Sustainability Interventions of Construction Project Managers—Establishing a Minimum Baseline

Abstract

The implementation of higher standards for sustainability presents a challenge to the construction industry. Sustainable construction guidelines often emphasize the outcomes of a project rather than addressing the sustainability aspects of its delivery, management, and governance processes. Project management standards and frameworks recognize the significance of sustainability. However, they lack practical instructions for project managers on effectively integrating sustainability into their project management practices. This study addresses this gap in the literature by investigating the perceived effectiveness and ease of sustainability interventions, with the aim of developing a ‘minimum baseline’ set of interventions that managers of construction projects can make in order to develop more sustainable projects. From the existing literature, 42 sustainability interventions by a project manager were derived. A quantitative survey-based research approach utilizing a self-administrated online questionnaire was employed to assess their effectiveness and ease of implementation. The questionnaire was distributed to the project managers worldwide, and valuable input was received from 105 respondents globally. The findings indicate that a minimum baseline of interventions can be formed with ten interventions that focus on the themes of communication, guidelines and regulations, and the supply chain. By revealing this minimum baseline, the study provides practical guidance for project managers of construction projects and fills the gap in the literature regarding the lack of a practical framework for improving sustainability in construction projects.