In PRINCE2 7, the Sustainability Management Approach is a pivotal management product designed to define the actions, reviews, and controls required to ensure that a project's outputs and outcomes align with the organization's sustainability goals. It represents a significant evolution in the method…In PRINCE2 7, the Sustainability Management Approach is a pivotal management product designed to define the actions, reviews, and controls required to ensure that a project's outputs and outcomes align with the organization's sustainability goals. It represents a significant evolution in the methodology, placing sustainability—encompassing environmental, social, and economic factors—alongside traditional performance targets like time, cost, and quality.
Within the context of the Business Case practice, this approach provides the necessary framework to validate that the project is not only financially viable but also sustainable. It influences the Business Case by mandating that sustainability requirements be treated as project tolerances and constraints. For a Practitioner, this means that when analyzing business options, the costs associated with sustainable practices (e.g., ethical sourcing, carbon offsetting) and the non-financial benefits (e.g., regulatory compliance, brand reputation) must be explicitly quantified and documented.
The document outlines the specific standards to be applied, how sustainability performance will be measured (KPIs), and how it will be reported to stakeholders. It ensures that the project's justification remains valid throughout the lifecycle by preventing the delivery of products that might generate negative externalities, which would ultimately undermine the corporate strategy. Consequently, the Sustainability Management Approach acts as a governance mechanism, ensuring that the 'desirability, viability, and achievability' of the Business Case are assessed through an ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) lens, preventing the authorization of projects that offer short-term gain at the expense of long-term sustainability.
What is the Sustainability Management Approach? In PRINCE2 7th Edition (v7), sustainability was introduced as a seventh aspect of project performance (alongside cost, time, quality, scope, benefit, and risk). The Sustainability Management Approach is a management product that describes the actions, reviews, and controls required to ensure that the project's outputs and management processes meet sustainability targets. It defines how the project will ensure it remains aligned with the organization's sustainability standards, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or internal Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies.
Why is it Important? Projects are the vehicles of change, and changes often have significant environmental and social footprints. This document is vital because: 1. Compliance: It ensures the project adheres to legal and corporate sustainability regulations. 2. Justification: It supports the Business Case by ensuring that the 'costs' to the environment or society do not outweigh the benefits. 3. Reputation: It protects the organization's brand by managing the risk of negative sustainability impacts.
How it Works (Key Contents) The Sustainability Management Approach is typically derived from the Project Mandate and the organization’s corporate sustainability policies. It includes: • Sustainability Standards: The specific standards (e.g., ISO 14001) or thresholds the project must adhere to. • Procedures: The methods for assessing sustainability (e.g., carbon footprinting, social impact assessments). • Roles and Responsibilities: Who is responsible for monitoring sustainability targets (e.g., the Project Manager or a specialist support role). • Reporting: How and when sustainability performance will be reported to the Project Board. • Tools and Techniques: Specific tools used to measure impact (e.g., lifecycle assessment software).
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Sustainability Management Approach When facing PRINCE2 Practitioner questions regarding this topic, apply the following logic:
1. Distinguish 'How' from 'What': If a question asks about setting the targets (e.g., "Reduce carbon by 20%"), that belongs in the Business Case (benefits/dis-benefits). If the question asks about the method used to measure that reduction or the standard applied, the answer is the Sustainability Management Approach.
2. Look for 'Tailoring': PRINCE2 v7 emphasizes tailoring. Questions may present a scenario where a project is small or low-impact. The correct answer might involve simplifying the Sustainability Management Approach to a brief statement within the PID, rather than a separate complex document.
3. Identify the Source: Remember that this document is created during the Initiating a Project process. If a question asks where the Sustainability Management Approach draws its requirements from, look for options referencing 'Corporate/Programme Management standards' or the 'Project Mandate'.
4. Role Alignment: The Project Manager creates this approach, but the Project Board (specifically the Executive) is accountable for approving it to ensure it aligns with the broader business strategy.