How to Apply the Concept of Sustainability in the Project Management Processes - Research Proposal Example

Your name: Course name: Professors’ name: Date Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Chapter 1 3 Theme of the proposal 3 Introduction 3 Why it is of interest to you 3 Research questions 3 Importance of the research 4 Chapter 2 5 Literature review 5 Sustainability in project management 5 Chapter 3 8 Research methodology and its appropriateness 8 Relevance of the study 9 Ethical issues 9 Timeline 9 References 11 Chapter 1 Theme of the proposal How to apply the concept of sustainability in the Project Management Processes Introduction In the past, companies could merely perceive sustainability as just a touchy-feely strategy with no or little return on investment. A modern international paradigm commands sustainability efforts to be incorporated in each aspect of business including project management. Smart businesses have understood the benefits of disciplined practices of project management including high levels of efficiencies; lower costs; enhanced customer; stakeholder satisfaction; as well as competitive advantage. Various firms perform poorly in their project management practices due to insufficient knowledge, skills, and measures of ensuring effective in their process of managing projects. This proposal intends to give a preview of the study on how to achieve sustainability in project management process in the United Arab Emirates. It also gives the importance of the study, research questions, literature review, methodology, timeline and relevance. Why it is of interest to you This study is of interest as it will provide valuable knowledge to businesses and individuals on successful and efficient ways of promoting sustainability in project management process. Sustainability is crucial as it considers interests and needs of the present and future generations. Through the research, businesses will get valuable tips of undertaking their projects sustainably by considering environmental, social, and economic aspects. As a result, companies in UAE will gain a competitive advantage and high performance through proper application of sustainability in project management. Research questions Some of the research questions in study include: 1. What is the importance of sustainability in project management? 2. What is the relationship between sustainability and project management 3. How can firms in UAE achieve sustainability in the process of project management? 4. What are the effects of sustainability on project management? 5. How are the elements of environmental, economic, and social aspects used to enhance sustainable project management process? Importance of the research The study is highly significant in that it will provide information on effective and sustainable project management process in various organizations within the UAE. This knowledge is crucial in enhancing success in businesses through consideration of various elements of sustainability including environmental, social, and economic aspects. Through this study, readers will find answers to their questions regarding efficient and effective way of incorporating sustainability in project management in their businesses. This study is also important as it will boost the United Arabs Emirates (UAE)’s economy. This is possible as the study will equip firms and individuals with appropriate measures of ensuring sustainable project management. This is because, for a long time, organizations and individuals have undertaken their projects in ways that are unsustainable. This is known to greatly strain the taxpayers through costing them large amounts of money through wastes and inappropriate practices. The study will also inform UAE company executives and teams on the importance of defining societal and environmental targets in order to ensure that sustainability happens in their organizations. It will further help managers understand sustainability is not just a matter of going green, but incorporating all aspects of program and project decision-making from the procurement of materials, risks involved, oversight, and milestones reviewed. Through the management of the three constraints of cost, time, and quality, project managers and teams will successfully achieve sustainability. Identification of the suitable ways of facilitating sustainability in the process of project management is also crucial in ensuring that the needs and interests of both the present and future generations are safeguarded (Project Management Institute 2008, pp. 5-20). Chapter 2 Literature review Sustainability is a concept used in the development perspective to refer to procedures of progress that satisfy today’s needs whilst safeguarding the future generation’s ability to satisfy their needs. This is used to emphasize on the element of the future direction as a primary aspect of sustainability. This concern for the future means that among other aspects, wise utilization of natural resources and other elements concerning the environmental footprints. In fact, many other definitions of sustainability consider its green aspect. OECD argues that the concept entails a further explanation of the close connections between environmental resources conservation and economic activity. That implies a corporation between the economy and the environment. Apparently, sustainability comprises of three main elements (Silvius, Brink, Köhler 2009, pp. 5-10). The first element concerns the integration of environmental, social, and economic aspects. This implies the triple bottom line (3-P); the three sustainability pillars. This concept indicates that the dimensions are interconnected and they affect each other in various ways. Secondly, sustainability regards the