The credibility gap in stakeholder management: ethics and evidence of relationship management

Abstract

The predominant utilitarian conceptualization of stakeholder management within construction is reviewed. Utilitarianism will be contrasted with an ethics of nurture and care perspective. A credibility gap is identified in the utilitarian approach whereby individual parties in positions of power are unable to maximize net well‐being. The relationship management concept will be outlined and located within the ethics of care, showing how aggregated behaviours can be linked to this approach. Behaviours that management can facilitate will be outlined and links made with the ethics of care concerning stakeholder management. The analysis will conceptually establish how the credibility gap in stakeholder management can be bridged. Research into relationships within PPP/PFI projects will be explored. The relationships between the SPV and the public sector will provide a particular focus. Recommendations for practice and future research will draw the analysis to a conclusion.

Keywords:

• Ethics
• relationship management
• stakeholder management
• utility