Work

Meta-organizing and responsibilization: Government strategies for community engagement and high-quality development in public–private megaprojects

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Community engagement is essential for creating social value and fostering high-quality development in megaprojects. However, organizing such engagement within public-private partnerships is particularly complex in weak institutional contexts, such as those found in sub-Saharan Africa. Existing research often depoliticizes community engagement, overlooking the critical role of government. Additionally, empirical studies on this phenomenon in sub-Saharan Africa remain scarce. In this study, we adopt a governmentality lens and a design science research method to identify meta-organizing and responsibilization as governmental strategies for organizing community engagement in weak institutional contexts, such as those in sub-Saharan Africa. Through an embedded case study of a megaproject in Nigeria, we develop two sets of design principles that form a transformational community engagement framework. Our findings have implications for community engagement practices in megaprojects within weak institutional contexts and contribute to mainstream external stakeholder engagement research.

Source: Project Leadership and Society

DOI: 10.1016/j.plas.2024.100151

Authors: Ulohomuno Eze Afieroho, Yongkui Li, Yilong Han, Mladen Radujkovic

Institutions: Alma Mater Europaea, Tongji University

Language: English

Topic: Public-Private Partnership Projects

Subfield: Strategy and Management

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Partnerships for the goals, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,890