Sustainability In Construction Project Management In Grenada

Innovations in the field of the construction industry have resulted in structures that were once constructed with perishable materials,now being fabricated with more durable ones.The resulting reliance on this industry as a provider of necessary infrastructural and social services has led to the industry having a multiplier effect on economies.However the use of more durable and non-renewable resources,and the increasing demand in the industry has led to the consumption of the earth's resources beyond its carrying capacity;thereby resulting in many environmental,social and economic issues.Incorporating sustainability principles into construction project management is seen as a key to stemming these problems.However,despite many standards being developed and implemented,the matter persists,and the Small Island Developing State(SIDS)of Grenada is by no means unaffected by these concerns.One of the overarching issues hindering the progression of the sustainability agenda,is the fact that the success of sustainability initiatives is dependent on situational circumstances,since barriers and drivers can vary from one social grouping to another.As such,there is need to gain insight into this issue.No studies have been unearthed which provide insight into sustainability in construction project management in Grenada.In addition,Grenada's classification as a SIDS predisposes it to additional hurdles,thus a holistic view of this phenomenon is more than required.Therefore,a multiple-case design was deemed appropriate to achieve depth of information to be gathered.Given the relatively small size of the construction industry in Grenada and the size of its companies compared to international ones,six cases were deemed sufficient for the purpose of this research.The study thus sought to ascertain the status of sustainable construction project management in Grenada.Consideration was given to the awareness of construction project management professionals,sustainable construction initiatives,and their barriers and drivers.Findings indicate that construction project management professionals within the noted cases are well aware of the various aspects of sustainability,and endeavor to employ a variety of sustainability initiatives in construction projects.However,the prevalence of these initiatives is influenced by project and construction company characteristics among other factors.In addition,most of the initiatives employed are geared towards the environmental and financial aspects of sustainability.Existing barriers are primarily classified as knowledge,economic and institutional;or are related to culture and norms.There are however,key sustainability facilitators which can be exploited,which are mainly institutional and economic in nature.