A conceptual model to manage intragroup conflicts in construction projects: The role of stakeholder engagement

The complexity of the construction industry is increasing day by day, with the involvement of diverse stakeholders with different interests and objectives leading to a conflict-prone environment. In construction projects, conflicts are unavoidable, causing effects and outcomes perceived as positive and/or negative. The process of stakeholder engagement involves the assembly of data on the preferences and interests of stakeholders engaged in a project to maintain their satisfaction while resolving conflicts between them. Therefore, an appropriate stakeholder engagement plan is required to ensure the project’s success by keeping stakeholders satisfied and informed about the project and conflicting interests. Stakeholder engagement plans can be developed either as salience-based engagement or as demands-based engagement of the respective stakeholders. Accordingly, it is essential to investigate conflicts at the project level and the role of stakeholder engagement in managing these conflicts. To fill the identified research gap, the current study aimed to develop a conceptual model which maps the conflicts in a project team from the stakeholder engagement perspective. To achieve this aim, the study undertook a comprehensive literature review, finding that conflicts and their different outcomes should be appropriately managed with facilitation through conflict management strategies and stakeholder engagement. Conflicts and conflict resolution are often connected with stakeholder engagement when its focus is on managing conflicts. Moreover, incorporating a principles-based stakeholder engagement process throughout the project ensures success of the engagement plan’s implementation and delivery, helping to ensure successful project completion.