Stakeholder Relationship Management in Construction Projects in Australia

This research paper discusses the importance of stakeholder relationship management in construction projects in Australia. It analyzes the key factors that facilitate apt management of construction projects in Australia and uses both qualitative and quantitative methods to do so.

RUNNING HEADER: Masters research theory and practices
Masters research theory and practices
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RUNNING HEADER: Masters research theory and practices
Introduction
Generally, construction projects in Australia include different stakeholders. The discussion is
about the construction projects which have changed the general outlook within the country.
This suggests that we have categories such as construction managers, contractors, the clients
and also sponsors among others (Ahsan & Gunawan, 2010,p.68). All the groups basically
determine the success of the project. This is determined by each extra mile each member is
adding to the construction project. Therefore from the topic then it shows that stakeholder's
relationship management in construction projects then it is just having a clear understanding
of the roles expected by the party's involved. Cities, estates, states and towns in Australia
have expanded through the use of construction projects (Alzahrani & Emsley 2013,p.313).
This suggests that project construction entities such as managers who ought to understand all
the important roles needed while working. This shows that research is under the field of
construction and it will include all the necessities required in determining the success of
construction projects in Australia. In addition in Australia, in most construction projects, the
stakeholder's conflict tend to deter the progress. This, in fact, tends to affect the general
operation in construction projects. The literature review discusses the secondary sources
relevant to the topic (Bryde, Broquetas & Volm, 2013, p.677). Theories have been given that
fully describes the success in managing stakeholders in construction projects. In some cases,
challenges in Australia may tend to reduce the economic growth within the country. The
objective of the research is to analyse the key factors that will facilitate apt management of
construction projects in Australia. The objective determines the scope of the research since it
will discuss the field of construction. The research uses both qualitative and quantitative
methods to analyse how management in construction projects have been handled in Australia.
The limitation of the research is that not all respondents gave the exact information. Second,
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RUNNING HEADER: Masters research theory and practices
the information is all about the construction of buildings thus excluding other construction-
related projects such as construction projects in infrastructures in Australia (Chan, Lam,
Chan, and Cheung & Ke 2010, p.99).
Literature review
With the increased focus on the different aspect of stakeholder's management in construction
projects then various issues on success factors existing in several construction projects are
thoroughly described in the literature. There has been an increasing number of studies in
Australia which have tried to identify the importance of stakeholder's management in
construction projects. Despite the effort on looking the construction factors, it's unfortunate
that the construction project in Australia is facing huge challenges (Cheung, Chan &
Kajewski, 2012, p.45). This suggests that the construction project has a poor record in
managing the stakeholders in Australia. There have been a number of challenges faced by
construction projects as revealed by different researchers. First, there is an aspect of
inadequate engagement of the stakeholders in construction projects in Australia. Also, there
are other problems such as lack of clear objectives for the stakeholder's management, issue of
inadequate communication to the stakeholders in construction projects and lastly inability to
detect the ‘invisible' stakeholders in construction projects. The research carried out was to
detect how these problems have challenged the entire field.
Therefore, in order to solve the problems identified then all the teams need to come up with
apt measures that will aim to secure the construction field in Australia. Therefore to identify
the key essentials needed in construction projects then critical success factors were identified
in the study. (Doloi 2012, p.267).The approach as described by different researchers then it
tries to reveal the entire concept that describes the topic of concern. Generally, critical
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RUNNING HEADER: Masters research theory and practices
success factors are reviewed as the essentials or assets that determine the satisfactorily of
competitive performance within an organization. Lu & Yuan (2010, p.66) argues that critical
success in construction project entails the managerial planning and those essential actions that
need to be practiced by all entities so as to result in effective results. Different researchers
have tried to use the approach as the key mean of improving construction management
projects in Australia. This means that in the entire field of stakeholder's management in
Australia then it has to look for the effective stakeholder's relationship with the management.
All the activities that determine effective relationship for the management and stakeholders in
construction projects.
The review on the other literature shows that there exist a number of factors that significant in
the successful establishment of stakeholder’s management in construction projects found in
Australia. McGeorge & Zou (2012, p.77) identified that there are two aspects which tend to
improve the stakeholder's management in Australia. The first aspect is based on the
communication with the stakeholders within the organization. Different projects in Australia
have failed due to delay in communication. In this regard then it shows that management has
been delaying in giving the relevant information needed by the stakeholders. Due to this the
overall motivation for both constructors and other stakeholders has reduced and thus reducing
economic status in Australia. This suggests that unless decisions from the stakeholders are
not well handled by the management then chaos will always be there in construction projects.
The other issue is revealed by setting up goals and objectives that will serve as a guiding
factor for the stakeholders. This is supported by apt priorities and goals needed. On the other
hand, identifies the long-term measures which also boost the improvement in construction
projects. The author reveals that long-term improvement in construction projects in Australia
is determined by how stakeholders are satisfied and handled when carrying out the activities.