integration of both short and long-term aspects. This element emphasizes on the lasting nature of the present issue. A vital notion in this element is that economic dimension, due to discount rates seems to value short term outcomes compared to the lasting ones, while social effects or environmental dilapidation might not precede the long-term. Sustainability means that the natural capital remains integral. This also implies that the basis and sink environmental functions must not be ruined. Thus, the use of renewable resources must not supersede the rate at which they are converted and the absorptive ability of the environment to adapt waste should not be exceeded (Project Management Institute 2008, pp. 5-20). Sustainability in project management The issues in sustainability show that the present way of generating, consolidating, consuming, and living can have drastic impacts on the future. This means that the present way in which people and organizations are operating is unsustainable. Since change in firms, be it new product, new plant, and business process, or a new resource, is mostly categorized under projects. It may be concluded that a sustainable society needs projects (Silvius &Batenburg 2009, pp.3-10). This link between projects and sustainability was created by the 1987’s World Commission on Environment and Development. Nevertheless, Briassoulis (2001, pp.30-50) argues that 20 years later the project management standards failed to effectively handle the agenda of sustainability. The connection between project management and sustainability is a new area of study. The issue of sustainability in relation to project management regards the incorporation of environmental, economic, and social elements in the management and content of projects (Clements & Gido 2012, p.12). This idea tallies with the triple bottom line sustainability element. Combining project management and sustainability needs the addition of planet and people performance indicators in formats, management systems, and projects’ governance. In the modern project management techniques, the project governance is controlled by the triple constraint of cost, time, and quality (Kliem 2007, p.23). Even though the effectiveness of the projects is explained from a holistic standpoint, this wider criterion fails to reflect on the project management. These constraint factors vividly emphasized on the profit (P). The environmental and social elements could be integrated as elements of quality results, yet they are subject to receive little attention (Labuschagne & Brent 2006, pp.2-10). What is more, the inclusion of sustainability in the process of management regards the consideration of the project’s whole life-cycle. With reference to the future-orientation of the sustainability concept, a rational implication is to take into account the project’s complete life-cycle, which is from its commencement to disposal. Labuschagne and Brent (2006, pp.3-10) also second the idea of considering the complete life-cycle of project governance in order to achieve sustainability. Additionally, they further assert that the project will generate an outcome, which is a change in systems, assets, processes, and behavior among others. It is also crucial to consider the assets generated over full cycle. Further, the service or product’s life-cycle should be taken into account (Kousholt 2007, p.20). The incorporation of the three life-cycles in project management is necessary in sustainability considerations. When triple-P and life-cycle considerations are combined, the new meaning of project management is derived. That is, the governance of project-organized reform in assets, policies or organizations, with focus on social, economic, and environmental effects of projects, its outcome and impact, for the present and future generations (Silvius, Brink, Köhler 2009, pp. 5-10). Some of the implications of this integration may be categorized into: the effect of sustainability on process of project management; effect of sustainability on the measurement, reporting, and governance of projects; and the effect of sustainability on the competencies of project management. In addition, Labuschagne and Brent (2006, pp.2-10) say that integration of formal sustainability objectives into a firm’s project management processes needs education, culture change, measurement, as well as support from top management. There are various tips that should be used to achieve sustainability. First, it is imperative to have level champion in order to embed sustainability in project portfolio. This implies the need for steady executive support and good leadership across the portfolio. Secondly, it is vital to consider risks and opportunities so as to determine the complete value of sustainable options. Understanding that sustainability is non-negotiable is a crucial tip in this case (Lester 2007, p.16). This means that organizations in UAE cannot be socially responsible just because of convenience. Rather, this must be an integral matter in their operations. Thus, they should begin with the non-negotiable methods and aspire to meet the criteria (Silvius, Brink, Köhler 2009, pp. 5-10). Linking sustainable objectives to the bottom line outcomes is also essential. It is critical to begin with those project goals, which can easily be identified and analyzed. It is also worth noting that what is measurable is manageable and that sustainability is included. Organizations in UAE should have specific, measurable, sustainable objectives in every project, for instance, minimizing energy consumption; eliminating waste; or reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, firms should note that sustainability is seen in their supply chains (Royer 2001, p.4). Therefore, sustainability is