scholarly journals Sustainability and Project Management – The Drivers and Benefits

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-103
Author(s):  
Hussaen Ali Hassan Kahachi

This research is looking at the concept of sustainable project management and its importance in real life project management. Firstly, the research will examine the meaning of sustainability and sustainable management. Next, it will examine, evaluate and classify the different drivers for the integration of sustainability in project management as social, economic, legislative and environmental drivers. Then, the research will discuss the potential benefits of implementing sustainability in project management throughout project's lifecycle. The researcher concluded that there are many environmental, social/ethical, legislative and economic benefits derived from integrating sustainability into project management throughout project's lifecycle, however, there are some restrictions as the tools for integration are still under development.

Author(s):  
April H. Reed ◽  
Mark G. Angolia

This chapter will explore the value of using computerized simulation case studies to enhance learning in project management education at the undergraduate and graduate college levels. Traditional teaching methods of textbook reading and lectures provide students with a vast number of concepts, processes, tools, and procedures for managing projects. However, it is difficult for students to translate that learning into use in real-life project management situations. Simulations are filling that gap by offering a low-risk environment with lifelike scenarios where students must determine the appropriate project management concept to employ and how to execute it. Simulations allow students to use their newly learned concepts and critical thinking for decision making while receiving immediate feedback which allows the student to make adjustments. This chapter will also discuss the value of these simulations based on the timing of when to introduce them to students during the semester.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 4-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuck C.H. Law

Purpose This paper aims to discuss the appropriate uses of bonuses and award in recruiting and motivating project employees. Design/methodology/approach It is a conceptual discussion of human resources management (HRM) practices, supported by the author’s professional experience and observations in real-life project settings. Findings Bonuses and awards not only provide extrinsic financial rewards but also provide positive feedback to recipients. Extrinsic financial benefits (such as sign-on bonus, and retention bonus) may enhance the total compensation package and positively affect an employee’s job-related decision at least for the short term. He/she may accept a job offer or choose to stay on a project longer until the completion of a critical milestone because of the bonuses. However, positive recognition of employee performance (through the use of spot award, holiday award, or non-financial certificate of appreciation) is also a useful means to motivate employees. In addition, managers on international assignments need to pay attention to practices specific to host countries. Practical implications The practices discussed in this paper are based on real-life experience and observations. When they are used properly in conjunction with other HRM arrangements, bonuses and awards can be used to mitigate and delay turnover, and to motivate employees to increase their work performance. Originality/value This paper not only draws on theories and information from the HRM and project management literature but also draws from the author’s own management experience. Thus, the relevance and validity of the proposed concepts and practices have been proven in actual functional and project management settings.


Author(s):  
April H. Reed ◽  
Mark G. Angolia

This chapter will explore the value of using computerized simulation case studies to enhance learning in project management education at the undergraduate and graduate college levels. Traditional teaching methods of textbook reading and lectures provide students with a vast number of concepts, processes, tools, and procedures for managing projects. However, it is difficult for students to translate that learning into use in real-life project management situations. Simulations are filling that gap by offering a low-risk environment with lifelike scenarios where students must determine the appropriate project management concept to employ and how to execute it. Simulations allow students to use their newly learned concepts and critical thinking for decision making while receiving immediate feedback which allows the student to make adjustments. This chapter will also discuss the value of these simulations based on the timing of when to introduce them to students during the semester.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Strygacz ◽  
Avraham Sthub

Every year, countless projects are finished late, go over budget or end up being cancelled, often because their project managers and project teams lack the necessary tools and techniques to support their decision-making. Students of project management courses around the world have difficulty integrating the different knowledge areas of project management, after studying each knowledge area separately. Students then struggle and even fail when it comes to applying these concepts in a real-life project. Simulation-based training contributes to the solution of these problems by linking the concepts learned during a project management course and providing the experience of managing a simulated project that serves as preparation for real life. The objective of this research is to study the impact of simulation-based training and flipped classroom methodology on students learning project management. The contribution of this research is twofold. First, from a theoretical perspective, simulation-based training and flipped classroom methodology literature is enriched and broadened by applying both teaching tools. Second, from a practical perspective, an improvement in results, satisfaction and lessons learned was found when using simulation-based training under flipped classroom methodology compared to simulation-based training in a traditional classroom.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adarsh Anand ◽  
Subhrata Das ◽  
Mohini Agarwal ◽  
Shinji Inoue

