STUDENT PAPER

Sustainability in Project Management
A case study on Enexis

By Lilian Grevelman
and
Michelle Kluiwstra

University of Greenwich (UK)
In collaboration with Saxion University of Applied Sciences Deventer, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht and Zuyd University (The Netherlands)

Editor’s note: This paper won the International 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 July 2010 PM World Today and congratulate the authors on their award winning paper.

Introduction to Enexis

Enexis is a grid company, which is responsible for the development, installation, maintenance and management of the transport and distribution lines for gas and electricity (Essent, 2009). Enexis was part of Essent, the largest energy company in the Netherlands and it was called Essent Network. Because of the Network Management Act, Enexis is obliged to work independently and cannot be part of Essent anymore. The act states as of 1 January 2011 energy production, trading and supply companies may no longer belong to the same group as network companies (Essent, 2008).

Abstract

This research paper is focused on the grid company Enexis. Following, the main research question is formulated:

How does Enexis apply concepts of sustainability in their projects and project management?

The finding was that Enexis is compared to the literature review above average when it comes to sustainability. Enexis has a lot of ideas on the subject sustainability, but the company will have to further develop and integrate the ideas in policies. In projects like construction of buildings, Enexis tries to implement sustainability in the result. Only incorporation of sustainability in project management can processes be improved…

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About the Author Lilian Grevelman Co - Author Lilian Grevelman (22) is a student of International MSc Real Estate Management at the University of Greenwich (United Kingdom), in collaboration with Saxion University of Applied Sciences Deventer (the Netherlands) and she has obtained her bachelor in Facilities Management in July 2009. During a project about sustainability in project management her interest was raised on both of the topics: sustainability and project management. During her dissertation she will do a research on social sustainability in urban renewal projects. The knowledge acquired from this project will be used and extended during the making of the masters thesis.

About the Author Michelle Kluiwstra Co - Author Michelle Kluiwstra (22) has a Bachelor in Facility Management and in September 2009 she started the International MSc Real Estate Management at the University of Greenwich. The course Project Management challenged her to research sustainability, and more specific: sustainability in Project Management. This paper is the result of that challenge. Michelle hopes to finish her Master in September 2010. Afterwards she would like to apply her obtained knowledge in her professional life, hopefully within a consultancy firm in which she can relate to her background in Facility- and Real Estate Management.