A comprehensive framework for stakeholder management in utility coordination on highway projects

Abstract

Utility coordination in highway projects requires the collaboration of multiple stakeholders, each with diverse claims, expectations, concerns, interests, and needs that do not necessarily align. As each stakeholder can influence the utility coordination process either positively or negatively at any stage of highway project development, effectively managing them and balancing their interests and needs is essential. This study aims to contribute to the utility coordination field by developing a comprehensive framework that can serve as a generic reference to guide the management of utility coordination stakeholders in highway projects. The framework's development begins with understanding the essential elements associated with successful stakeholder management, achieved through the identification and prioritization of Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for stakeholder management in utility coordination. Furthermore, to complement the framework and enhance its practical application, various methods for managing utility coordination stakeholders are compiled and classified to align with its main components. In order to achieve the objectives of this study, researchers conducted a systematic literature review of relevant studies in this field, followed by interviews with utility coordination Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), a survey questionnaire distributed to utility coordination practitioners from Departments of Transportation (DOTs) across the nation, and a focus group interview with SMEs. The results were further validated through interviews with utility coordination practitioners, who are the potential end users of this study's contributions. The findings are expected to serve as a road map to help practitioners evaluate their stakeholder management practices in utility coordination, identify areas for improvement, and prioritize efforts to increase the likelihood of successfully managing utility coordination stakeholders.