DO STAKEHOLDER INFLUENCE STRATEGIES IMPROVES PROJECT SUCCESS: EVIDENCE FROM CONSTRUCTION SECTOR OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

The external stakeholders’ action not only influences project outcomes but whole project life cycle & project environments. Thus, external stakeholder management is key approach for construction project success. The study investigates the mechanism through which external stakeholder strategies influence the success of construction projects. By drawing on stakeholder theory, this study hypothesized relationship between external Stakeholder Strategies and project success through stakeholder engagement. Thus, by collecting data from 196 construction project managers, the study found that stakeholder engagement mediates the relationship between external stakeholder strategies as well as project success. Although prior research acknowledges stakeholder influence, limited attention has been paid to the specific strategies through which external stakeholders are managed and the mechanisms linking these strategies to project success. This study contributes the stakeholder management literature by shifting focus from internal stakeholder perspective to external stakeholder for the successful delivery of construction projects. It highlighted standing of proactive plans to manage the external stakeholders for project outcomes in the high social sensitive environment.