achieved by setting prospects for ecological stewardship across their supply chain as a business strategy (Silvius & Batenburg 2009, p. 5-10). Chapter 3 Research methodology and its appropriateness This study will employ the descriptive research design. This is a design that uses both quantitative and qualitative research techniques in a study. It refers to the kind of research question, data analysis and design that is used in a certain topic (Wysocki 2012, p.10). Descriptive statistics focuses on what it, whereas inferential statistics attempts to establish the cause and effect. This design concerns the establishment of ‘what is’ when investigating a given topic (Creswell & Miller 2000, pp.124-131). In this case, the study will use both quantity and qualitative research methods in the collection, analysis and interpretation of research data. For instance, the study will collect and tabulate data along a scale in a numerical manner, such as, scores. The design will also involve collection of information that describe various events and classifies, depicts, arranges, and describes data gathering concerning measures of attaining sustainability in project management process. What is more, the design will facilitate the use of visual aids including charts and graphs to enable the reader in understanding the distribution of data. Since human mind cannot fully understand a large amount of raw information, descriptive statistics will be highly indispensable in breaking the information into convenient form. Besides, when detailed and narrative descriptions of few cases are used, the study employs description as a technique of organizing data into patterns that appear during analysis. These patterns help the mind in understanding a qualitative research and its effects. This design is also appropriate in that it will use measures of central tendency: mean mode, median, mean deviation, percentage, variance, and relationship between variables (Creswell & Miller 2000, pp.124-131). The designs exceptional sum of variables used makes it suitable for the study. Similar to other research types, this design may involve many variables to be analyzed. Yet, unlike other designs, it needs just one variable. It will use regression analysis in analyzing data. Some of the suitable methods collecting data will include surveys, observations, interviews, and questionnaires. The study will also imply a simple random sampling design. This is a primary sampling method through which the study will select a category of subjects (sample) for research from a bigger group (population). Every individual is selected wholly by chance of being incorporated in the sample. Besides, each potential sample of a specific size has a similar opportunity of selection (Creswell & Miller 2000, pp.124-131). Relevance of the study This study is relevant as it will add fresh and original knowledge to the department in relation to the sustainable project management. This study will provide insight on various possible ways of enhancing sustainability in the process of project management. Hence, readers who are seeking information and tips on integrating sustainability in their project management process will get solutions easily and efficiently. Ethical issues The study will consider ethical issues in the process of data collection and reporting. Some of the ethical considerations include anonymity of respondents, free participation; and confidentiality. Timeline Activity Duration Remarks Meeting with supervisor Month 1 Preparation of the topic Month 2 Discussion topic with supervisor Month 3 Obtain topic approval Month 6 Submission of minor draft Month 7 Submission of complete draft Proposal Data collection Month 8 Start research Analysis of data Month 9 Discuss research with supervisor Month 10 Continue with research Seek research approval Month 11 Defend dissertation Month 12 References Briassoulis, H 2001, Sustainable development and its indicators: Through a (planner’s) glass darkly, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 44 (3): 27-409 Clements, JP& Gido, J 2012, Effective Project Management, South-Western/Cengage Learning New York. Pp.12-30. Creswell, JW & Miller, DL, 2000, Determining validity in qualitative inquiry, Theory into Practice, 39(3), 124-131. Kliem, R 2007, Effective Communications for Project Management, CRC Press. New York. Pp. 1-25. Kousholt, B, 2007, Project Management: Theory and Practice, Wiley and Sons Ltd,New York, Pp. 20-50. Labuschagne, C & Brent, AC. 2006. ‘Social indicators for sustainable project and technology life cycle management in the process industry’. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 11 (1): 3-15. Lester, A 2007, Project management, planning and control: managing engineering, construction and manufacturing projects to PMI, APM and BSI standards, Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann Amsterdam. Pp. 15-40 Project Management Institute, 2008, A Guide to Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), 4th edn, Newtown Square, PA USA: Project Management Institute, Pp.1-30. Royer, SP 2001, Project Risk Management: A proactive Approach, John Wiley and Sons, New York. Pp. 1-20. Silvius, AJG & Batenburg, R 2009, Future development of project management competences, Paper presented at the 42nd Hawaii International Conference on Systems Science (HICSS), Waikoloa HI, January 2009. Pp. 1-20. Silvius, AJG, Brink, J van der, & Köhler, A 2009, Views on sustainable project management, In Human Side of Projects in Modern Business, edited by Kähköhnen, Kalle; Kazi, Abdul Samad; Rekola, Mirkka. Helsinki, Finland: IPMA Scientific Research Paper Series. Wysocki, R 2012, Effective project management: traditional, agile, extreme, Wiley and Sons, Indiapolis. Pp. 10-40. Read More

