External stakeholder strategic actions in projects: A multi-case study

Information-centric influence strategies for quality assurance in reverse logistics supply chains: external stakeholders' perspective

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: firstly, to identify the information-centric strategies of external stakeholders that influence the quality assurance (QA) in the reverse logistics supply chains (RLSC) of demolition waste (DW) and, secondly, to recognize the determinants for using each strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 professionals representing five external stakeholder groups: state and local government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), forward supply chain upstream and downstream actors. The data was analyzed based on Creswell's five-step process, and the conventional content analysis was used for coding and generating themes.

Findings

The study found seven information-centric influence strategies: regulating, monitoring, leading, incentivizing, demolition approval, forming contracts and specifications. The state government organizations were the most dominant in influencing the QA in RLSC. All external stakeholders use both aggressive and cooperative strategies. The urgent, legitimate and economic core of the issue decides the type of strategy to exert an information-centric influence over the QA in RLSC of DW.

Originality/value

To the author's best knowledge, this study is one of the first investigations performed based on a theoretical basis within the context of RLSC in the construction industry (CI). This study used empirical data to elaborate the stakeholder theory while providing new knowledge on stakeholder influence, particularly those relevant to information sharing. Thus, this study developed a theoretical base that future researchers in the study domain could use.

Stakeholder Management and Project Sustainability—A Throw of the Dice

The aim of this study was to analyze the strategies that external stakeholders apply to influence sustainable projects. In order to investigate this phenomenon, we employed a qualitative case study approach considering the Serbian small hydro power plant project. For the purpose of this research, we developed a theoretical framework consisting of four types of different influence strategies, which were identified and then applied to our case. The results show that external stakeholders utilized all four strategies interchangeably, with the goal to influence the project and decision-makers. The case of the small hydro power plant project revealed certain relationships between influence strategies, as well as the intensity and direction of these relationships. It also revealed that external stakeholders were highly motivated by negative impacts on the environment. Five propositions were derived as a result of our research. This paper contributes not just to the project and stakeholder management literature but also to the practical knowledge of project managers. Understanding stakeholder actions and influence is essential to achieving project goals.

Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation of the Critical Success Factors for the Sustainability of Public Private Partnership Projects in China

Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects have attracted wide attention from academia and industry over the past 20 years, however, they have been plagued by certain factors. This study identified, classified, and evaluated the success factors that may affect PPP projects for achieving sustainability. First, a list of 32 critical success factors were categorized into 3 groups, then a questionnaire survey was conducted, with 108 responses received from experts, researchers, and PPP project managers in China. Second, using a fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) method, stakeholder relationships (A1–A10), external environmental (B1–B8), and project management of a special purpose vehicle (C1–C14) collected data at three different factor group locations in PPP projects were used in this evaluation. The results obtained nine top factors: private sector financing capacity, government credit, government commitment or guarantee, completeness of legal framework, available financial markets, the feasibility study report and implementation, effectiveness of risk management, project investment, and cost control and revenue distribution. It was demonstrated that fuzzy synthetic evaluation techniques are quite appropriate techniques for PPP projects. The research findings should impact on policy development towards PPP and Private Finance Initiative (PFI) project governance.

Perspectives on the Capabilities for the Selection of Strategic Projects

Strategic projects are large scale, complex, and require significant investments and resources. These projects aim at gaining long-term social and economic benefits. Therefore, organizations focusing on strategic projects should use a consistent approach that suits their strategy, capability, and long-term expectations. Based on the four research questions and content analysis of the literature, generic processes used for the strategic project selection in tandem with the managerial capabilities are identified in this paper. The generic processes and managerial capabilities are used to develop a generic framework for strategic project selection. The framework is used for literature analysis in the paper. The review shows that both qualitative and quantitative methods are used for strategic project selection. Some possible research directions have also been proposed at the end of the review. The paper provides value to both researchers and practitioners in terms of tools available and a guidance on project selection through a structured process framework.