Work

Broadening project studies to address sustainability transitions: Conceptual suggestions and crossovers with socio-technical transitions research

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Academic and socio-political interest in sustainability transitions, which are decades-long change processes in socio-technical systems, is rapidly increasing. To further engage with this topic, this essay suggests that project studies should continue its trend of conceptual broadening that has characterised the field in the past decade. Using the Multi-Level Perspective on socio-technical transitions as a meta-framework, this essay identifies and discusses the important roles of incremental improvement projects, exploratory projects, deployment projects, reorientation projects, and decommissioning projects in sustainability transitions. The essay also discusses crossovers with socio-technical transitions research and makes specific conceptual suggestions for broadening research on the different kinds of projects, programmes and portfolios.

Source: International Journal of Project Management

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijproman.2024.102646

Authors: Frank W. Geels, Giorgio Locatelli

Institutions: University of Manchester, Politecnico di Milano

Language: English

Topic: Sustainability and Climate Change Governance

Subfield: Global and Planetary Change

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,200