Stakeholder Inclusiveness: Enriching Project Management with General Stakeholder Theory1. Issue 6 (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eskerod, Pernille; Huemann, Martina; Ringhofer, Claudia
• Is Part Of: Project management journal. Volume 46:Issue 6(2015)
• Page Start: 42
• Page End: 53
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: stakeholder inclusiveness -- managing stakeholders -- managing for stakeholders -- management for stakeholders -- management of stakeholders -- general stakeholder theory -- critical incidents technique -- case study; Project management -- Periodicals; 658.40405
• DOI: 10.1002/pmj.21546
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 8756-9728

Abstract

According to research, stakeholder disappointment is a root problem within projects. In this article, the dilemmas related to stakeholder inclusiveness, in other words, engaging a broad range of stakeholders, are discussed. Based on a longitudinal case study, three propositions are offered: Applying stakeholder inclusiveness in a project (1) increases the likelihood of more engaged and satisfied stakeholders; (2) increases the danger of losing focus on those stakeholders who possess the most critical resources for the project's survival and progress; and (3) increases the danger of inducing stakeholder disappointment due to expectation escalation and impossibility of embracing conflicting requirements and wishes.