ABSTRACT
Every journey begins with the first step. “Hiking” through any project is always a journey, an adventure. Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary1 defines adventure as “an undertaking involving danger and unknown risks.” It also defines adventure as “an exciting or remarkable experience.” Sound familiar? Whether projects involve danger or unknown risks depends on the type of project undertaken and the environment in which it’s executed, but we can all agree that projects involve risks and they can be an exciting experience. No matter how many projects you have run before, by nature and definition, every project will be different. Sometimes it may be only that the project is taking place in a different time frame than a similar successful project-and even that makes it an adventure. Green project management adds another dimension, greenality, to an already complex discipline. One could argue that the greenality of a project adds additional risks, particular challenges, and excitement to the project along with the possibility for an enhanced sense of accomplishment. We think that it’s fundamental for PMs to think of this work not as a burden but as an integrated part of their work. If we keep the analogy we often hear of “having too much on our plate,” well, we suggest that you think of the green aspect of projects as adding only extra vitamins and minerals to the existing nourishment, and not adding anything bulky to the plate. To reiterate, it is our contention that all projects have some green aspect to them; therefore, the greenality of a project is one of the fundamental project characteristics that will be prevalent throughout the project life cycle (see Figure 5.1).
