Stakeholder management in road construction projects in Sri Lanka: a contractor perspective

Abstract

Possessing rights and abilities to influence the project activities, project stakeholders have become a major source of uncertainty in construction projects. Road construction projects are associated with such a varied range of stakeholders and it is necessary to recognize and manage them properly to complete projects successfully. Being in constant interactions with many of the project stakeholders daily within the project lifecycle, contractor requires a proper management of stakeholders from their standpoint. Thus, this research intends to analyse the power (importance level of impact) and interest (influence probability of those impacts) of stakeholders in road construction projects and recommend suitable strategies to manage them. This aim was approached through a quantitative research methodology using a questionnaire survey including a random sample of 43 contractors’ personnel from different construction projects in Sri Lanka. The research findings revealed that client, consultant, government authorities, funding bodies and subcontractors are imposing a high level of impact on project decisions and are with a high probability of having an impact on project decisions. Thereby, contactors suggest adaptation and compromising strategy to manage those stakeholders. Further, suppliers, environmental pressure groups and general public are unable to impose a high level of impact on project decisions but they are with a high probability of bringing in some sort of impact on project decisions. Thus, contractors suggest compromising and influence strategy to manage them. Finally, a matrix developed incorporating the aforementioned findings would serve as a guideline for contractors to manage stakeholders in road construction projects in Sri Lanka.