A framework for analyzing, developing, and managing stakeholder network relationships in collaborative hospital construction projects
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
Wetteri auditorium (IT115), Linnanmaa
Topic of the dissertation
A framework for analyzing, developing, and managing stakeholder network relationships in collaborative hospital construction projects
Doctoral candidate
M.Sc. (Eng.) Farooq Ali
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Technology, Industrial Engineering and Management
Subject of study
Industrial Engineering and Management
Opponent
Professor Tuomas Ahola , Tampere University
Custos
Professor Harri Haapasalo, University of Oulu
A framework for analyzing, developing, and managing stakeholder network relationships in collaborative hospital construction projects
This doctoral thesis emphasizes that large inter-organizational construction projects for hospitals and utilities are typically delivered under complex and uncertain conditions due to the involvement of a diverse range of stakeholders. These stakeholders come from both permanent (healthcare process level) and temporary (hospital project level) organizational levels, with different backgrounds, goals, and business models, as well as varying perceptions regarding the most appropriate project implementation processes, cooperation practices, tools, and organizational methods to use.
With these differences, stakeholders also form different types of networks that lead to project complexity and dynamics. The diversity of goals, backgrounds, skills, and cultural differences make these projects very challenging from the early stages of planning and development, requiring a new kind of project leadership and implementation models to ensure success. This thesis presents a framework to address the aforementioned challenges and successfully deliver hospital construction projects.
The context of this research is a hospital construction project, specifically a new university hospital located in NOHD (Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District), which is a geographically large and sparsely populated area in northern Finland. NOHD is one of the 21 hospital districts in Finland, and Oulu University Hospital is one of the five university hospitals in the country. This project is being procured through relational project delivery arrangements, such as project alliancing.
The findings of this research indicate that it is crucial to carefully analyze stakeholder networks and their associated relationships both at the healthcare process level and the hospital project level. These networks and their types can significantly impact the shared project goals and the coordination and control of stakeholders in a hospital construction project. Additionally, the research findings reveal that stakeholder collaboration is not a stand-alone static process, but rather a multilevel process that involves various activities related to cooperation, control, and coordination. The research also proposes different mechanisms and related actions that can be adopted to limit opportunism and foster collaborative behavior among project stakeholders.
With these differences, stakeholders also form different types of networks that lead to project complexity and dynamics. The diversity of goals, backgrounds, skills, and cultural differences make these projects very challenging from the early stages of planning and development, requiring a new kind of project leadership and implementation models to ensure success. This thesis presents a framework to address the aforementioned challenges and successfully deliver hospital construction projects.
The context of this research is a hospital construction project, specifically a new university hospital located in NOHD (Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District), which is a geographically large and sparsely populated area in northern Finland. NOHD is one of the 21 hospital districts in Finland, and Oulu University Hospital is one of the five university hospitals in the country. This project is being procured through relational project delivery arrangements, such as project alliancing.
The findings of this research indicate that it is crucial to carefully analyze stakeholder networks and their associated relationships both at the healthcare process level and the hospital project level. These networks and their types can significantly impact the shared project goals and the coordination and control of stakeholders in a hospital construction project. Additionally, the research findings reveal that stakeholder collaboration is not a stand-alone static process, but rather a multilevel process that involves various activities related to cooperation, control, and coordination. The research also proposes different mechanisms and related actions that can be adopted to limit opportunism and foster collaborative behavior among project stakeholders.
Last updated: 23.1.2024