STUDENT PAPER

Sustainable Development Projects: Development of a Categorization

By Barbara Capek
and
Kathrin Westermayer

WU-Vienna University of Economics and Business (AUT) Vienna, Austria

Editor’s note: This paper won the Austrian Student Paper Award ’10 at the happy projects ’10 conference in Vienna, Austria in May 2010. We are honoured to publish this paper in the August 2010 PM World Today and congratulate the authors on their award winning paper.

Abstract

The intention of this paper is to develop a categorization for projects within the field of Sustainability. From a content-perspective “Sustainable Development Projects” should contain the three pillars of sustainability, Ecology, Social Welfare and Economy, in a balanced way. From a process-perspective all three pillars shall be integrated in the objects of consideration of project management as well as in the design of the project management approach. This incorporates the ideal type of Sustainable Development Projects, whereas often the focus of Sustainable Development Projects only lies on one or two pillars of sustainability, resulting in the clustering of these projects as “Green Projects”, “Social Projects” or “Economic Projects” referring to their respective focus. Furthermore “Eco-Efficient Projects” will be introduced. Exemplarily, a Sustainable Development Project, a Green Project, a Social Project, an Economic Project and an Eco-Efficient Project will be illustrated.

Introduction

This paper is based on our diploma thesis, Management of Sustainability Projects”, and deals with the current discussion about sustainability (Capek/Westermayer, 2010).

Due to the absence of common categorization of „Sustainable Development Projects” or „Green Projects”, the primary goal of this paper is to determine this. After extensive literature and online research on the topic of project management as well as sustainability and taking into consideration the results of the conducted expert interviews, a classification for „Sustainable Development Projects” „Green Projects”, „Social Projects” and „Economic Projects” has been developed; content- as well as process-wise. In addition „Eco-Efficient Projects” will be introduced and practical examples will be demonstrated.

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About the Author Barbara Capek Co - Author Barbara Capek, born 2 July 1985, Vienna 2004 High School Graduation with very good results "Gymnasium St. Ursula", Vienna 2004 – 2010 Vienna University of Economics and Business, Intl. Business Administration, Specialisation: International Business, Project Management and Public Management; Bursary for excellent grades Exchange semester at School of Economics and Management Lund University, Sweden Languages: German (native), English, French; Swedish and Italian (Basic) Work experience in the fields of Health Care Management (Rosmarin SeniorenbetreuungsGmbH, Badener KurbetriebsgesmbH), Private Banking (Raiffeisenlandesbank NÖ-Wien AG), Sales and Distribution, SAP (Xerox Austria GmbH), Cultural Administration and Event Management (u.a. Musik-Theater-Schönbrunn)

Kathrin Westermayer Co - Author Kathrin Westermayer, born 29 December 1985, Vienna 2004 High School Graduation with excellent results BG Bachgasse Mödling 2004 – 2010 Vienna University of Economics and Business, Intl. Business Administration, Specialisation: Intl. Marketing and Management, Intl. Organizational Behaviour, Project Mgmt.; Bursary for excellent grades, Center of Excellence, students4excellence Exchange semester at University of Otago, New Zealand Languages: German (native), English, French, Spanish, Russian (basic) Work experience in the fields of Consulting (Deloitte), Corporate Communications & Marketing Consulting (Siemens), Ad-Marketing (KarrierenKurier), Advertising Material (mandaringifts), Training (Corporate Consult – Certified Communications Trainer), Aviation (Austrian Airlines)