Fuzzy Evaluation of the Factors Contributing to the Success of External Stakeholder Management in Construction
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 147, Issue 11
Abstract
The study focuses on evaluating the factors contributing to the success of external stakeholder management (SM) at the project planning stage from the perspective of developing countries. Questionnaire survey data was collected from project management practitioners in Ghana and analyzed using mean scoring, factor analysis, and fuzzy synthetic evaluation. The analysis revealed that the involvement of external stakeholders in decision-making is of topmost rank () and effective communication with external stakeholders makes the highest individual contribution (). In descending order of contribution based on index values, the seven activity groups established are involving stakeholders and ensuring mutual trust (4.666), effective communication with stakeholders (4.633), sustaining relationships with stakeholders (4.373), preliminary planning (4.006), analyzing project and stakeholder information (3.719), assessing stakeholder attributes and needs (3.675), and developing and applying effective strategies (3.610). Following, an evaluative process model (EPM), which is essentially a practice framework, was developed and demonstrated using the relative weightings of activities. The expert validation results showed that the EPM is comprehensive, objective, reliable, and appropriate for the purpose. The findings contribute to advancing stakeholder theory in construction management research in the context of developing countries. Practitioners can effectively apply, evaluate, compare, and improve the contributing activities in external SM process to inform about needed managerial decisions in projects. The findings will guide practitioners to be more externally oriented, resolve external stakeholder issues proactively, manage project more ethically and sustainably, and improve project success.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
The associated data is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This article is based on a Ph.D. study into external SM at the planning stage of construction projects in Ghana. Hence, some literature and scope/objectives will be shared with other publications emerging from the same study. The authors greatly appreciate the Hong Kong Polytechnic University for funding the research through the postgraduate scholarship. Again, the authors are grateful to the practitioners and academics who contributed in diverse ways to the study. Particularly, Mr. Robert Quansah-Opirim is acknowledged for helping to collect the research data in Ghana.
References
Aaltonen, K., J. Kujala, L. Havela, and G. Savage. 2015. “Stakeholder dynamics during the project front end: The case of nuclear waste repository projects.” Project Manage. J. 46 (6): 15–41. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmj.21549.
Adabre, M. A., and A. P. C. Chan. 2020. “Towards a sustainability assessment model for affordable housing projects: The perspective of professionals in Ghana.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage. 27 (9): 2523–2551. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-08-2019-0432.
Ahadzie, D. K., D. G. Proverbs, and P. O. Olomolaiye. 2008. “Critical success criteria for mass house building projects in developing countries.” Int. J. Project Manage. 26 (6): 675–687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2007.09.006.
Akintoye, A. 2000. “Analysis of factors influencing project cost estimating practice.” Constr. Manage. Econ. 18 (1): 77–89. https://doi.org/10.1080/014461900370979.
Ameyaw, E. E., and A. P. C. Chan. 2015. “Evaluation and ranking of risk factors in public–private partnership water supply projects in developing countries using fuzzy synthetic evaluation approach.” Expert Syst. Appl. 42 (12): 5102–5116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2015.02.041.
Ameyaw, E. E., A. P. C. Chan, D. G. Owusu-Manu, D. J. Edwards, and F. Dartey. 2017. “A fuzzy-based evaluation of financial risks in build–own–operate–transfer water supply projects.” J. Infrastruct. Syst. 23 (4): 04017033. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IS.1943-555X.0000390.
Amoatey, C., and M. V. K. Hayibor. 2017. “Critical success factors for local government project stakeholder management.” Built Environ. Project Asset Manage. 7 (2): 143–156. https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-07-2016-0030.
Auditor General Report. 2013. “Annual report of the auditor-general on the public accounts of Ghana—Ministries, departments and other agencies (MDAs) for the year ended 31 December 2013.” Accessed April 14, 2020. https://ghaudit.org/web/wp-content/uploads/Reports/2013/REPORT-OF-THE-AUDITOR-GENERAL-ON-THE-PUBLIC-ACCOUNTS-OF-GHANA-MINISTRIES-DEPARTMENTS-AND-OTHER-AGENCIES-MDAs-FOR-THE-YEAR-ENDED-31-DECEMBER-2013.pdf.
Bahadorestani, A., J. T. Karlsen, and N. Motahari Farimani. 2019. “A comprehensive stakeholder-typology model based on salience attributes in construction projects.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 145 (9): 04019048. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001684.
Bourne, L., and D. H. Walker. 2006. “Visualizing stakeholder influence: Two Australian examples.” Project Manage. J. 37 (1): 5–21. https://doi.org/10.1177/875697280603700102.
