Framework Development and Validation Phase

Introduction (5.1)

Research Methodology (5.2) Research Philosophy (5.3) Research Approach (5.4) Research Methods (5.5) Research Design (5.6) Data Collection (5.7)

Data Analysis (5.8) Framework Development (5.9) Ethical Consideration (5.10) Chapter Summary (5.11)

Framework development and validation are the final phase of the research. This section discusses how the framework was developed and validated.

5.9.1 Development of the Framework

At the heart of this research was the development of a framework for managing stakeholders in PPP road transportation projects. In developing the framework, the research followed Eisenhardt (1989) suggestions that developing a theory should involve data analysis, literature, observations, common sense and experience. Remenyi et al. (1998, p.170) support this view and posit that “multiple sources of evidence should be sought to support all important assertions”. This research adopted the authors’ suggestions as stated above.

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Literature reviewed identified different and important perspectives of stakeholder management in construction projects. As a result, a conceptual framework was developed.

The conceptual framework comprises four components: rationale for stakeholder management; stakeholder management steps; roles of project partners in stakeholder management; and enablers of stakeholder management. There were key factors highlighted for each of the component. Also, the conceptual framework identified some inadequacies and gaps in each of the components. For example, within the stakeholder management steps, some of the steps such as prioritisation of stakeholders in the PPP context were found to be flawed (see Section 4.6 for details). In addition, there is a dearth of research on stakeholder management in PPP projects within the context of low and middle-income countries. These gaps prompted the need to synthesise these components to develop a single framework using Nigeria as a case study, an example of a low and middle-income country. The conceptual framework provided the basis for the development of interview schedule for the case studies. Subsequently, a framework for stakeholder management in PPP projects was developed from findings of the cross-case analysis and supported by literature related to stakeholder management, PPPs and transportation. Detail description of the framework is presented in Chapter 9.

5.9.2 Framework Validation

Validating a framework involves taking findings of a research back to the subjects studied for verification. Verification of such research findings gives confidence to the validity of the research (Silverman, 2006). The main objectives for validating the developed framework for managing stakeholders in PPP projects are to:

1. Examine the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed framework;

2. Examine if the different stakeholders are in agreement with the elements of the framework;

3. Examine the completeness and practicality of the proposed framework; and

4. Examine the importance and causal relationships between the different elements of the framework.

The objectives highlighted above were designed based on similar criteria used in validating frameworks in previous studies in construction management such as Ibrahim (2007) and Mohyin (2011).

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Furthermore, to achieve the aim and objectives for framework validation, this research adopted the mixed method approach; a focus group method as qualitative research and a questionnaire as quantitative research.

5.9.2.1 Focus Group

Focus groups have been used to validate framework in previous similar research such as Ng et al. (2013). Focus group is a type of group interview in which data is generated through discussion and interaction among different participants coordinated by a moderator (researcher), rather than interview involving a single individual as respondent and the researcher (Jankowicz, 2005). Focus group offers the researcher the opportunity to understand people and why they feel the way they do (Bryman, 2008). Gorman and Clayton (2005) note that speed, transparency, interaction among participants and flexibility are the main advantages of using the focus group. The choice of focus group was to help the researcher get a more realistic account of people’s perspectives and views because the process often allows participants to probe each other’s views on stakeholder management (Bryman, 2008). For this research, two focus group meetings were conducted, one with a public sector organisation comprising eight officials and the other with an SPV comprising two officials. The focus group meetings took the form of workshops where the researcher presented the proposed framework and thereafter, the participants asked questions and made contributions. Altogether, ten (10) participants took part in the validation of the framework: Eights (8) public sector officials and two (2) Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) officials.

These participants from the different organisations were carefully selected because they are involved in managing stakeholders in PPP projects, which is central to this research (Krueger and Casey, 2000).

5.9.2.2 Questionnaire

A questionnaire has been described as “a preformulated written set of questions to the respondents, record their answers, usually within rather closely defined alternatives” (Sekaran, 2003, p.236). Questions in a questionnaire are essentially open or closed. This research used both open and closed questions. Open questions were used in order to avoid restricting research participants and ensured they answered the questions in full (Fellows and Liu, 2008), while closed questions as guide to the aim of the validation. Questionnaires can be administered in a number of different ways. They can be administered face-to-face or over the telephone, by post, email/web to respondents (Blaxter et al., 2006; Fellows and Liu, 2008). This research administered the questionnaire using the ‘face-to-face’ technique at the

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end of each focus group meeting. Questionnaire was used to compensate for the limitations of the focus group meeting such as time constraints.

The questionnaire consisted of both closed and open ended questions under four (4) distinct headings: overall assessment of the framework; completeness of the framework; practicality of the framework; and user friendliness of the framework (see Appendix G for the full questionnaire). Full details of findings of the questionnaire are discussed in (Section 9.6.4.2). Also, result of the findings and recommendations were considered and thereafter, the framework was refined as presented in (Section 9.6.6).