Stakeholder management in relocation/reconstruction of public school buildings affected by Tsunami disaster

Abstract

Large and complex projects, especially social infrastructure projects such as schools are unique in their construction. Furthermore disaster reconstruction is a challengeable job in the construction industry; as they influence, and be influenced by many stakeholders. As such stakeholder management is one of the major important disciplines in construction industry projects. This is further emphasized when projects are large and complex by nature such as Tsunami reconstruction. The project manager, who is overall in charge of the project for implementation, plays a vital role in stakeholder management. Project managers who do not interact attentively with the project environment are likely to face difficulties during project planning and execution of their projects. The importance of stakeholder management comes from their direct impact on project triple constraints, namely cost, time and quality. This research starts with basic definitions of the concepts of stakeholder management. It then explores the process involving stakeholder management in disaster reconstruction projects after Tsunami. Case studies of two "Relocation and Reconstruction of Tsunami affected school projects" were used as the methodology for the research. The semi structured interviews were used to establish the perceptions and the importance of stakeholder management and their impact on project performance. The examination of previous projects by documentary survey was done to identify the relationship and level of stakeholder involvement. The literature review related the findings with research and theories. The findings of research concluded that a large percentage of the delays, difficulties and cost overruns are attributed to risks related to poor needs identification by stakeholders and the absence of clear strategies for risk and stakeholder management. The Author recommends that proper stakeholder management is an important measure for the success of project delivery. For the success of a project, a structured project management methodology needs to be established and followed by the project managers. The Author further recommends that proper monitoring and coordinating, risks and uncertainties are the key factors to ensure I successful project delivery in disaster reconstruction. This approach necessitates the identification of key stakeholder in the project environment at the outset of the project. Key Words: Projects, Stakeholders, Stakeholder Management, Disaster Re-construction Projects