Managing Project Scope Definition to Improve Stakeholders’ Participation and Enhance Project Outcome

Project scope definition is the process whereby a project is defined and prepared for execution. It helps to decide on whether or not to proceed with the project. An incomplete scope definition in early stages of a project's life cycle is a common source of difficulty in construction project development process. Meanwhile, the developing of the project can effect positively or negatively a variety of interests. Construction projects in specific bring different degrees of changes on the surrounding environment and people, not only limited at the construction site. Therefore, project definitions boundaries may be redefined, or subjected to differing expectations and interpretation by different stakeholders. The literature suggests that project scope definition practices and stakeholders’ management are two separate domains, which are often investigated separately. However, project scope definition practices can benefit from stakeholders’ management theories. Using procedural justice and participation theories to bring together the two domains, this research will contribute to theory and practice in the project management field. The paper develops a conceptual framework of an ongoing PhD research that seeks to answer the main research question ‘How can the level of project scope definition completeness be evaluated to account for differences in stakeholders’ concerns to facilitate a better project outcome in public building projects? The research aims to develop a procedure that should help a project management team measure the completeness of project scope definition with adequate consideration for stakeholders’ inputs at the pre-project planning stage of building projects, thereby facilitating a better project outcome.