Parallel Session
Featured Construction Project Management Sustainability Competencies: Navigating Carbon Tax and Green Retrofitting Barriers from Corporations
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Malcolm Roy Weaich
Introduced in 2019, South Africa's carbon tax has imposed escalating financial penalties on corporations exceeding emission limits, costing up to six billion rand annually. This research scrutinises Construction Project Managers' (CPMs) perceived competencies in green retrofitting against the benchmarks established by the Council for the Built Environment (CBE) and the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP). It develops and validates Cognitive Competency Theory (CCT), which posits that the effectiveness of CPMs in executing sustainable retrofitting practices is markedly influenced by the synergistic relationship between their cognitive perceptions—including self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and personal agency—and their professional competencies, encompassing technical, behavioural, and contextual skills. This research underlines the criticality of bridging the gap between policy and practice to achieve sustainable outcomes in construction projects, especially amidst the pressures of carbon taxation and environmental regulations. Employing qualitative methods, the study engages with thirteen experienced CPMs in green refurbishment, unveiling that while CPMs play a central role in mediating carbon tax demands and championing sustainable development, they frequently lack comprehensive understanding of their role in environmental protection and adherence to carbon tax regulations. The conclusion posits that although CPMs are vital in navigating the complexities of green retrofitting, it is imperative to further explore the evolving role of CPMs in relation to regulatory pressures and industry standards. The CBE underscores the necessity for CPMs to possess competencies across various project development stages, yet the industry has not yet standardised sustainability competencies as a mandatory requirement for CPMs in SA.
Cultivating a Sustainable Leadership Pipeline in Canadian Business Schools: Strategies for Equitable and Inclusive Succession
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Leda Stawnychko
As Canadian post-secondary institutions face a leadership crisis, business schools are under increasing pressure to cultivate a sustainable, equitable, and inclusive leadership pipeline. With 27% of faculty over the age of 55 expected to retire in the next decade, leadership succession has become a critical issue. This challenge is compounded by faculty reluctance to pursue leadership roles due to concerns about the impact on research productivity, personal autonomy, and post-pandemic exhaustion. This study engages with the living tensions surrounding leadership development and institutional sustainability in a dynamic post-secondary landscape. Specifically, it addresses the tension between organizational needs and individual autonomy, and how equitable leadership pipelines can help sustain the cultural and social fabric of academic institutions. Drawing on sustainable leadership and leadership development theories, this qualitative study explores the experiences of tenured faculty members in leadership roles across U15 Canadian universities, with a particular focus on equity-deserving groups. We present the preliminary study's findings, which highlight the need for intentional leadership development practices to create a resilient and adaptive pipeline. We consider how economic, social, and cultural pressures shape leadership succession and how universities can reconcile the tension between maintaining productivity and fostering sustainable leadership. The study aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and provide actionable strategies for creating equitable leadership access in universities.
Denver LEED Certification Multifamily Rent Premiums View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Perry Wisinger
The US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) mission is to secure a prosperous, healthy, and sustainable future and their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the foremost program worldwide for the design, construction maintenance, and operation of green buildings. Prior national research supports that LEED certification enhances the value of single-family residences, multifamily apartments, and commercial office space, but no research addresses the local impact of certification on multifamily apartments. This study of 100 apartments finds LEED certification statistically adds a rent premium of $0.13 per sq. ft. and a capitalized value between $22 per sq. ft. and $31 per sq. ft. to multifamily commercial properties in downtown Denver, CO.