Buertey, J. I. T., D. Amofa, and F. Atsrim. 2016. “Stakeholder management on construction projects: A key indicator for project success.” Am. J. Civ. Eng. 4 (4): 117–126. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajce.20160404.11.
Chan, A. P. C., and G. D. Oppong. 2017. “Managing the expectations of external stakeholders in construction projects.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage. 24 (5): 736–756. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-07-2016-0159.
Close, R., and M. Loosemore. 2014. “Breaking down the site hoardings: Attitudes and approaches to community consultation during construction.” Constr. Manage. Econ. 32 (7–8): 816–828. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2013.879195.
Crossman, A. 2019. “Understanding purposive sampling: An overview of the method and its applications.” Accessed April 28, 2021. https://www.thoughtco.com/purposive-sampling-3026727.
Dansoh, A., S. Frimpong, G. Ampratwum, G. D. Oppong, and R. Osei-Kyei. 2020a. “Exploring the role of traditional authorities in managing the public as stakeholders on PPP projects: A case study.” Int. J. Constr. Manage. 20 (6): 628–641. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2020.1725722.
Dansoh, A., S. Frimpong, and G. D. Oppong. 2020b. “Exploring the dimensions of traditional authority influencing stakeholder management at the pre-construction stage of infrastructure projects.” Constr. Manage. Econ. 38 (2): 189–206. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2019.1589647.
Di Maddaloni, F., and K. Davis. 2017. “The influence of local community stakeholders in megaprojects: Rethinking their inclusiveness to improve project performance.” Int. J. Project Manage. 35 (8): 1537–1556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2017.08.011.
El-Sawalhi, N. I., and S. Hammad. 2015. “Factors affecting stakeholder management in construction projects in the Gaza Strip.” Int. J. Constr. Manage. 15 (2): 157–169. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2015.1035626.
Eyiah-Botwe, E., C. O. Aigbavboa, and W. D. Thwala. 2016a. “Critical success factors for enhanced stakeholder management in Ghana.” Socioeconomica: Sci. J. Theory Pract. Socio-econ. Dev. 5 (10): 153–170. https://doi.org/10.12803/SJSECO.51001.
Eyiah-Botwe, E., C. O. Aigbavboa, and W. D. Thwala. 2016b. “Stakeholder management: A literature review of historical development and current trends.” In Proc., 9th Construction Industry Development Board Postgraduate Conf. Port Louis, Mauritius: Construction Industry Development Board.
Ezeabasili, A. C. C., C. M. U-Dominic, and B. U. Okoro. 2015. “Contentious issues on poor stakeholder management in some major road construction projects in Anambra State, Nigeria.” Civ. Environ. Res. 7 (2): 120–129.
Freeman, R. E. 1984. Strategic management: A stakeholder approach. Boston: Pitman.
Gebremeskel, M. N., S. Y. Kim, L. D. Thuc, and M. V. Nguyen. 2020. “Forming a driving index for implementing public-private partnership projects in emerging economy: Ethiopian perception.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-06-2020-0459.
Henjewele, C., P. Fewings, and P. D. Rwelamila. 2013. “De-marginalising the public in PPP projects through multi-stakeholders management.” J. Finance Manage. Property Constr. 18 (3): 210–231. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFMPC-05-2013-0021.
Jayasuriya, S., G. Zhang, and R. J. Yang. 2020. “Exploring the impact of stakeholder management strategies on managing issues in PPP projects.” Int. J. Constr. Manage. 20 (6): 666–678. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2020.1753143.
Jepsen, A. L., and P. Eskerod. 2009. “Stakeholder analysis in projects: Challenges in using current guidelines in the real world.” Int. J. Project Manage. 27 (4): 335–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2008.04.002.
Kaharuddin, S. K., H. Adnan, and H. E. A. Baharuddin. 2020. “Success factors for stakeholder management for public-private partnerships infrastructure projects.” Built Environ. 17 (2): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.24191/bej.v17i2.8869.
Law, A. M. 2007. Simulation modeling and analysis. 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Le, Y., M. Shan, A. P. Chan, and Y. Hu. 2014. “Overview of corruption research in construction.” J. Manage. Eng. 30 (4): 02514001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000300.
Li, Y., Y. Lu, and Y. Peng. 2011. “Hierarchical structuring success factors of project stakeholder management in the construction organization.” Afr. J. Bus. Manage. 5 (22): 9705–9713.
Lingard, H., and S. Rowlinson. 2006. “Letter to the editor.” Constr. Manage. Econ. 24 (11): 1107–1109. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446190601001620.
Lucko, G., and E. M. Rojas. 2010. “Research validation: Challenges and opportunities in the construction domain.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 136 (1): 127–135. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000025.
