IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i14p8003-d596279.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Qualitative Stakeholder Analysis for a Swedish Regional Biogas Development: A Thematic Network Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Komalsingh Rambaree

    (Department of Social Work and Criminology, University of Gävle, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden)

  • Agneta Sundström

    (Department of Business and Economic Studies, University of Gävle, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden)

  • Zhao Wang

    (Department of Building Engineering, Energy Systems and Sustainability Science, University of Gävle, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden)

  • Sandra Ann Ingela Wright

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Gävle, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden)

Abstract

The creation of pathways toward a societal transition to clean energy requires the engagement of multiple stakeholders with different and sometimes conflicting interests. In this connection, stakeholder analysis (SA) offers a technique for identifying, assessing and structuring different needs, interests and concerns related to different stakeholders within the context of sustainability. This article aims to present the findings from a qualitative stakeholder analysis (QSA) by using a thematic network approach (TNA), with the help of the ATLAS.ti software. It focuses on Project X, which was aimed at engaging multiple stakeholders and creating favorable conditions for small and medium-sized companies in a region situated in the central part of Sweden, with the potential to start biogas production. In this work, the findings and discussions of the QSA using TNA are structured by using the political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal (PESTEL) themes of the model. The present study concludes that for the small-scale biogas industry to successfully develop an understanding of the possibilities of the biogas value chain, it is necessary to have analyzed the nature of the main themes by which various stakeholders relate to biogas production and envision their contribution to creating a sustainable society. Herein, we demonstrate that QSA by a TNA, combined with the application of a PESTEL model, are valuable analytical tools in sustainable project management. The lessons from Project X can be applied to other local biogas initiatives, as many identified threats and opportunities are shared by others.

