Project management for sustainable project success

Abstract

The construction industry has been challenging the market with higher requirements for sustainable buildings. However, there is no clear method on how project management can support sustainability achievement of the building. This research focuses on this challenge and aims at developing a framework of sustainable project management. The study started with a conceptual model for Sustainable Project Management (SPM) with five key components, which were built on the classification of 35 project-management related success factors for achieving sustainability in building projects. Then, five hypotheses were proposed to test the inter-relationships among the five key components of SPM and their impacts on the achievement of Sustainable Project Success (SPS). Structural equation modelling (SEM) technique was employed to analyse data collected from a questionnaire survey with contributions of 144 professionals in the UK. The research results support the significant and positive impact of sustainability assessment and stakeholder management for achieving sustainable project success. The results also highlight the enhancement of project team, the definition of sustainable goals and the planning of sustainability in projects. On the ground of these findings, a comprehensive framework for sustainability management (GEPAS) was developed and validated.