An appraisal of social aspects in project and technology life cycle management in the process industry

• Published in: Management of environmental quality Vol. 18; no. 4; pp. 413 - 426
• Main Authors: Brent, Alan C, Labuschagne, Carin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Group Publishing Limited 01.01.2007
• Subjects: Accountability; Case studies; Environmental performance; Environmental quality; Life cycle analysis; Manufacturing; Product life cycle; Product lifecycle management; Project management; Questionnaires; Social impact; Social life & customs; Social processes; Social sustainability; Society; South Africa; Statistical analysis; Studies; Sustainable development; Systems design; Technology led strategy; South Africa; Technology led strategy; South Africa; Social processes; Product life cycle; Sustainable development; Project management
• ISSN: 1477-7835; 1758-6119
• DOI: 10.1108/14777830710753811

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to introduce methods that have been developed to consider social sustainability aspects in the initial phases of projects in industry, i.e. in the design stage of technological systems, whereby a proactive approach in industry can be ensured. The inclusion of social aspects in both the sustainability debate and practice has been marginal compared with the focus on the other two dimensions of sustainable development, i.e. economic and environmental performances, especially from a business perspective. The tools that have focused on social business sustainability aspects have mainly addressed business sustainable development reporting, operational conditions, and product social life cycle assessments.Design methodology approach - The first method builds on a framework of social sustainability criteria that has been introduced for the South African process industry. A Social Impact Indicator (SII) calculation procedure has been developed based on a previously introduced Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) calculation procedure for environmental Resource Impact Indicators (RIIs). The second method applies questionnaires and checklists following more traditional risk approaches.Findings - Information availability and standardisation of social criteria are problematic for quantitative approaches at present. It is therefore proposed that social sustainability should be incorporated into project and technology management methodologies in phases, commencing with the questionnaires and checklists. In future, the proposed indicator method can be implemented when information is more readily available.Originality value - The questionnaires and checklists provide practical means for project and technology developers to assess and communicate potential social risk associated with technological systems to decision-makers.