External stakeholders in urban construction development projects: who are they and how are they engaged?

The construction industry is renowned as being fragmented and complex, with a higher risk element in urban development projects, where construction sites are a common feature. Many stakeholders are involved in urban development projects, making effective integration and collaboration difficult. Moreover, the identification and engagement of external stakeholders involved in the project must be given further consideration, as they can influence project implementation, although they have no contractual relationship. Therefore, this paper aims to identify and document who the external stakeholders are in urban development projects, and how they are engaged by on-site project managers. This pilot study is at the beginning of an initial investigation, providing the basis of an ongoing PhD research project. The research method undertaken is qualitatively based, encompassing four case study interviews with four construction professionals on urban development projects located in London, England. The data accumulated is qualitatively assessed using mind mapping software, and cognitively summarised. The Local Authority, Residents and Local Businesses emerged as the three main external stakeholders, from a list of seventeen. From ten different strategies documented, Face-to-Face Meetings and Newsletters were identified as the two main strategies used to engage external stakeholders. The key contribution of this work illustrates to on-site management that the Local Authority, Residents and Local Businesses are the main external stakeholders to consider amongst others. Also, Face-to-Face Meetings and Newsletters are the more beneficial of the various wide-ranging engagement strategies identified, to manage and engage external stakeholders on urban development construction projects.