Suggested Citation

  • Komalsingh Rambaree & Agneta Sundström & Zhao Wang & Sandra Ann Ingela Wright, 2021. "Qualitative Stakeholder Analysis for a Swedish Regional Biogas Development: A Thematic Network Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-20, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:14:p:8003-:d:596279
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/14/8003/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/14/8003/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shuowen Zhou & Min Zhou & Yuanfeng Wang & Yuanlin Gao & Yinshan Liu & Chengcheng Shi & Yongmao Lu & Tong Zhou, 2020. "Bibliometric and Social Network Analysis of Civil Engineering Sustainability Research from 2015 to 2019," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-18, August.
    2. Dorota Kuchta & Jagoda Mrzygłocka-Chojnacka, 2020. "An Approach to Increase the Sustainability of Projects and their Outcomes in Public Sector through Improving Project Definition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-25, June.
    3. Diego F. Uribe & Isabel Ortiz-Marcos & Ángel Uruburu, 2018. "What Is Going on with Stakeholder Theory in Project Management Literature? A Symbiotic Relationship for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-23, April.
    4. Patrina Whyte & Geoffrey Lamberton, 2020. "Conceptualising Sustainability Using a Cognitive Mapping Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-20, March.
    5. Reinhard Steurer, 2006. "Mapping stakeholder theory anew: from the ‘stakeholder theory of the firm’ to three perspectives on business–society relations," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(1), pages 55-69, January.
    6. Sofia Dahlgren & Jonas Ammenberg, 2021. "Sustainability Assessment of Public Transport, Part II—Applying a Multi-Criteria Assessment Method to Compare Different Bus Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-30, January.
    7. Satya Widya Yudha & Benny Tjahjono & Athanasios Kolios, 2018. "A PESTLE Policy Mapping and Stakeholder Analysis of Indonesia’s Fossil Fuel Energy Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-22, May.
    8. Danso, Albert & Adomako, Samuel & Lartey, Theophilus & Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Owusu-Yirenkyi, Diana, 2020. "Stakeholder integration, environmental sustainability orientation and financial performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 652-662.
    9. Spyridon Achinas & Johan Horjus & Vasileios Achinas & Gerrit Jan Willem Euverink, 2019. "A PESTLE Analysis of Biofuels Energy Industry in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-24, October.
    10. Samantha Miles, 2017. "Stakeholder Theory Classification: A Theoretical and Empirical Evaluation of Definitions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 142(3), pages 437-459, May.
    11. Amelia Mutter, 2019. "Obduracy and Change in Urban Transport—Understanding Competition Between Sustainable Fuels in Swedish Municipalities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-16, November.
    12. Lönnqvist, Tomas & Grönkvist, Stefan & Sandberg, Thomas, 2017. "Forest-derived methane in the Swedish transport sector: A closing window?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 440-450.
    13. Anastasia Christodoulou & Kevin Cullinane, 2019. "Identifying the Main Opportunities and Challenges from the Implementation of a Port Energy Management System: A SWOT/PESTLE Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-15, October.
    14. Danijela Toljaga-Nikolić & Marija Todorović & Marina Dobrota & Tijana Obradović & Vladimir Obradović, 2020. "Project Management and Sustainability: Playing Trick or Treat with the Planet," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-20, October.
    15. Muhammad Arfan & Zhao Wang & Shveta Soam & Ola Eriksson, 2021. "Biogas as a Transport Fuel—A System Analysis of Value Chain Development in a Swedish Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-20, April.
    16. Cong, Rong-Gang & Caro, Dario & Thomsen, Marianne, 2017. "Is it beneficial to use biogas in the Danish transport sector?–An environmental-economic analysis," MPRA Paper 112291, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Stefano Armenia & Rosa Maria Dangelico & Fabio Nonino & Alessandro Pompei, 2019. "Sustainable Project Management: A Conceptualization-Oriented Review and a Framework Proposal for Future Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-16, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Romulus Iagăru & Anca Șipoș & Pompilica Iagăru, 2023. "Strategic Thinking and Its Role in Accelerating the Transition from the Linear to the Circular Economic Model—Case Study of the Agri-Food Sector in the Sibiu Depression Microregion, Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Sandra Ricart & Antonio M. Rico-Amorós, 2022. "Can agriculture and conservation be compatible in a coastal wetland? Balancing stakeholders’ narratives and interactions in the management of El Hondo Natural Park, Spain," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(2), pages 589-604, June.
    3. Ashton W. Merck & Khara D. Grieger & Alison Deviney & Anna-Maria Marshall, 2023. "Using a Phosphorus Flow Diagram as a Boundary Object to Inform Stakeholder Engagement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-10, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gisele Blak Bernat & Eduardo Linhares Qualharini & Marcela Souto Castro & André Baptista Barcaui & Raquel Reis Soares, 2023. "Sustainability in Project Management and Project Success with Virtual Teams: A Quantitative Analysis Considering Stakeholder Engagement and Knowledge Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-38, June.
    2. Gisele Blak Bernat & Eduardo Linhares Qualharini & Marcela Souto Castro, 2023. "Enhancing Sustainability in Project Management: The Role of Stakeholder Engagement and Knowledge Management in Virtual Team Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-26, March.
    3. María Pilar de la Cruz López & Juan José Cartelle Barros & Alfredo del Caño Gochi & Manuel Lara Coira, 2021. "New Approach for Managing Sustainability in Projects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-27, June.
    4. Maria José Casañ & Marc Alier & Ariadna Llorens, 2021. "A Collaborative Learning Activity to Analyze the Sustainability of an Innovation Using PESTLE," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-16, August.
    5. Nunzia Capobianco & Vincenzo Basile & Francesca Loia & Roberto Vona, 2021. "Toward a Sustainable Decommissioning of Offshore Platforms in the Oil and Gas Industry: A PESTLE Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, June.
    6. Jaroslav Vrchota & Petr Řehoř & Monika Maříková & Martin Pech, 2020. "Critical Success Factors of the Project Management in Relation to Industry 4.0 for Sustainability of Projects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, December.
    7. Ludovic-Alexandre Vidal & Franck Marle & Mathieu Dernis, 2021. "Modeling and Estimating Host Country Values in International Projects to Facilitate In-Country Value Creation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-21, May.
    8. Dorota Kuchta & Jagoda Mrzygłocka-Chojnacka, 2020. "An Approach to Increase the Sustainability of Projects and their Outcomes in Public Sector through Improving Project Definition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-25, June.
    9. Agyekum, Ephraim Bonah & Amjad, Fahd & Mohsin, Muhammad & Ansah, Michael Nii Sanka, 2021. "A bird's eye view of Ghana's renewable energy sector environment: A Multi-Criteria Decision-Making approach," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    10. Ruth Borg & Rebecca Dalli Gonzi & Simon Paul Borg, 2020. "Building Sustainably: A Pilot Study on the Project Manager’s Contribution in Delivering Sustainable Construction Projects—A Maltese and International Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-15, December.
    11. Karolis Andriuškevičius & Dalia Štreimikienė, 2021. "Developments and Trends of Mergers and Acquisitions in the Energy Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-14, April.
    12. Mohamed M. Dhiaf & Khakan Najaf & Hazem Marashdeh & Osama F. Atayah & Guilherme F. Frederico, 2022. "The role of project’s initiatives focused on the reduction of environmental footprints during COVID-19: evidence from the United States firms," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 413-427, June.
    13. Victor Jiménez & Paulo Afonso & Gabriela Fernandes, 2020. "Using Agile Project Management in the Design and Implementation of Activity-Based Costing Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-23, December.
    14. Mohammed Abdullatif Almulla & Mahdi Mohammed Alamri, 2021. "Using Conceptual Mapping for Learning to Affect Students’ Motivation and Academic Achievement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-17, April.
    15. Jaime-Andres Correa-Garcia & Maria-Antonia Garcia-Benau & Emma Garcia-Meca, 2018. "CSR Communication Strategies of Colombian Business Groups: An Analysis of Corporate Reports," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-19, May.
    16. Svana Helen Björnsdóttir & Pall Jensson & Saemundur E. Thorsteinsson & Ioannis M. Dokas & Helgi Thor Ingason, 2023. "Aligning Stakeholders and Actors: A New Safety and Security-Based Design Approach for Major National Infrastructures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-44, December.
    17. Ani V. Ter-Mkrtchyan & Aimee L. Franklin, 2023. "Stakeholder Analysis in the Context of Natural Disaster Mitigation: The Case of Flooding in Three U.S. Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-13, October.
    18. Ying Shu & Xiaobin Zhuang & Rui Ying & Guanghua Xu, 2024. "Formal Institutional Pressure and the Integration of Corporate Environmental and Financial Performance: Empirical Evidence from Listed Companies in Heavily Polluting Industries in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-20, March.
    19. Mercè Roca & Jaume Albertí & Alba Bala & Laura Batlle-Bayer & Joan Ribas-Tur & Pere Fullana-i-Palmer, 2021. "Sustainability in the Opera Sector: Main Drivers and Limitations to Improve the Environmental Performance of Scenography," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-17, November.
    20. Nii Antiaye Addy & Arash Shaban-Nejad & David L. Buckeridge & Laurette Dubé, 2015. "An Innovative Approach to Addressing Childhood Obesity: A Knowledge-Based Infrastructure for Supporting Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Decision-Making in Quebec, Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-20, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:14:p:8003-:d:596279. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.