Strategic Leadership Approaches for Stakeholder Management in ICT Projects
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The purpose of this study is to examine strategic leadership approaches for stakeholder management in information and communication technology (ICT) projects and to identify which leadership styles—transformational, transactional, adaptive, hybrid, or a combination thereof—are most effective in coordinating stakeholders, facilitating communication, building trust, and achieving overall project success. Specifically, the study aims to investigate strategic leadership practices applicable to ICT projects, explore how leaders manage relationships among multiple stakeholders, identify leadership challenges in complex ICT settings, and analyze the role of communication and trust as enabling mechanisms for stakeholder coordination. A quantitative, exploratory research design was employed. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire distributed to ICT professionals, including project managers, technical experts, consultants, and stakeholders from public, private, and hybrid projects. The survey targeted professionals in Finland, India, and Nepal. The questionnaire primarily used five-point Likert scale items. Data collection lasted eight weeks via an online survey platform and social media channels (Gmail and LinkedIn). Convenience sampling yielded 56 valid responses. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS, applying descriptive statistics, crosstabulation, Spearman correlation analysis, and a one-sample t-test to identify patterns, relationships, and significant differences in leadership practices, communication effectiveness, trust, and stakeholder management. Cronbach's alpha confirmed reliability. Results indicate that a hybrid leadership approach combining transformational, transactional, strategic, adaptive, and agile leadership is the most effective for managing stakeholders in ICT projects. Key success factors include leaders' ability to manage conflicting interests, build trust through open communication, and adapt leadership styles to project phases and contextual demands. The study empirically demonstrates that stakeholder management is integral to leadership approaches rather than a separate managerial activity. The value of this research lies in integrating leadership theory with stakeholder management theory and highlighting the importance of context-sensitive, hybrid leadership styles in ICT settings. The study recommends that organizations develop hybrid leadership capabilities, reinforce stakeholder engagement routines, and focus on communication and trust building to enhance project performance. It provides empirical evidence on the effectiveness of hybrid leadership in stakeholder management within the ICT sector and contributes new insights into how leadership can adapt to complex, dynamic project environments.