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RUNNING HEADER: Masters research theory and practices
Satisfaction of stakeholders in construction projects is determined by the care given by the
management. When management fails to offer effective decisions then the stakeholders will
be paralyzed and thus reducing the performance output in construction projects in Australia
(Müller & Turner 2010, p.437). Therefore this suggests that the described aspects from the
different authors opt to gear improvement in construction projects. By analyzing those key
aspects then construction projects will be beneficial to the Australia country. Therefore, these
factors tend to differ with the previous research which included the factors that failed to
prioritize the relative importance received from the issues discussed. In addition, as described
by, then these factors should be grouped and then the management body in construction
project obey and follow them. In this regard then it will be important to group the factors that
are important for both parties involved. Therefore the research aimed at identifying the
quantitative prioritize that is always associated with relationship found between the
stakeholders and management in Australian construction projects. It's unfortunate for the
management to fail in giving utmost directions needed in construction projects.
Aims and objectives
The research aimed at defining project missions. The identification of good mission statement
for a particular project at distinct stages is deemed to be important for an efficient
management of stakeholders. During the implementation of all the operations, the top
manager ought to get a clear understanding of the required projects tasks and objectives of its
lifecycle. Some of the research questions should be aimed at acknowledging factors of cost,
schedule and the overall budget of the given project (Olusola, Opawole & Emmanuel 2012,
p.212). The ultimate complexity of the organization and the social, regulations and
economical underlying aspects in a conducive environment in which the project works on is
considered as a strategic mission of the project. Various researchers argue that research has
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RUNNING HEADER: Masters research theory and practices
proven the significance of setting key goals, objectives and the vital priorities of a certain
project in the improvement of stakeholder's management. The aims and objectives of the
project also included the identification of stakeholders and understanding the basic area of
their personal interests. There exist different stakeholder's interest as a result of the complex
characteristics of construction projects. It is aimed at assessing the stakeholders in aspects
such as product safety, genuine fi9nnacila returns and assets reporting (Osei & Chan 2015,
p.1330).
It is also aimed at exploring the existing stakeholder's needs and constraints in a particular
project. Its purpose is to offset and mainly focus on the available stakeholders' requirements
and identify the issues that they face and the limitations. Proper assessment should be done in
order to acquire a probable, satisfactory and real-time solution to the problem at hand. The
objective of the research project also involved the assessment of various stakeholders'
behavior. It measures the capacity and ability of goodwill of the existing stakeholders to
either threaten or highly corporate with the project team members (Shen, Tam, Tam & Ji,
2010, p.254). The behavior aimed to be identified include the ability to cooperate and
competitive threat of the rivalries. It shows the significance of demonstrating strategies and
attributes of the managers.
It was also aimed at prediction revolving around the impacts of stakeholders. It is evident that
project management practice is greatly influenced by the available stakeholders. The
acknowledgment of the effects that they have is critical since it ensures proper planning and
execution of the entire process is done. It was also aimed at analyzing conflicts and coalitions
among the active participants. Conflict normally arises in social situations thus the managers
should recognize and look for potential coalitions among the stakeholders. Conversely,
groups which usually share objective and interest regarding the project has the most likely to
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RUNNING HEADER: Masters research theory and practices
lead to the formation of coalitions. It also ensured compromising of conflicts so as to give the
top project managers to have an opportunity to make informed decisions. This is done in
order to make a multi-win between conflict resolution strategies and satisfying the
stakeholders. It also promotes a successful relationship between the project and the
participants in order to increase the probability of delivering the goals and expectations of the
project. This builds trust and commitment which are important qualities in improving
effective project management relationships. It also ensures the promotion of effective
communication between all the key players. Good communication is required so as to
maintain the support and comprehensive loyalty of the stakeholders. Project managers should
have knowledge and skills of negotiation to ensure the success of the operations (Yang, J.,
Shen, Ho, Drew & Xue 2011, p.900). This increases the capability of reaching the expected
goals and creation of good culture change in the construction firm. The research is also aimed
at formulating and implementing necessary strategies. Different researchers point out the key
research questions regarding the strategies that they incorporate in their day to day activities
to address the firm's policies. It influences how the project manager's attitude on how they
treat the stakeholders under normal circumstances and during the operation of the project
work activities. Responsive strategies are identified to increase the ability to formulate the
long-term strategies in dealing the construction stakeholders.
The research project questions are also aimed at predicting the stakeholder's reaction. Their
reactions are significant when top managers make various decisions on matters affecting the
project. This shows the level of their preparedness in adopting the changes that need to be
done. (Zou, Kumaraswamy, Chung & Wong 2014, p.265).It is also aimed at analyzing and
evaluating the change of stakeholders. The aspects of change and dynamics should be highly
acknowledged in reality so as to identify how the impact the change over a given time
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RUNNING HEADER: Masters research theory and practices
horizon. This is done in order to reduce the negative implications that result from uncertainty
caused by change concept of the stakeholders.
References
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RUNNING HEADER: Masters research theory and practices
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