Project sustainability management: risks, problems and perspective
-
DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ppm.17(1).2019.27
-
Article InfoVolume 17 2019, Issue #1, pp. 313-325
- Cited by
- 2043 Views
-
947 Downloads
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This research aims to propose and validate research of a New Framework for integration of the concept of sustainability in projects by investigating the relationship between project and sustainability for project success. Integrating sustainability in projects is crucial metric for project success. However, the dearth in literature and the slow pace in emerging literature has left many issues unanswered regarding integration of sustainability in projects and the commitment of project teams to sustainability pillars. Therefore, this article explores the current state of sustainability, its potential weaknesses and therein proposes corrective action for the legitimatization of a New Framework on ‘project sustainability’ in an authentic environment. The methodological approach adopted in this research is a pragmatic examination of secondary data collected by the project team during a one-year period that demonstrates the effects of neglecting proactive management of the three pillars of sustainability resulting in poor project performance in terms of resources and stakeholder resistance, as well as the lessons learned therein. The findings reveals a low degree of commitment by project teams towards sustainability particularly with regard to social and environment pillars, even though the economic pillar has been given much attention, there is still much to be done. Hence, the importance of the proposed New Framework for project success. This research concludes and recommends the need to integrate sustainability adequately throughout a project life-cycle for the attainment of organizational strategy and satisfying stakeholders’ expectations. However, this can take place with a knowledgeable project management team on sustainability.
- Keywords
-
JEL Classification (Paper profile tab)I23
-
References27
-
Tables0
-
Figures4
-
- Figure 1. Ecological, social and economic subsystems
- Figure 2. Framework
- Figure 3. Project sustainability metrics
- Figure 4. New Framework proposed by the researcher based on the metrics collated in both literature and project data
-
- Alqaisi, F. (2018). The effects of stakeholder’s engagement and communication management on projects success. MATEC Web of Conferences, 162, 1-6.
- Burnes, B. (2000). Managing change: A strategic approach to organizational dynamics (2nd ed.). Pitman Publishing, London, Johannesburg, Melbourne.
- Carlsson, B., & Jacobsson, S. (2002). Innovation systems: analytical and methodological issues. Elsevier Science, 31(2), 233-245.
- Carvalho, M. M., & Rabechini, R. (2017). Can project sustainability management impact project success? An empirical study applying a contingent approach. International Journal of Project Management, 35(6), 1120-1132.
- Chapman, C. B., & Ward, C. S. (2004). Making risk management more effective. In W. G. P. Morris & K. J. Pinto (Eds.), The Wiley guide to managing projects. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York.
- Elkington, J. (1998). Cannibals with forks: The triple bottom line of 21st century business. Oxford: Capstone Press.
- Gachie, W. E. (2009). Practical application of corporate governance principles in South Africa: a case study of two retail companies (MBA Dissertation). University of KwaZulu-Natal Graduate School of Business South Africa Durban.
- Gachie, W. E. (2015). Sustainable Development in South Africa through Research in the National System of Innovation (A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Administration School of Management, IT and Governance). University of KwaZulu-Natal.
- Gachie, W. E., & Govender, W. D. (2017). The evaluation of human computer interface design of learning management systems: problems and perspectives. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 15(3), 394-410.
- Gardiner, D. P. (2016). Integrating the strategy-project system for competitive survival. Future Trends in Project, Programme and Portfolio Management 2016 (International Project Management Association (IPMA)), 66-78.
- Ginzberg, M. J. (1979). A study of the implementation process. In R. Doktor, R. L. Schultz, D. P. Slevin (Eds.), The implementation of management science. North-Holland, New York.
- Hallstedt, S. I. (2017). Sustainability criteria and sustainability compliance index for decision support in product development. Journal of Cleaner Production, 140(1), 251-266.
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO) (2006). Environmental management – Life-cycle assessment – Principles and framework (International Standard ISO 14040, Geneva).
- Jacobsson, M., Lundin, R. A., & Söderholm, A. (2015). Researching projects and theorizing families of temporary organizations. Project Management Journal, 46, 9-18.
- Kaplan, R., & Norton, R. (2004). Strategy Maps. Converting Intangible Assets into Tangible Outcomes. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
- Kerzner, H. (2018). Project management best practices: Achieving global excellence (4th ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York.
- King IV (2016). Report on Governance for South Africa, and the Draft Code of Governance Principles. Institute of Directors Southern Africa, Pretoria.
- Lal, P. M., & Keen, M. (2002). Economic considerations in community based resource use and management. Development Bulletin, 58, 68-72.
- Labuschagne, C., & Brent, A. C. (2005). Sustainable project life-cycle management: The need to integrate life-cycles in the manufacturing sector. International Journal of Project Management, 23(2), 159-168.
- Neumayer, E. (2012). Human Development and Sustainability. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 13, 561-579.
- Ozguler, I. S., & Yilmaz, S. (2016). The impact of personal characteristics on project management. Progam and Prjoject Management World Journal, 5, 1-13.
- Project Management Institute (PMI) (2013). A guide to the project management body of knowlege (PMBOK®Guide) (5th ed.). Project Management Institute, Newtown Square, USA.
- Sánchez, M. A. (2015). Integrating sustainability issues into project management. Journal of Cleaner Production, 96(1), 319-330.
- Silvius, A., & Schipper, R. P. (2014). Sustainability in project management: A literature review and impact analysis. Social Business, 4, 63-96.
- Thomas, T. E., & Lamm, E. (2012). Legitimacy and organisational sustainability. Journal of Business Ethics, 110(2), 191-203.
- World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) (1987). Our Common Future. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
- World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002). World Summit on Sustainable Development Convenction Johanessburg.