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Before we dive into discussing integrating sustainability into major projects, it is important to explore some of the concepts around major projects so that we establish a shared understanding and language for this book. This starts with a review of what makes a project “major” and how that creates unique challenges and opportunities for project managers and teams, especially related to sustainability concepts. The discussion will also consider different challenges for a broad range of major projects that include resource extraction, energy, industrial, infrastructure, or linear infrastructure, as well as projects that could have elements of more than one type of major project, like an energy facility that includes a transmission line, or a new mine with an access railroad and a new port facility.

The next step is to understand the key players on major projects. We will be discussing the project owner and overall project team, government employees, and local communities. It is important not only to discuss who is involved but how they interact with one another. Most project teams have a good understanding of the people and groups involved in the design and delivery of the project, and many understand financial players and government regulators. But they may not have as much experience considering local communities as key players and contributors to the success of a major project.

It is also important to consider how each of the key players perceives and interacts with the project by their sense of space (location of the project) and time (how long they will be engaged with the project), and their perception of risk and reward.

The typical timeline that a project takes to move from concept to construction and commissioning will be discussed with a focus on the three main parallel paths that include 1) design and delivery, 2) sustainability, and 3) financial management. Each of these three paths has hurdles that need to be crossed for the project to be successfully delivered. This requires project teams to understand the three paths and how everyone can contribute to the project's progress toward becoming reality.

This overview of the major projects includes some common management structures of major projects from EPCM (engineering, procurement, and construction management) to DBFOO (design-build-finance-own-operate), with a focus on how the choice of project structure can influence the team's ability to integrate sustainability into project management. Project structures that separate the organization's financial performance from the long-term efforts to maintain community support and manage social and environmental impacts can potentially create conflict between the key players on the project. These organizations should consider using strategies that help balance objectives and reduce the risk of conflict.