| Summary: | Title: The inclusion of sustainability in construction projects and its relation to project success: a qualitative study of the relationship between sustainability and projects. Level: Student thesis, final assignment for Bachelor Degree in Business Administration Author: Elin Eriksson and Josefine Jähle Supervisor: Emilia Kvarnström Date: 2021 - June Aim: Previous research draws attention to the negative connection between integrating sustainability into projects with a focus on long-term sustainability goals as opposed to short-term traditional project goals. Therefore, researchers suggest that more empirical studies should be conducted in the subject. The purpose of the study is to create an increased understanding of the relationship between sustainability and projects through the research questions “How is sustainability included in projects?” and “What is the perceived relationship between sustainability and project success?”. Method: To achieve the purpose of the study, a qualitative method has been used in the form of six semi-structured interviews with project managers and people with different sustainability positions within Swedish construction companies. The collected data has been transcribed and coded into recurring themes which were analyzed through a content analysis. Result & Conclusions: The study shows that the customer for the projects can act as an opening or barrier for how sustainability is included within projects. The results also show that the entire supply chain can influence the inclusion of sustainability. According to this study, the relationship between sustainability work and project success is difficult to determine, which is explained by the fact that sustainability is actually a part of project success. Thus, the study has resulted in the model “The Sustainable Iron Triangle”. Contribution of the thesis: This study has contributed to an increased theoretical understanding of the relationship between sustainability and projects, but also provides an empirical basis on whether sustainability is included in projects and its relation to project success. This study has developed the model The Iron Triangle into The Sustainable Iron Triangle which better reflects today's assessment of project success. Suggestions for future research: Future studies are recommended to carry out similar surveys regarding construction companies outside Sweden or to examine the customer's perceptions regarding the inclusion of sustainability in projects. What also would be interesting is to test The Sustainable Iron Triangle in an industry other than the construction industry to examine the relevance of the model in another context. Key words: Project, Sustainability, Project Management, Triple Bottom Line, Project Success, The Iron Triangle.
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