Project change stakeholder communication

This action-based qualitative case study explores how the project communication routines affect stakeholder engagement during change management process and evolve project culture. With an inductive design, this research studies change communication practices in two different case contexts. The results underline the fact that an effective communication ensures stakeholder participation in the change management processes through teamwork and empowerment, whereas lacking communication routines lead to a rational and straightforward project culture where task performance and efficiency are preferred over stakeholder involvement. Theoretical results suggest that project communication planning requires more attention on the know-how of stakeholders than the current stakeholder evaluation models instruct. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. APM and IPMA. All rights reserved.