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Date

When we last left our star-crossed pair – Sustainable Project Management and Project Success (SPM and PS from here on in), we knew there was a certain tension between them but we also sensed that they may be made for each other.
In this short entry we conclude the story. Sort of. Since this is based on academic research the answer, as usual, is “more research is needed”. And it is.
However we do have a conclusion to share.
The authors of the referenced article (Dubois and Silvius) got results from 112 participants in their survey. From the article:
112 responses were received. Based on the assumed total population of over 1 million project managers, the sample provides a confidence interval of 9.26% at a 95% confidence level. Given the 5-point Likert scales that were used in the questionnaire, this confidence interval is satisfactory.
If you recall from Part 1 of this post, SbP is Sustainability by Projects and SoP is Sustainability of Projects. Those terms are defined in Part 1 (and of course, in the article itself).
Here is a sample of the questions that were asked by the researchers:

The answers to this survey were very illustrative especially in the relationship of PS to SPM.
Instead of going through the entire data analysis as did the authors, I will go right to the illustrative conclusion. And here it is:
• SPM and PS show a strong positive correlation
The main finding of the study reported in this paper focuses on the relation between SPM and PS. In line with the earlier studies on this relationship, also this study found a positive correlation that can be considered as strong. And despite the concerns that Silvius and Schipper (2016) expressed about the potential negative effects of considering sustainability on the iron triangle criteria of PS, the overall relation between SPM and PS still appeared as positive. Khalilzadeh et al. (2016)
The study reported in this paper aimed to answer the question How does considering sustainability in project management relate to project success? Based on a literature analysis of the concepts of Sustainable Project Management and Project Success, the study developed a conceptual model of the relationship in which the independent variable SPM was operationalised in six questions, three questions related to SbP and three questions related to SoP. The dependent variable PS was operationalised in five items, which provided a holistic set of criteria.
Based on the analysis of the responses of 112 professionals involved in projects, the study found that both variables PS and SPM showed a high level of internal consistency…This correlation subsequently showed a strong and positive correlation between SPM and PS. And although the study was not aimed at developing proof for the causality between SPM and PS, this conclusion does provides another indication that SPM supports PS.
This is illustrated in the graph below as well:

So yes: Sustainable Project Management, which I assert means, “keeping the big picture in mind”, and “thinking through the end of the project to the steady-state”, and “Focusing on Benefits Realization Management and Value”, does indeed actually have a POSITIVE net effect on Project Success.
So as you watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” this Holiday Season (you can’t help it in many parts of the world), starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed (pictured at the top of this post), consider the wonderful life your project can have if it does indeed include Sustainable Project Management!
Posted
by
Richard Maltzman
on: November 28, 2020 04:33 PM |
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