The history and future of projects as a transition innovation: Towards a sustainable project management framework

Sankaran, S; Jacobsson, M; Blomquist, T

The history and future of projects as a transition innovation: Towards a sustainable project management framework

Sankaran, S

Jacobsson, M Blomquist, T

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Publisher:: Wiley
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 2021, 38, (5), pp. 696-714
Issue Date:: 2021-10-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Sankaran, S https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5485-6216
dc.contributor.author	Jacobsson, M
dc.contributor.author	Blomquist, T
dc.date.accessioned	2022-01-06T03:56:13Z
dc.date.available	2022-01-06T03:56:13Z
dc.date.issued	2021-10-01
dc.identifier.citation	Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 2021, 38, (5), pp. 696-714
dc.identifier.issn	1092-7026
dc.identifier.issn	1099-1743
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/152737
dc.description.abstract	Project management practices have evolved as the discipline grew from managing defence and engineering projects to delivering information systems, supporting organizational transformation, and managing megaprojects supporting national infrastructure needs. Thus, from starting as a tactical tool, project management grew to deliver organizational and national strategies. The next challenge for project management is to support the achievement of sustainable development goals to tackle societal challenges. How can it do this? In this article, we chart a way forward for project management to contribute to global sustainability by tracing the history of projects from prehistoric times to the 21st. We outline the development using the lens of socio-technical transitions to analyse technological niches developed to advance the field, and socio-technical regimes that have supported the development of project management to adopt these technological niches to meet changes that appear at the landscape level. By analysing the history of projects and project management, we argue that the discipline has continuously evolved as a transition innovation that can meet the challenges posed by sustainable development. However, further investigation is required. A sustainable development framework has been proposed in this article to enable project management researchers and managers to achieve this transition.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Wiley
dc.relation.ispartof	Systems Research and Behavioral Science
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1002/sres.2814
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.subject.classification	Business & Management
dc.title	The history and future of projects as a transition innovation: Towards a sustainable project management framework
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	38
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building/School of Built Environment
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CCDP - Contemporary Design Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/e-Press
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
utslib.copyright.embargo	2023-09-15T00:00:00+1000Z
dc.date.updated	2022-01-06T03:56:12Z
pubs.issue	5
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	38
utslib.citation.issue	5

Abstract:

Project management practices have evolved as the discipline grew from managing defence and engineering projects to delivering information systems, supporting organizational transformation, and managing megaprojects supporting national infrastructure needs. Thus, from starting as a tactical tool, project management grew to deliver organizational and national strategies. The next challenge for project management is to support the achievement of sustainable development goals to tackle societal challenges. How can it do this? In this article, we chart a way forward for project management to contribute to global sustainability by tracing the history of projects from prehistoric times to the 21st. We outline the development using the lens of socio-technical transitions to analyse technological niches developed to advance the field, and socio-technical regimes that have supported the development of project management to adopt these technological niches to meet changes that appear at the landscape level. By analysing the history of projects and project management, we argue that the discipline has continuously evolved as a transition innovation that can meet the challenges posed by sustainable development. However, further investigation is required. A sustainable development framework has been proposed in this article to enable project management researchers and managers to achieve this transition.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/152737