Dithebe, K; Thwala, W D D; Aigbavboa, C O; Edwards, D J; Hayhow, S and Talebi, S (2023) Stakeholder management in the alleviation of legal and regulatory disputes in public-private partnership projects in South Africa. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 21(2), pp. 325-342. ISSN 1726-0531
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to introduce the use of critical success factors (CSFs) of stakeholder management as a possible solution to reduce disputes experienced because of legal and regulatory issues in public–private partnership (PPP) projects. Design/methodology/approach: This paper’s epistemological positioning adopted positivism and deductive reasoning to investigate the dispute phenomena on PPP projects. A survey strategy was adopted using a structured questionnaire and closed-ended Likert scales to collate primary data. Questionnaires were distributed to South African construction professionals using both purposive and snowballing non-probability sampling techniques. Data was analysed using summary statistical analysis of the CSFs identified from literature. Findings: This study revealed that among the 19 CSFs identified, five factors were highlighted that could contribute to the alleviation of disputes between stakeholders in PPP projects, namely, adequate project planning and control; effective leadership; appropriate strategies for the management of stakeholders; confirmation of clear goals and objectives of the project; and effective communication. Originality/value: The strength of this study lies in the evaluation and use of CSFs of stakeholder management as a possible solution to minimise or even avoid disputes as a result of legal and regulatory issues in PPP projects. By integrating the CSFs, the legal and contractual misconceptions of the PPP initiative are clarified. Such work represents a novel contribution to procurement practice in South Africa and maybe to other countries internationally who are grappling with similar issues.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction project team; critical success factors; legal and regulatory issues; public–private partnership projects; stakeholder management |
| Index terms: | project planning, critical success factor, stakeholder management, South Africa, positivism, Likert scale, questionnaire, methodology, survey, strategy, reasoning, sampling, construction professional, statistical analysis, dispute, partnership, construction project team |
| Subjects: | research methods, management, professional development, Geography, cognitive psychology, partnership management, philosophical concept, data collection methods, dispute resolution, control systems, project delivery, participation process, data science |
| Topics: | Stakeholder Management, Project Management, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Information Management, Business Strategy, Legal Issues |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here