Maier, A., and I. Aschilean. 2020. “Importance of stakeholder management for sustainable construction industry.” In Proc., 36th IBIMA Conf. King of Prussia, PA: International Business Information Management Association.
Manowong, E., and S. Ogunlana. 2010. “Strategies and tactics for managing construction stakeholders.” In Construction stakeholder management, edited by E. Chinyio and P. Olomolaiye, 121–137. Oxford, UK: Wiley Blackwell.
Mitchell, R. K., B. R. Agle, and D. J. Wood. 1997. “Toward a theory of stakeholder identification and salience: Defining the principle of who and what really counts.” Acad. Manage. Rev. 22 (4): 853–886. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1997.9711022105.
Molwus, J. J., B. Erdogan, and S. Ogunlana. 2017. “Using structural equation modelling (SEM) to understand the relationships among critical success factors (CSFs) for stakeholder management in construction.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage. 24 (3): 426–450. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-10-2015-0161.
Nnaji, C., J. Gambatese, A. Karakhan, and R. Osei-Kyei. 2020. “Development and application of safety technology adoption decision-making tool.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 146 (4): 04020028. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001808.
Norusis, M. J. 2008. SPSS 16.0 advanced statistical procedures companion. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Nunnally, J. C. 1978. Psychometric theory. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Nwachukwu, C. V., C. Udeaja, N. Chileshe, and C. E. Okere. 2017. “The critical success factors for stakeholder management in the restoration of built heritage assets in the UK.” Int. J. Build. Pathol. Adapt. 35 (4): 304–331. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-07-2017-0030.
Ogunrinde, O., C. Nnaji, and A. Amirkhanian. 2021. “Developing automation adoption readiness index for quality management focused on highway construction.” J. Infrastruct. Syst. 27 (1): 04020049. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IS.1943-555X.0000595.
Olander, S., and A. Landin. 2005. “Evaluation of stakeholder influence in the implementation of construction projects.” Int. J. Project Manage. 23 (4): 321–328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2005.02.002.
Olander, S., and A. Landin. 2008. “A comparative study of factors affecting the external stakeholder management process.” Constr. Manage. Econ. 26 (6): 553–561. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446190701821810.
Oppong, G. D., A. P. C. Chan, and A. Dansoh. 2017. “A review of stakeholder management performance attributes in construction projects.” Int. J. Project Manage. 35 (6): 1037–1051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2017.04.015.
Osei-Kyei, R., A. P. C. Chan, and E. E. Ameyaw. 2017. “A fuzzy synthetic evaluation analysis of operational management critical success factors for public-private partnership infrastructure projects.” Benchmarking 24 (7): 2092–2112. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-07-2016-0111.
Ott, R. L., and M. Longnecker. 2001. An introduction to statistical methods and data analysis. Pacific Grove, CA: Duxbury.
Owusu, E. K., A. P. C. Chan, E. E. Ameyaw, and O. K. Robert. 2020. “Evaluating the effectiveness of strategies for extirpating corrupt practices in infrastructure project procurement.” J. Infrastruct. Syst. 26 (2): 04020004. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IS.1943-555X.0000531.
Owusu, E. K., A. P. C. Chan, and A. Darko. 2021. “Evaluating the corruption susceptibility index of infrastructure procurement and management in the developed context: The case of Hong Kong.” J. Infrastruct. Syst. 27 (2): 05021006. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IS.1943-555X.0000611.
Oyegoke, A. S. 2010. “The contextual approach to stakeholder management in Finland.” In Construction stakeholder management, edited by E. Chinyio and P. Olomolaiye, 65–74. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.
Park, H., K. Kim, Y. W. Kim, and H. Kim. 2017. “Stakeholder management in long-term complex megaconstruction projects: The Saemangeum project.” J. Manage. Eng. 33 (4): 05017002. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000515.
PMI (Project Management Institute). 2017. A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK). 6th ed. Newtown Square, PA: PMI.
Takim, R. 2009. “The management of stakeholders’ needs and expectations in the development of construction project in Malaysia.” Mod. Appl. Sci. 3 (5): 167–175. https://doi.org/10.5539/mas.v3n5p167.
Verma, J. P. 2013. Data analysis in management with SPSS software. New Delhi, India: Springer.
Walker, D. H. T., L. M. Bourne, and S. Rowlinson. 2008. “Stakeholders and the supply chain.” In Procurement systems: A cross-industry project management perspective, edited by D. H. T. Walker and S. Rowlinson. London: Taylor and Francis.
