project, program, or portfolio manager adopters, as project management firm adopters, as corporate adopters, and as educational/training institution adopters.
 
PMI Has Infrastructure to Support Collaboration and Joining The Accord
Unlike the inception of The Designers Accord, where they had to create the infrastructure to support the Accord and the collaboration desired, the Project Management Institute has the infrastructure in place that has continually enabled broad collaboration across sectors and the world.  In addition, the project management profession has a unifying discipline that further enhances the project management community’s ability to contribute to sustainability very rapidly.  “The Project Managers Sustainability Accord” is “The Designers Accord” with slight adaptation for the project management profession.
“The Project Managers Accord” Commitments
The Project Managers Sustainability Accord requires written declaration of the intention to support the Accord, including:
All adopters, supporters, and endorsers follow a basic code of conduct: Do no harm; Communicate and collaborate; Be a ‘Choice Architect’ to make choosing to the right thing easiest for users, Keep learning, Keep teaching; Instigate meaningful change; Make theory action, which is supported by the Project Management Institute Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct Chapter 2.1 Mandatory Conduct and Aspirational Standard Chapter 2.2.1 as follows:

• Chapter 2 Responsibility
  • 2.1 Description of Mandatory Standard
    • Responsibility is our duty to take ownership for the decisions we make or fail to make, the actions we take or fail to take, and the consequences that result.
• Chapter 2 Responsibility
  • 2.2 Responsibility: Aspirational Standards

As practitioners in the global project management community:

• 2.2.1  We make decisions and take actions based on the best interests of society, public safety, and the environment.

In addition to Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct Aspirational Standard, the commitments to join “The Project Managers Sustainability Accord” are shown below as a firm draft for each adopter type.  “The Project Managers Sustainability Accord” logo and commitment documentation is in final development.  Look for final update on this site and, hopefully soon on the Project Management Institute site.
Guidelines for Individual Project, Program, and Portfolio Manager Adopters

1. Publicly declare participation in the Project Managers Sustainability Accord and adoption of a sustainability framework.
2. Initiate a dialogue about environmental and social impact and sustainable alternatives on every project with each and every client whether internal or external.  Rework client projects/contracts to favor environmentally and socially responsible design and work processes. Provide strategic and material alternatives for sustainable project outcomes.  Engage your project supply chain in supporting sustainability for all deliverables and project outcomes.
3. Undertake a program to educate your teams about sustainability, sustainable project management and project management sustainability integration with the goal of zero net footprint.
4. Consider your ethical footprint. Understand the environmental impact of your project and processes, and work to measure, manage, and reduce it on a project and/or an annual basis.
5. Advance the understanding of environmental and social issues from a project management perspective by actively contributing to the communal knowledge base for sustainable design through the Project Management Institute, Global Sustainability Virtual Community.

Guidelines for Project Management Firm Adopters

1. Publicly declare participation in the Project Managers Sustainability Accord and adoption of a sustainability framework.
2. Initiate a dialogue about environmental and social impact and sustainable alternatives on every project with each and every client whether internal or external.  Rework client projects/contracts to favor environmentally and socially responsible design and work processes. Provide strategic and material alternatives for sustainable project outcomes.  Engage your project supply chain in supporting sustainability for all deliverables and project outcomes.
3. Undertake a program to educate your teams about sustainability, sustainable project management and project management sustainability integration with the goal of zero net footprint.
4. Consider your ethical footprint. Understand the environmental impact of your project and processes, and work to measure, manage, and reduce it on a project and/or an annual basis.
5. Advance the understanding of environmental and social issues from a project management perspective by actively contributing to the communal knowledge base for sustainable design through the Project Management Institute, Global Sustainability Virtual Community.

Guidelines for Corporate Adopters

1. Publicly declare participation in the Project Managers Sustainability Accord and adoption of a sustainability framework.
2. Provide strategic and material alternatives for development and delivery of sustainable of products, services, buildings, reduce the environmental and social footprint of your business processes, including your existing and new buildings and pledge to help customers reduce their negative impact.
3. Undertake a program to educate your teams about sustainability and sustainable project management with the goal of zero net footprint.
4. Consider your ethical footprint. Understand the environmental impact of your organization, and work to measure, manage, and reduce it on an annual basis.
5. Advance the understanding of environmental and social issues from a project management perspective by actively contributing to the communal knowledge base for sustainable project management and business.

Guidelines for Educational Institution Adopters

1. Publicly declare participation in the Project Managers Sustainability Accord and adoption of a sustainability framework.
2. Initiate a dialogue about environmental and social impact and sustainable alternatives with every student and colleague in your educational program. Rework curricula and assignments to emphasize environmentally and socially responsible project management and work processes. Provide course content, lectures, and assignments that focus on strategic and material alternatives for sustainable project management.
3. Undertake a program to educate your colleagues about sustainability and sustainable design, and plan the integration of these concepts into course curricula including the goal of zero net footprint.
4. Consider your ethical footprint. Understand the environmental impact of your institution, and work to measure, manage, and reduce it on an annual basis.
5. Advance the understanding of environmental and social issues from a project management perspective by actively contributing to the communal knowledge base for sustainable project management and business.