Innovation Competencies and Sustainability: A Proposed Model for Project Team Members

Abstract

Acquiring the right innovation competencies can lead to a successful implementation of sustainability projects. Hence, the purpose of this study is to identify the innovation competencies required by project team members to adopt and implement innovation effectively in sustainability projects. To achieve this target, a comprehensive literature review has been performed to build a model that integrates innovation competencies of project team members with the successful achievement of substantiality projects. In specific, these innovation competencies are leadership, communication, teamwork, creativity, and commitment of project team members. The paper also reveals that a successful implementation of innovation in sustainability projects leads to economic growth, environmental protection, and social equity as main outcomes. Accordingly, this research proposes a model that presents the associations between project team members’ innovation competencies and the implementation of sustainability projects (considering the three pillars of sustainability that are economic growth, environmental protection, and social equity). As a result, the project team members, who acquire the required innovation competencies, have the capability to implement sustainability projects, successfully.