Structural Stakeholder Model in Public Engagement for Construction Development Projects

Abstract

Construction development projects are often complicated and influence multiple stakeholders with different requirements and interests. Public engagement (PE) has emerged as a prerequisite for collecting stakeholders’ opinions and involving them in the planning and decision making of construction development projects. It is not easy to identify and manage stakeholders in PE because different stakeholders possess different types of power and interests that have the potential to dramatically affect stakeholder behaviors and final project outcomes. However, the effects of stakeholder attributes (i.e., power and interest) on stakeholder management in PE and final PE outcomes have been insufficiently studied. This study aimed to investigate the complicated relationships between stakeholders’ power, interests, and PE outcomes through a questionnaire survey. An integrated model for stakeholder power, interest, and PE outcomes was developed using a structural equation model. The results showed that different forms of power and interest influenced final PE outcomes either directly or indirectly. PE organizers are encouraged to directly involve project teams, experts, and reputable stakeholders in the PE process and allow the media and nongovernmental organizations to monitor the decision-making process. The findings of this study will contribute to stakeholder management for PE in construction projects by developing a structural model that can be adopted to identify stakeholder power and interests and engage appropriate stakeholders in the decision-making process. It is expected to improve PE outcomes and enhance stakeholder satisfaction for construction development projects.