Understanding Project Stakeholder Planning, Identification and Engagement: A Phenomenological Approach

Abstract

This research explored stakeholder management practices by conducting qualitative interviews with 71 seasoned project managers. Through phenomenological principles and inductive coding, findings revealed inconsistencies in stakeholder planning, identification, and engagement. The research underscores the importance of early stakeholder identification using both formal and informal techniques. Additionally, it identifies a gap between academic literature and actual practitioner methodologies, particularly regarding stakeholder registers, mapping, and value propositions. The study suggests a need for structured and standardized stakeholder management strategies, especially given the evolving stakeholder dynamics in projects. The findings offer actionable insights for professionals and organizations seeking to improve stakeholder management techniques.