Impact and management of project stakeholders in the chemical sector

Abstract

This research investigated the impact and management of external project stakeholders in the Chemical sector located in the geographic region of Sasolburg (Free State province of South Africa). Within a context where the relationship between a project and its stakeholders is central to project success, and where stakeholder management is currently marginalised and suppressed, this research aimed to distinguish between which external project stakeholders are more important than others; understand which stakeholders posed a higher risk; and which dimensions required the most development to improve project stakeholder management. The research methodology was approached from a philosophical stance corresponding to a positivism paradigm and utilised deductive reasoning. The research strategy was survey based with a cross-sectional time horizon while the data collection method used non-probability sampling, specifically the snowball sampling technique, and employed questionnaires as a means to elicit the required data for analysis. This research found that the most important external stakeholder groups, and who caused the most problems and uncertainty for the project, were contractors/suppliers; clients; and end users. Due to their high levels of involvement and criticality of roles during the project lifecycle these stakeholders should be the focal point of stakeholder management initiatives. The dimensions of stakeholder management requiring the most development was strategy and plans; evaluations; and tools and methods indicating a need for a tactical approach to stakeholder management.