Project capabilities for sustainable transition

Summary

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Projects serve as practical vehicles for implementing change, testing new ideas, and scaling up solutions. Project capabilities play a pivotal role in driving sustainable transition in the project organising context. Both project owners and suppliers (project-based organizations) need to develop essential capabilities to drive sustainable transition.

Research Areas:

project capabilities, sustainable transition, projecting, owner capabilities

Supervisor

Dr Sujuan Zhang.

Research location

Project Management

Synopsis

Projects are considered as pivotal vectors for socio-technical change, in this context, sustainable transition. Such projects carry the intentions of owners and a broader set of stakeholders, through collaborative efforts, are aimed to achieve sustainable transition outcomes. How these complex projects (e.g. energy infrastructure projects) can be effectively delivered poses emerging challenges. This calls for the research into project capabilities required for relevant stakeholders involved in the project organizing domain. Among the key domains, the project owner, acting as the key decision-maker, investor, systems integrator, plays a leading role in the transition process. Hence, it is urgent to investigate how project owners organise their roles, develop essential capabilities to respond to changing sustainable requirements, and lead the sustainable transition through projects.

Offering:

A scholarship for 3.5 years at the RTP stipend rate (currently $41,753 in 2025). International applicants will have their tuition fees covered.

Successful candidates must:

Have a Bachelors degree (1st class honours or equivalent) or Masters degree
Have experience in mixed research methods
Have experience in qualitative research approaches (e.g. case study)

How to apply:

To apply, please email sujuan.zhang@sydney.edu.au the following:

CV
transcripts

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Opportunity ID

The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is 3618