Stakeholder identification as a determinant of sustainable project management

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present part of a report on stakeholder analysis (indicating the importance of stakeholder identification and prioritisation) in projects implemented by sustainability-oriented teams. Design/methodology/approach: The results were obtained based on a focus group interview with forty-eight participants - representtatives of different organisations, experienced in project management and possessing expertise on the tourism industry in Pomerania. The study was carried out in Gdańsk, from May to September 2021. Findings: The results of the study showed that an effective policy regarding sustainable development measures should be based on intensive stakeholder outreach. The determinant of this effectiveness is to entail proper and comprehensive stakeholder identification, which can play a key role in the success of any investment. Research limitations/implications: The purpose of the marketing research on stakeholder identification and mapping is to provide insights on the public opinion in this regard. In the course of the study, some limitations were recognised. Firstly, the sampling techniques involving audience generation and data filtering, such as data collection from only those persons who had participated in a focus survey, certainly resulted in a bias in the type of the data collected. Secondly, the study, due to the outbreak of the pandemic, was limited to 2021 only, and despite the implementation of selected projects in five countries in the South Baltic region, it was conducted in Poland exclusively, due to limited travel possibilities. Practical implications: The research was commissioned by a real project team and concerned the operating environment of the tourism enterprises in the Pomerania region. The survey results were applied in practice and served as a project implementation indicator. Social implications: The research topic of stakeholder identification as a component of sustainable development policy undoubtedly has impact on the society. This is because it leads to the promotion of an approach that takes the balance between the actions undertaken for the environment and the local community as well as corporate profit generation into account. Originality/value: It is the first study of this kind (on the Polish market at the least), examining the sustainable development approach in international projects, in the context of stakeholder outreach.