Stakeholder Communication Strategies and Their Impact on Project Success across Different Sectors

Effective communication with stakeholders is widely regarded as an essential factor contributing to project success. In today’s modern project environments, communication is considered not only as the exchange of information but also as a strategic decision that builds trust, transparency, and cooperation among team members and stakeholders. Communication practices differ across industries due to organizational culture, project complexity, and stakeholder expectations. Consequently, many organizations continue to experience inconsistent project outcomes and an incomplete understanding of how communication strategies function in different contexts. This thesis examines stakeholder communication strategies to identify how effective approaches can be adapted to project success across four industries: manufacturing, information technology (IT), telecommunications, and construction. A qualitative, multi-case study methodology was conducted, and the analysis was based on Stakeholder Theory, Stakeholder Salience Theory, Contingency Theory, and the Project Success Framework. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and document analysis, focusing on stakeholder involvement, communication tools, frequency of communication, transparency, and responsiveness. The findings indicate that although IT projects often depend on fast and real-time communication, both manufacturing and construction usually involve more structured and organized processes. The key challenges were identified, including tool fatigue, fractured teams, and slow decision-making. The results show that there is no common communication strategy, and rather, the successful implementation of any strategy will depend on the ability to adapt those strategies and approaches to project characteristics, stakeholder needs, and industry characteristics. Recommendations include encouraging an open communication culture, flexible communication planning, and training teams in digital collaboration capabilities, and early stakeholder engagement to increase productivity and success of projects over time. This research provides guidance for project managers who want to communicate more effectively and deliver better results in different types of projects in different types of project environments.