Challenges of network interaction in managing sustainable development projects in developing countries: case of an international consulting company

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to explore the challenges and complexities of interaction in international stakeholder networks within the context of projects focused on the implementation of sustainable development goals (SDGs). In particular, it examines the challenges faced by stakeholders in a network from a developed country during interaction in the context of a developing country. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative approach, this study analyses interview data collected from the key managers of an international consulting company in charge of a water supply and sanitation project in Nepal. The primary data is triangulated with secondary data, such as project reports and related academic articles. Findings This study illustrates how interaction in international stakeholder networks affects and is interrelated with SDGs, as well as how aiming to achieve one specific goal can stimulate the implementation of other sustainable goals. Further, this research shows how project managers from a developed country had to adapt to the specifics of the developing country context and how their sustainability project influenced the well-being of local communities by improving environmental and social sustainability. Research limitations/implications The research suggests that challenges in stakeholder interaction may arise because of differences in process management methods used by the international stakeholders involved in the project and country-context specifics, such as corruption, imperfect national regulations, cultural specifics, effects of climate change, etc. Originality/value The paper contributes to the literature on international multi-stakeholder interaction between actors from developed and developing countries. Furthermore, it adds to the literature on stakeholder networking by highlighting the importance of engaging in a dialogue with local communities during the conceptualisation stages of both sustainability and SDG implementation because of diverging worldviews and practices.

Working toward the sustainable development goals in earnest – critical international business perspectives on designing and implementing better interventions

“…In contrast, Dziubaniuk et al (2022) demonstrate the challenges of cross-border multi-stakeholder interactions associated with the implementation of a water supply and sanitation project in Nepal by a Finnish consulting firm. However, the contributions of this study go beyond linking these management challenges to SDG outcomes.…”

“…For example, our search yielded four articles related to SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation. Two out of the four were published in CPoIB (Birke and Bohm, 2006; Dziubaniuk et al , 2022), one in MBR (Darendeli et al , 2021) and one in JIBP (Pisani et al , 2019). Although the distribution of articles connected to individual SDGs varies across journals, Table 1 clearly demonstrates that there is valuable capacity in younger and lower ranked journals.…”

Análise De Narrativas E as Discussões Sobre Sustentabilidade Nas Organizações: Uma Meta-Síntese

“…A discussão sobre sustentabilidade, neste caso, parte do pressuposto que cultura, relações de poder, nível de conhecimento e experiências passadas, tendem a impactar mais do que os aspectos estruturais. As autoras apontam que países desenvolvidos tendem a se preocupar mais com os aspectos sociais, políticos e tecnológicos da sustentabilidade e países em desenvolvimento tendem a priorizar questões econômicas (Dziubaniuk, Ivanova-Gongne & Berdysheva, 2021).…”

“…Alguns exemplos: a resistência dos moradores do Nepal com as organizações que buscam lidar com a sustentabilidade de maneira semelhante em países desenvolvidos e em desenvolvimento (Dziubaniuk, Ivanova-Gongne & Berdysheva, 2021); e moradores locais que apoiam as ações da organização do setor de psicultura, mesmo que essas gerem danos, enquanto outros são contra (Morrison & Lowe, 2021). As tentativas de mudança promovidas por alguns, e a resistências de outros, provocam um estado de tensão no ambiente organizacional (Lai, Melloni & Stacchezzini, 2018).…”

“…Ainda que o desenvolvimento das organizações aconteça simultaneamente ao desenvolvimento do sistema capitalista e, mesmo diante de concordâncias com a postura teórico-críticas do autor, os problemas referentes a sustentabilidade enfrentados no contexto organizacional não são passíveis de generalização, ou seja, vão além das contradições com o ambiente externo, como no caso do sistema econômico. As mudanças de contextos enfrentadas pelo setor em que a organização atua, os indivíduos que a compõem, seus respectivos valores, interesses, cultura e consequentemente como eles constroem essa realidade, exercem grande influência na percepção sobre o tema (Dziubaniuk, Ivanova-Gongne & Berdysheva, 2021;Fong, Wong & Hong, 2020).…”