Wuni, I. Y., and G. Q. Shen. 2020. “Stakeholder management in prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction projects: Benchmarking the key result areas.” Built Environ. Project Asset Manage. 10 (3): 407–421. https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-02-2020-0025.
Xu, Y., A. P. C. Chan, and J. F. Yeung. 2010. “Developing a fuzzy risk allocation model for PPP projects in China.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 136 (8): 894–903. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000189.
Yang, J., G. Q. Shen, D. S. Drew, and M. Ho. 2010. “Critical success factors for stakeholder management: Construction practitioners’ perspectives.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 136 (7): 778–786. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000180.
Yang, J., G. Q. Shen, M. Ho, D. S. Drew, and A. P. C. Chan. 2009. “Exploring critical success factors for stakeholder management in construction projects.” J. Civ. Eng. Manage. 15 (4): 337–348. https://doi.org/10.3846/1392-3730.2009.15.337-348.
Yang, R. J., and G. Q. Shen. 2015. “Framework for stakeholder management in construction projects.” J. Manage. Eng. 31 (4): 04014064. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000285.
Yeung, J. F., A. P. C. Chan, D. W. Chan, and L. K. Li. 2007. “Development of a partnering performance index (PPI) for construction projects in Hong Kong: A Delphi study.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 25 (12): 1219–1237. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446190701598673.
Yitmen, I. 2015. “The influence of cross-cultural communication on stakeholder management process in international construction projects: Turkish stakeholders’ perspective.” Int. J. Civ. Eng. 13 (2): 179–190.
Zadeh, L. A. 1965. “Fuzzy sets.” Inf. Control 8 (3): 338–353. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0019-9958(65)90241-X.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 147 • Issue 11 • November 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 7, 2020
Accepted: May 24, 2021
Published online: Aug 23, 2021
Published in print: Nov 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Jan 23, 2022
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.
Cited by
- Murat Gunduz, Okan Sirin, Hazem M. Al Nawaiseh, Assessment of Critical Project Success Factors for Management of Pavement Construction Using the Delphi Approach, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 10.1061/JCEMD4.COENG-13849, 150, 4, (2024).
- Khalid K. Naji, Murat Gunduz, Ayman F. Naser, CONSTRUCTION CHANGE ORDER MANAGEMENT PROJECT SUPPORT SYSTEM UTILIZING DELPHI METHOD, JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT, 10.3846/jcem.2022.17203, 28, 7, (564-589), (2022).
- Cuiyue Wei, Shoulong Xu, Shuliang Zou, Fang Zhao, Zhiwei Qin, Hanfeng Dong, Zhixiong Hou, Risk Analysis and Evaluation of Nuclear Security Radiation Events in Spent Fuel Reprocessing Plants, Sustainability, 10.3390/su15010781, 15, 1, (781), (2022).
- Qi Rong, Liangfeng Shen, Study on the Ecological Operation Model of Settlements Based on Social Network Analysis: Stakeholder Perspective, Sustainability, 10.3390/su142113963, 14, 21, (13963), (2022).
- Xichen Chen, Alice Chang-Richards, Florence Yean Yng Ling, Tak Wing Yiu, Antony Pelosi, Nan Yang, Developing a readiness model and a self-assessment tool for adopting digital technologies in construction organizations, Building Research & Information, 10.1080/09613218.2022.2136130, (1-16), (2022).
- Shang Zhang, Martin Loosemore, Riza Yosia Sunindijo, Shane Galvin, Jin Wu, Suyuan Zhang, Assessing Safety Risk Management Performance in Chinese Subway Construction Projects: A Multistakeholder Perspective, Journal of Management in Engineering, 10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0001062, 38, 4, (2022).
- Khalid K. Naji, Murat Gunduz, Ayman F. Naser, The Effect of Change-Order Management Factors on Construction Project Success: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0002350, 148, 9, (2022).
- Che Khairil Izam Che Ibrahim, Sheila Belayutham, Mazlina Zaira Mohammad, Shafienaz Ismail, Development of a Conceptual Designer’s Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Index for Prevention through Design Practice in Construction, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0002234, 148, 2, (2022).
- Michael Atafo Adabre, Albert P.C. Chan, David J. Edwards, Sarfo Mensah, Evaluation of symmetries and asymmetries on barriers to sustainable housing in developing countries, Journal of Building Engineering, 10.1016/j.jobe.2022.104174, 50, (104174), (2022).
- Michael Atafo Adabre, Albert P.C. Chan, David J. Edwards, Robert Osei-Kyei, To build or not to build, that is the uncertainty: Fuzzy synthetic evaluation of risks for sustainable housing in developing economies, Cities, 10.1016/j.cities.2022.103644, 125, (103644), (2022).