How can firms in UAE achieve sustainability in the process of project management? 4. What are the effects of sustainability on project management? 5. How are the elements of environmental, economic, and social aspects used to enhance sustainable project management process? Importance of the research The study is highly significant in that it will provide information on effective and sustainable project management process in various organizations within the UAE. This knowledge is crucial in enhancing success in businesses through consideration of various elements of sustainability including environmental, social, and economic aspects.

Through this study, readers will find answers to their questions regarding efficient and effective way of incorporating sustainability in project management in their businesses. This study is also important as it will boost the United Arabs Emirates (UAE)’s economy. This is possible as the study will equip firms and individuals with appropriate measures of ensuring sustainable project management. This is because, for a long time, organizations and individuals have undertaken their projects in ways that are unsustainable.

This is known to greatly strain the taxpayers through costing them large amounts of money through wastes and inappropriate practices. The study will also inform UAE company executives and teams on the importance of defining societal and environmental targets in order to ensure that sustainability happens in their organizations. It will further help managers understand sustainability is not just a matter of going green, but incorporating all aspects of program and project decision-making from the procurement of materials, risks involved, oversight, and milestones reviewed.

Through the management of the three constraints of cost, time, and quality, project managers and teams will successfully achieve sustainability. Identification of the suitable ways of facilitating sustainability in the process of project management is also crucial in ensuring that the needs and interests of both the present and future generations are safeguarded (Project Management Institute 2008, pp. 5-20). Chapter 2 Literature review Sustainability is a concept used in the development perspective to refer to procedures of progress that satisfy today’s needs whilst safeguarding the future generation’s ability to satisfy their needs.

This is used to emphasize on the element of the future direction as a primary aspect of sustainability. This concern for the future means that among other aspects, wise utilization of natural resources and other elements concerning the environmental footprints. In fact, many other definitions of sustainability consider its green aspect. OECD argues that the concept entails a further explanation of the close connections between environmental resources conservation and economic activity. That implies a corporation between the economy and the environment.

Apparently, sustainability comprises of three main elements (Silvius, Brink, Köhler 2009, pp. 5-10). The first element concerns the integration of environmental, social, and economic aspects. This implies the triple bottom line (3-P); the three sustainability pillars. This concept indicates that the dimensions are interconnected and they affect each other in various ways. Secondly, sustainability regards the integration of both short and long-term aspects. This element emphasizes on the lasting nature of the present issue.

A vital notion in this element is that economic dimension, due to discount rates seems to value short term outcomes compared to the lasting ones, while social effects or environmental dilapidation might not precede the long-term. Sustainability means that the natural capital remains integral. This also implies that the basis and sink environmental functions must not be ruined. Thus, the use of renewable resources must not supersede the rate at which they are converted and the absorptive ability of the environment to adapt waste should not be exceeded (Project Management Institute 2008, pp. 5-20).

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