Embedding Sustainability in Project Management: Empirical Insights on Green Practices, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Performance, and Competitive Advantage

Abu Bakarr Koroma, Ibrahim Chernor Jalloh and Sayo Nakeleh Turay
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Abu Bakarr Koroma: Centre for West African Studies (CWAS), School of Management and Economics (SME), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), China.
Ibrahim Chernor Jalloh: University of Makeni (UniMak), Sierra Leone.
Sayo Nakeleh Turay: Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), University of Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone.

International Journal of Science and Business, 2026, vol. 49, issue 1, 57-72

Abstract: In an era where ESG considerations are reshaping corporate governance, this paper examines how green project-management practices influence ESG performance and firm competitiveness in an emerging-market setting. Drawing on a mixed-methods design involving survey responses and in-depth interviews, the study tests a theoretical model in which Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics mediate the relationship between Green Project Management (GPM) and Competitive Advantage (CA), while leadership commitment and stakeholder engagement moderate these effects. Empirical results indicate that project-level adoption of eco-procurement, lifecycle assessment, and carbon-monitoring routines is positively associated with ESG outcomes, which in turn drive innovation, cost efficiency, and market differentiation. Moreover, stronger leadership commitment and more active stakeholder participation amplify these relationships. This research offers both theoretical contributions and managerial tools for practitioners seeking to balance sustainability and performance in project delivery by introducing a practical Sustainability-Integration Scorecard and actionable guidelines for embedding ESG metrics within project workflows.

Keywords: Green Project Management; ESG Performance; Competitive Advantage; Sustainability Integration Scorecard; Emerging Markets (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aif:journl:v:49:y:2026:i:1:p:57-72

DOI: 10.58970/IJSB.2634

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