Student research
APM is keen to support all students at all levels regarding their research into the management of projects. Our research department encourages students to submit their surveys and would like to see the project management community becoming involved by completing the surveys, if applicable, and answering questions which will assist students in their studies.
Two ways to promote your research
Via this page
Your input will help to develop the knowledge base of project management and drive the profession forward. Please see the Promote your research section below on how to upload your survey.
Via the APM Community platform
Members can promote their research via our Surveys and media requests feed on APM Community.
Surveys and media requests is a space where you can ask for help with your research, ask for survey's to be completed from a diverse range of professionals from a wide range of project and sectors.
Disclaimer: Please note that whilst APM are keen to advertise these research opportunities it is the responsibility of each student to follow their University's ethical guidelines.
List of current research by students
The following is a list of current and recent requests from students for assistance and contributions to aid their research activities. Please note that some of these are date sensitive.
Assessing the Impact of Green Project Management Practices on Operational Performance in the UK Construction Sector
Synopsis
The UK construction sector contributes approximately 6% of national GDP while accounting for nearly 40% of the country's total carbon emissions. As regulatory pressure intensifies through the UK Net Zero Strategy (2021), the Future Homes Standard, and the growing adoption of sustainability frameworks such as BREEAM and ISO 14001, construction firms are increasingly expected to embed environmental responsibility into their project delivery processes. Despite this momentum, the implementation of Green Project Management (GreenPM) practices across the sector remains fragmented and inconsistent, with many organisations adopting sustainability standards on paper without integrating them into the core mechanics of project management.
Research Problem: Although scholarly interest in GreenPM has grown considerably over the past decade, the existing body of literature notably Silvius and Schipper (2014) and Martens and Carvalho (2017) identifies a persistent and significant gap: there is currently no robust UK specific quantitative evidence demonstrating whether GreenPM practices translate into measurable improvements in operational performance. Most available research is either conceptual in nature or drawn from non UK construction contexts, leaving project managers without a credible evidence base to guide decision making around sustainability investment.
Aim: The primary aim of this study is to critically assess the impact of Green Project Management practices on operational performance within the UK construction sector and to develop actionable recommendations for organisations and project managers.
Objectives: The study pursues three specific objectives: first, to evaluate the operational performance of recent UK construction projects based on measurable cost, time, and quality metrics; second, to analyse the statistical relationship between the intensity of GreenPM adoption and operational performance outcomes; and third, to determine whether GreenPM acts as a barrier or a net enabler of overall project efficiency.
Theoretical Framework: The study is grounded in three established theoretical frameworks. Elkington's Triple Bottom Line (1997) provides the philosophical justification for balancing economic, environmental, and social performance simultaneously. Freeman's Stakeholder Theory (1984) situates the construction firm's sustainability obligations within a broader network of accountability beyond the immediate client relationship. Barney's Resource Based View (1991) frames GreenPM competencies as a source of sustainable competitive advantage. In terms of practice frameworks, the study draws on the P5 Standard (GPM Global), PAS 2080 (carbon management in infrastructure), and the PRiSM methodology to operationalise GreenPM practices within the survey instrument.
Hypotheses: Four testable hypotheses are derived from literature and aligned directly to the study's objectives. H1 proposes that GreenPM adoption intensity is positively associated with cost efficiency, directly challenging the short-term cost concerns raised by Hwang and Ng (2013). H2 proposes a positive association between GreenPM intensity and schedule or time performance. H3 tests whether GreenPM intensity is positively associated with quality outcomes, addressing a dimension largely overlooked in prior literature. H4 proposes that GreenPM adoption is associated with a net positive, enabling effect on overall project efficiency, rather than acting as a barrier, countering the barrier dominant narratives identified by Martens and Carvalho (2017).
Methodology: The study adopts a positivist philosophy and a cross sectional, deductive research design. Data will be collected through a structured questionnaire administered via Qualtrics, using Likert scale items (1–5) across all measured constructs. A minimum of 100 valid responses will be sought from UK construction professionals including project managers, quantity surveyors, and sustainability leads, recruited through purposive and snowball sampling via LinkedIn and professional networks including the CIOB and APM. This target is justified using Green's (1991) formula for multiple regression analysis. All data will be analysed using SPSS, incorporating descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression to test H1 through H4. Scale reliability will be assessed using Cronbach's alpha, with a threshold of 0.7.
