---
reference_type: Principle
reference_id: P01
name: Be a Diligent, Respectful, and Caring Steward
version: "1.0.0"
status: Deprecated
edition: PMBOK7
pmbok8_source: "PMBOK8 Standard §3.1 — Be a Diligent, Respectful, and Caring Steward"
authority: PMI-derived
---

# P01 — Be a Diligent, Respectful, and Caring Steward
**Type:** Principle
**PMBOK8 Source:** PMBOK8 Standard §3.1 — Be a Diligent, Respectful, and Caring Steward
**Version:** 1.0.0

## Definition
Stewardship, as defined in PMBOK 8 Standard §3.1, means acting as a trustworthy and responsible caretaker of the resources, relationships, and outcomes entrusted to the project practitioner. Stewards are diligent in their work, respectful to all people involved or affected, and caring about the broader impacts of their decisions. This principle extends accountability beyond the project team to encompass organizational, community, and environmental consequences. Stewardship is holistic — covering financial, material, human, and natural resources — and is grounded in integrity, compliance, and sustainability consciousness.

## Key Characteristics
- **Holistic resource responsibility:** Stewards manage financial, material, human, and natural resources with care, avoiding waste and ensuring resources are used in alignment with organizational intent (§3.1).
- **Integrity and accountability:** Practitioners uphold ethical standards and accept accountability for decisions and actions, even when outcomes are uncertain or adverse (§3.1).
- **Transparency in reporting:** Stewardship requires honest, timely reporting of project performance, risks, and issues — not just positive information (§3.1).
- **Sustainability consciousness:** Stewards consider the short- and long-term environmental and societal impacts of project decisions, not only internal project metrics (§3.1).
- **Organizational and external awareness:** Stewardship extends to the organization and its external stakeholders, communities, and environment — recognizing that projects have impacts beyond their immediate deliverables (§3.1).
- **Compliance orientation:** Stewards ensure that project work complies with applicable laws, regulations, organizational policies, and professional standards (§3.1).

## Relationship to Other Principles
| Principle | Relationship |
|---|---|
| P04 — Focus on Value | Stewardship is the responsible delivery of value — stewards protect the intended value of organizational investments and avoid actions that erode value without justification. |
| P12 — Navigate Complexity | Stewards must navigate organizational, regulatory, and environmental complexity responsibly, considering second-order effects of project decisions. |
| P03 — Effectively Engage with Stakeholders | Stewardship includes being accountable and transparent with stakeholders who are affected by or have interests in how project resources and outcomes are managed. |
| P06 — Demonstrate Leadership Behaviors | Leaders model stewardship behaviors — setting the tone for ethical conduct, transparency, and responsible resource management across the team. |

## Artifact Connections
| Artifact | Connection |
|---|---|
| A01 — Business Case | The Business Case is the primary stewardship justification document — it establishes why organizational resources should be invested and what value will be delivered. Stewards reference the Business Case to keep project decisions aligned with organizational intent. |
| A05 — Context Register | Captures the environmental, regulatory, and organizational factors that stewardship must consider, including sustainability constraints, compliance requirements, and external community impacts. |
| A35 — Governance and Decision Authority Record | Formalizes the accountability structures and authority boundaries that define stewardship responsibilities — who is accountable for what decisions, and how resource usage is authorized and governed. |

## Skill Connections
| Skill ID | Skill Name | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| SKL-01-01 | Establish Governance Framework | Governance frameworks define stewardship accountability structures, decision authority, and compliance mechanisms — the direct organizational expression of this principle. |
| SKL-02-01 | Develop Project Charter | The Project Charter formalizes the stewardship mandate — authorizing the project, defining resource authority, and establishing accountability relationships with sponsors. |
| SKL-05-01 | Monitor and Control Project Work | Ongoing monitoring is an act of stewardship — ensuring resources are used appropriately, performance is transparent, and deviations are addressed with accountability. |

## Questions to Ask in Practice
1. Am I being fully transparent with stakeholders about the project's performance, including problems and risks, or am I managing perceptions?
2. Are the resources under my oversight being used efficiently and in alignment with the organizational intent stated in the Business Case?
3. Have I considered the environmental and community impacts of this project's decisions, not just the internal project outcomes?
4. Am I complying with all applicable laws, regulations, organizational policies, and professional standards — and can I demonstrate that compliance if asked?
5. If something goes wrong with this project, would I be comfortable being fully accountable for the decisions and actions I have taken?

*Authority: PMBOK8 Standard §3.1 — Be a Diligent, Respectful, and Caring Steward · Source type: PMI-derived*
*Repository: https://github.com/fakhruldeen/PMOSkills*
