Green Management Will Make Complex Projects Easy
"Green fingers are the extension of a Verdant heart." Russell Page
"The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will" - Chuck Palahniuk, Author of Diary
Table of Contents
1. Green Projects
As a responsible citizen of the world, it becomes
important that our projects are not working adversely on the environment. Gone
are the days, when an individual's choice of action is limited within their
community. The world at large needs to realize, that the country-centric
attitude of living with very little care for natural resources, may soon lead
to shortage in resources. Then it becomes all the more important that Project
Managers go green on their projects.
There are some
really great places to go green on your project. Plan the amount of carbon
footprints that your team's current projects are leaving behind. Aspiring to
create an eco-friendly team would be a great asset to a socially responsible
organization. All forms of change happen from one individual first and then
spread to others.
2. Planning a
Green Project
Project
Managers should first believe in their going green concept before it can be
encouraged within their teams. The best way to do that is to plan a little
ahead to convey the various green trends then incorporate them into the current
Project Plan. While planning make sure to have sufficient research work done on
the topic. For instance, if the company is involved in creating a product for
the local market then the Project Managers should have the relevant information
about various processes that could be made green. If there are processes which
cannot be made green then find a solution that creates a low carbon footprint.
3. Budgeting a
Green Project
Project
Managers should make sure that the financial resources allotted for the project
give priority to cost-effective green trend implementation. Sometimes, the
Project Managers need to make a decision about a particular high priced
resource for a project against a cheaper high environmentally risk resource. At
such time, it would be wise to go back to your vision of your company to make
the final decision. Some moves and expenditure may be expensive at the present
moment but in the long run are commendable Project Management moves.
4. Building Green
Teams
It is not
enough that the Project Managers alone think of making the project green. It is
important to evangelize your team in accepting greener concepts for the
project. It would be a great support for the project, if the team also joins in
the effort to be eco-friendly resource users.
If the work
environment requires modification to follow the eco-friendly options then the
Project Managers should make the required changes in attitude and
work-area-based changes. Attitude may take a while to adjust, until the work
culture is completely absorbed by the team members. So, the best way to be an
eco-friendly Manager is to follow a few of these green practices.
(i) Conserve Energy
The work area could use energy saving methods. The team members could be
encouraged to develop a habit of switching off their computers if it is not in
use. The energy used for computers in the workplace is high. It is important
that the team members are aware of practicing small energy conserving habits.
(ii) Carpooling
Project Managers could encourage their team members to carpool and
provide some incentives for following that practice. Carpooling builds a sense
of camaraderie's among the pooling members. The sense of team spirit is
increased and works as a positive bonus for the project. The Project profits
from such a move in the long run, while the team feels that it has cut down on
its carbon footprints.
(iii) Work from Home
Project Managers should encourage their teams to work from home whenever
possible, especially, if the team members have a long commute to the office.
There are a lot of advanced technologies that can aid working from home.
Project Managers can schedule the team members to work four days onsite, at the
office, and work offsite, from home, on Friday. This would encourage and reduce
Friday long commute traffic crawling for the team.
(iv) Eco-Friendly Lunch boxes
In the logistics of running an office it becomes important to know how
to reduce waste that are not bio-degradable. Whenever takeout is ordered make
sure to encourage the team to make a bulk order and reduce the plastic and
paper waste. It would be a best practice to encourage bringing homemade lunches
in eco-friendly lunch boxes and using real cutleries.
(v) Eco-Friendly Wardrobe
Project Managers could encourage their teams to wear eco-friendly
clothes to work and create a workplace based fashion statement. This might
impact a change in the attitude of the team members. Team members may be more
likely to switch to a eco-friendly wardrobe if they are given incentives.
Low cost but super organic clothes could become the fashion statement of
company. Get free coupons from local organic cloth stores and give it to the
team members as a reward for completing a difficult task.
5. Sustainable
Resources Usage
Project
Managers wishing to make their project green and eco-friendly need to watch how
the internal office resources are used within the team. The communication to
make the required changes should be passed to all the team members so that
conserving good ecological practices are followed by all of them.
Here are few
important places where low resources could be used effectively.
(i) Digitize
Wherever
possible it would be wise to make use of the advanced technology in reducing
consumption of resources that are harmful for the Earth. For instance, there
are a lot of documents that require printing and make sure that the paper used
is eco-friendly. If possible, prevent printing of documents that could be
easily shared as a PDF or in an electronic fashion. Print only the most vital
documents.
(ii) Reduce Paper Usage
Project
Managers could encourage team members to recycle and print copies in economy
mode. Printing on both sides of the paper ensures that there is reduction
in the amount of paper used. Using recycling methods in the office
environment helps in reducing the use of papers made using an environmentally
harmful chemical process.
(iii) Use Bio-Degradable Materials
Project
Managers should be aware of the usage of harmful materials. It would be wise to
encourage the use of bio-degradable materials for various office related
products like soaps, room refreshers, stationeries and others. By using
eco-friendly office products the company paves the way for a greener workplace
environment.
In conclusion,
when good eco-friendly methods are used in the running of projects and
logistics, there is a sense of satisfaction in having done the right thing by
the global community. Reducing the environmentally harmful toxins helps keep
the environment clean and pristine for the coming generation.
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