Sustainable Project Management under the Light of ESG Criteria: A Theoretical Approach

Abstract

The recent pandemic of the SARS-CoV-2 virus highlighted the urgent need for social cohesion among Governments, companies, and organizations. The pandemic also raised the demand for companies to act as good corporate citizens. However, frequently applying ESG considerations may be proven challenging in practice. The objective of this study is to provide a theoretical framework that will allow companies and organizations to incorporate sustainability criteria into the project management process following a conceptual approach, using the guidelines of the Project Management Institute and qualitative methods such as “text analysis” and “content analysis”. Particular attention was placed on the benefits that businesses receive from implementing sustainability methods in their decision-making in order to act responsibly and have a beneficial impact on the environment in which they operate as well as on the people who are affected directly or indirectly.