DOES SUSTAINABLE PROJECT MANAGEMENT DRIVE PROJECT SUCCESS? A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE, ITS CONTEXTUAL BOUNDARIES, AND A FUTURE RESEARCH AGENDA

Abstract

Although SPM is now considered one of the major areas of concern within the discipline of PM, there is still no firm conclusion regarding whether the degree to which sustainability is considered during the development of a project facilitates success. This article presents results from an SLR that followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines in order to address this question. An SLR was used to review the existing literature on sustainability and project success in order to establish whether there is an association between the two. The SLR identified 12 empirical studies published between 2016 and 2023, which met the eligibility criteria established for the review. The 12 studies were synthesized thematically into two (2) themes. The first theme is that all of the included studies report a positive correlation between SPM and PS. Moreover, the direction of the reported relationship is consistent across all theoretical lenses, industries, and geographic regions, resulting in the finding that the relationship between SPM and PS is one of the most consistently documented main effects in the PM literature and is therefore presumed to be robust and mostly independent from the context in which the project occurs.The second theme is that the reviewed studies also have a common set of limitations that raise questions about the generalizability of the conclusions reached. These limitations include small, non-probability samples; reliance on self-reported and cross-sectional data; heavy concentration on construction industry; and insufficient attention given to the mediating and moderating variables that would be necessary to adequately account for how the association between sustainability and success occurs. Therefore, based on the findings of this research study, several future research directions are outlined (e.g., larger and more representative sample sizes; using better experimental designs; replicating studies in different settings; and exploring moderating and mediating factors). Ultimately, this research adds to the body of knowledge and aids in understanding how sustainability practices contribute to successful projects and provides researchers with many opportunities to further develop the theoretical framework and practical application of sustainability in project management.