Stakeholder management : a literature review of historical development and current trends

Abstract

Abstract: Effective and formal stakeholder management process is critical in achieving stakeholder needs and satisfaction, an important project success factor. Developed countries construction industries have embraced stakeholder management as a soft project management skill and consequently developed suitable approaches for improved project delivery though developing countries are yet. Studies have associated project failures to poor stakeholders' performance, the absence of formal stakeholder management process, industry challenges and lack of proper documentation in developing countries such as Ghana. This study identifies, reviews and documents the historical development of stakeholder management process in Ghana as part of a broader study aimed at "developing sustainable stakeholder management framework for construction process in developing countries" for enhanced project success. An exploratory method with the qualitative technique was adopted. A literature review was conducted into stakeholder management practice to explore the trend, influence of historical development and documentation of stakeholder management process in relation to industry challenges using three countries as case studies. This is aimed at documenting and developing sustainable stakeholder management process for developing countries. A descriptive survey was used for analysis and documentation. Findings are that formal documentation of industry practices, procurement challenges, stakeholders role in project failures led to the reviews and stakeholder focused reports which that advocated for collaboration. A trend which has influenced the development of stakeholder management process. In the absence of formal documentation, the study identified and documented stakeholder management historical development trend in Ghana for the development of a stakeholder management framework