Project success and relationships from a stakeholder perspective: A pilot study

In this exploratory study the authors sought to understand the link between 'project success' and 'stakeholder relationships'. Additionally, it sought to identify the key ingredients necessary for the achievement of successful relationships. Criteria for 'project success' vary. 'Time' and 'cost' are the commonest with a lesser emphasis on quality. Criteria such as risk, conflict, and safety though usually excluded need to be reckoned. One of the key factors that lead to success with respect to these criteria is successful stakeholder relationship; a strong link exist between project success and relationships. Therefore, the knowledge of factors (ingredients) that lead to successful stakeholder relationships is necessary. Accordingly, this study finds the following to be the main 'ingredients' that make successful relationships. Cited in their ranked order, these are: Communication; ability to successfully manage the client; existence of key personnel; timeliness, taking ownership and accountability, having appropriate planning, control and administrative systems in place, understanding peoples' requirements and needs especially of the client; honesty; trust, sharing goals; keeping promises, organization structure and characteristics. Whilst these are the main ingredients for successful relationships, this study fails short in explaining 'how' these 'ingredients' influence stakeholder relationships; clearly, an area for further study. Moreover, with the discovery of new factors that has not been studied hitherto, there is grounds for further research. The type of stakeholder relationship has an effect on project success too. Most view the client-contractor relationship as having the greatest impact. A model that incorporates all these concepts has been provided and goes to enlighten further the link between 'project success' and 'stakeholder relationships'.