Ethical Considerations: The study will be submitted for approval to the University Research Ethics Committee prior to any data collection. All participants will provide informed consent, and data will be fully anonymised and pseudonymised from the point of collection. Data will be stored on encrypted university servers in compliance with UK GDPR (2018) and the Data Protection Act (2018).
Expected Contribution: If the hypotheses are supported, this study will provide the first UK specific quantitative evidence base linking GreenPM adoption to operational performance across cost, time, quality, and overall efficiency dimensions. This represents a meaningful contribution to both academic literature and professional practice, offering project managers and policymakers an evidence-based foundation for advocating GreenPM investment in the UK construction sector.
Requirement I am seeking responses from UK construction professionals, including project managers, quantity surveyors, site managers, and sustainability leads with experience in delivering construction projects. Participation involves completing a short anonymous online questionnaire (approximately 10–12 minutes) via Qualtrics. No prior knowledge of green project management is required honest professional experience is all that is needed.
Target audience Professionals, including project managers, quantity surveyors, site managers, and sustainability leads.
Survey closing date 31 July 2026
From Price to Partnership: Using Subcontractor Performance Data to Identify Innovative Subcontractors in UK Building Projects
Synopsis This research investigates how Tier 1 contractors in the UK building sector use subcontractor performance data to identify and evaluate innovation. Despite decades of policy reform, lowest price continues to dominate subcontractor selection, leaving a significant gap between procurement rhetoric and practice. This study uses a mixed-methods approach - combining a practitioner survey and semi-structured interviews - to examine which performance indicators most effectively distinguish innovative subcontractors. The findings aim to provide a practical, evidence-based framework to support more value-driven subcontractor selection in UK construction procurement.
Requirement I am seeking responses from construction professionals employed by Tier 1 contractors in the UK building sector, particularly those with direct involvement in subcontractor selection, procurement, or supply chain management. Eligible roles include project managers, commercial managers, procurement leads, contracts managers, and supply chain managers. Participation involves completing a short anonymous online questionnaire (15–20 minutes). Those willing to share their experience in greater depth are also invited to take part in a follow-up interview (45–60 minutes) conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams or Zoom.
Target audience Tier 1 construction professionals - project managers, commercial managers, procurement and supply chain managers in the UK building sector.
Survey closing date 31 July 2026
If you're interested or would like to learn more, please feel free to contact me.
Across industry: Need for an SME Decarbonisation Toolkit for Measurement and Verification
Synopsis I’m Jordan Hutchinson, a Year 4 Construction Management student at the Technological University of the Shannon. I’m researching the need for a practical decarbonisation toolkit for construction SMEs with cross industry inputs.
Many SMEs deliver a large share of project work but often don’t have the time, staff, or systems to measure emissions consistently, and many existing carbon tools are designed for larger organisations. My dissertation is developing a lightweight toolkit (simple data inputs + clear outputs) to help SMEs identify emissions “hotspots” and prioritise practical actions.
Requirement Could you spare 8–10 minutes to complete this short survey? Responses are confidential and will be anonymised in analysis for academic purposes. Contact details (if provided) are collected separately for follow-up only.
Target audience Seeking responses from all industry stakeholders. It would really benefit the study if you could also share/forward the link to any relevant colleagues or contacts (especially those involved in sustainability, operations, procurement, or project delivery).
Dynamism in External Stakeholder Engagement in infrastructure megaproject
Synopsis I am a PhD candidate at University College London, conducting research on Dynamism in External Stakeholder Engagement in infrastructure megaproject. Key research area covers:
- Various perspectives on external stakeholder engagement.
- Dynamism of external stakeholder engagement, how engagement has changed or evolved over time.
- Narratives surrounding protesters and promoters.
Requirement I am currently inviting participants for a 45-minute semistructured interview to share their experiences and insights on external stakeholder engagement in megaprojects.
Target audience Engagement managers, Local authorities, Environmental activists, Local community members.
Closing date 31 October 2026
If you're interested or would like to learn more, please feel free to contact me at wei-zhang@ucl.ac.uk or reach out via LinkedIn.