Fair Dialogue and Co-Creation-A Shift in Stakeholder Engagement and Global Performance of Industrial Projects

摘要

The social and environmental impacts of large industrial projects are increasingly raising concerns from individuals and civil society organizations. Impact assessment studies and risk management plans barely satisfy these external project stakeholders, who put forward the right to have a say on project implementation conditions. While the analysis and optimization of a project’s techno-economic performance remains the responsibility of the project developer, establishing the conditions for the seamless integration of a project in its human and social environment is a matter of concern for all project stakeholders, and thus requires their engagement through a dedicated and eco-systemic management process. However, views diverge on what engagement means. Current practices are often limited to providing information on project features and listening to stakeholder’s concerns, while the final decisions remain the prerogative of the project developer. The paper argues that a shift in the stakeholder engagement paradigm is needed to create favorable conditions for social acceptance, thus gaining the so-called “Social License to Operate” and more broadly, fostering image, reputation, exemplarity and global performance. After a review of the meaning of a “project stakeholder” and “social acceptability”, and building on the theories and concepts of social psychology, this paper aims at demonstrating that social acceptance requires fair dialogue with stakeholders and the co-creation of some of the project aspects. The components of an effective stakeholder engagement strategy are discussed, including engagement modes, focus group composition, the role of experts and the use of different communication vehicles. Dedicated collaborative decision-aid software is presented, which supports dialogue and consensus building. Methodologies to assess project performance according to selected social, environmental and economic dimensions are used to materialize and present opinions, which can be further discussed in groups to evolve towards more objective assessments and to document general interest, while guaranteeing transparency, inclusiveness, traceability and even spontaneity. Innovative mathematical engines are used to detect, qualify and quantify “weak signals” stemming from perception biases that stakeholders inevitably have when assessing complex issues. This approach and the results will be illustrated via the example of the El Paso LNG terminal, in the town of Puerto Libertad, Sonora, Mexico.