Project Management for Corporate Events: A Set of Tools to Manage Risk and Increase Quality Outcomes

Louiza-Elpida Dounavi,Konstantinos Kirytopoulos,Georgios Chatzistelios,Emmanouil Dermitzakis

doi:10.3390/su14042009

Louiza-Elpida Dounavi, Konstantinos Kirytopoulos + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042009

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Feb 10, 2022
Citations: 4	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: National Technical University of Athens

Abstract

The events industry is a project-based industry where sustainable development has been of ever-increasing interest over the last decade. In this regard, the importance of managing risks and delivering quality outcomes in corporate events and the events industry in general cannot be overstated. This paper aims to contribute to the enhancement of project management processes and quality of corporate events, with a focus on risk management. For this purpose, a set of semi-structured interviews with event managers was conducted and thematic analysis was used to qualitatively analyse the research data gathered. Data analysis resulted in the development of a set of tools and methods that have the potential to assist corporate event managers in the project risk management process. This set comprises of a work breakdown structure (WBS) template, a risk breakdown structure (RBS), and a set of risk treatment and mitigation strategies for corporate events. These tools are innovative in the sense that they are based on and correspond to the phases of the event life-cycle rather than individual management domains, have not been developed in unison before, and can be utilized collectively for greater benefits realization.

Highlights

Events have been held throughout humanity’s history, most notably for religious and cultural purposes
In order to develop a work breakdown structure for corporate events, the themes the qualitative data related to the activities required for the realisation of a corporate event were utilized
The main deliverables of the second level of the work breakdown structure (WBS) were divided in activities that are performed at the beginning of the project, in activities for planning, in tasks for the implementation of the project, in tasks for the implementation of the event (performed on event date(s)) and in activities executed at the end of the project, in the context of its closing meeting

Summary

Introduction

Events have been held throughout humanity’s history, most notably for religious and cultural purposes. Event management is no exception, given the level of the impact potential of the events industry, both economic and environmental [3]. These impacts are associated to all tasks performed during the event dates, as well as all additional project activities regarding event conceptualization, planning, implementation and closure [4]. It is perfectly understandable that the dimension of perceived quality is what makes a product or service, such as a corporate event, stand out and be preferred over others, ensuring the necessary sustainability to providers. Growing sustainability concerns mandate that event organisations embrace more sustainable methods in managing risks and enhancing the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of the management processes necessary to realise them. It is necessary to create standard tools and develop methods and techniques for aligning all event-related activities with the mandate of sustainable

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