PurposeIn the current market scenario, software upgrades and updates have proved to be very handy in improving the reliability of the software in its operational phase. Software upgrades help in reinventing working software through major changes, like functionality addition, feature enhancement, structural changes, etc. In software updates, minor changes are undertaken which help in improving software performance by fixing bugs and security issues in the current version of the software. Through the current proposal, the authors wish to highlight the economic benefits of the combined use of upgrade and update service. A cost analysis model has been proposed for the same.Design/methodology/approachThe article discusses a cost analysis model highlighting the distinction between launch time and time to end the testing process. The number of bugs which have to be catered in each release has been determined which also consists of the count of latent bugs of previous version. Convolution theory has been utilized to incorporate the joint role of tester and user in bug detection into the model. The cost incurred in debugging process was determined. An optimization model was designed which considers the reliability and budget constraints while minimizing the total debugging cost. This optimization was used to determine the release time and testing stop time.FindingsThe proposal is backed by real-life software bug dataset consisting of four releases. The model was able to successfully determine the ideal software release time and the testing stop time. An increased profit is generated by releasing the software earlier and continues testing long after its release.Originality/valueThe work contributes positively to the field by providing an effective optimization model, which was able to determine the economic benefit of the combined use of upgrade and update service. The model can be used by management to determine their timelines and cost that will be incurred depending on their product and available resources.


Author(s):  
Diego Baxerias ◽  
Carol Banda

Peru has a 10-year ban on genetically modified (GM) crops and food that was approved by the Peruvian congress in 2011. Is it scientifically justified or is it a cause and effect fallacy that will make Peru fall behind in taking advantage of this technology and its potential benefits to everyone else in the economy? In order to answer this question, a literature review was carried out to examine the three most commonly used arguments against genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by farmers and all those related to the agriculture industry, reaching the conclusion that they are not one hundred percent plausible. Further research showed the multiple, potential economic benefits that GM seeds could bring about to Peru, which are related to increased labor productivity, the development of human capital, and the expansion of renewable energy sources and its implications for trade and employment – the environmental and health benefits of GMO varieties are also discussed. This paper elaborates on such matters by applying different macro and microeconomic concepts, i.e., market structures and competition, the theory of the firm, and scarcity, among others; and provides insights about the different socio-economic realities present in Peru and possible ways to improve them.


Author(s):  
Wai Loan Liew ◽  
Khalida Muda ◽  
Mohd. Azraai Kassim ◽  
Augustine Chioma Affam ◽  
Soh Kheang Loh

Over the decades the palm oil industry has managed some challenging environmental concerns regarding land transformation and degradation, increase in eutrophication, changing habitats of wildlife, pesticides runoff into inland watercourses, and probable climate change. Countries producing palm oil desire to do so in a more sustainable way that will leave the environment evergreen. Therefore this paper aims to encourage sustainable management of agro-industrial waste and its potential in making financial returns from the same waste. Hence, the study was conducted with the participation of seven local palm oil mills having different capacities and operation age. Attention was given to milling waste as they could cause serious environmental menace if unattended to properly. Milling waste includes lignocellulosic palm biomass namely the empty fruit bunches (EFB), oil palm shell (OPS), mesocarp fibres, palm oil mill effluent (POME), and palm oil mill sludge (POMS), as well as solid waste generated from the further processing of these biomass into the palm oil fuel ashes (POFA) and palm oil clinkers (POC). The opportunities available to the Malaysian palm oil industry and the financial benefits which may accrue from waste generated during palm oil production process cannot be over emphasized.


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 306-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corinna Clements ◽  
Jeffrey Alwang ◽  
Victor Barrera ◽  
Juan Manuel Dominguez

AbstractNaranjilla cultivation is highly profitable in many parts of the Andean foothills in Colombia and Ecuador. Its susceptibility to soil-borne diseases, however, lowers its economic benefits, reduces sustainability of production and increases its contribution to environmental degradation. This paper presents an analysis of the potential market and non-market benefits of research that developed and tested the grafting of common naranjilla onto disease-resistant rootstock. Grafting reduces the need for pesticide application and increases the longevity and sustainability of the plant. An economic surplus approach, carefully calibrated to reflect the realities of naranjilla production, was employed to show the large benefits from such research. Environmental and health benefits are very close in magnitude to market-mediated surplus gains. The results show substantial potential benefits from an outreach program to diffuse the new technology.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 862-866
Author(s):  
Bernard S. Bloom

A steady decline of infant and maternal mortality has been recorded for as long as these statistics have been collected. Much of the improvement has been due to reductions in infectious diseases and to social, economic, and public health improvements over the years. The major portion of mortality reductions took place before there were any important effects of medical care. However, there is increasing evidence suggesting that important benefits, can still be gained from medical technology. But, with infant mortality at low levels (between 7 and 12/1,000 live births in high-income countries) the wide use of high technology to effect further reductions guarantees escalating medical care expenditures. With pressures mounting to control costs, what will society be willing to give up in order to make this care available? From where will funds come to utilize costly existing and new medical technology so that all expectant mothers and newborns needing it may have essentially unlimited access in order to reap potential benefits?


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