Stakeholder Value Network: modelling key relationships for advancing towards high quality bus transit systems

Abstract

Most urban transport projects are complex as they involve different areas of knowledge and have to accommodate conflicting interests of many stakeholders. Despite existing good practices in public transportation, many cities in Brazil and around the world are not able to hold these improvements due to strong direct and indirect pressures from key stakeholders. The lack of trust among stakeholders has been stronger than the trust between them. Understanding the relationships between stakeholder and evaluating the critical paths is key to facilitating the implementation of improvements. This paper develops a qualitative and quantitative model that represents the stakeholders network involved in the planning, operation and monitoring of bus transit as well as determine key stakeholders and critical paths for decision making. To demonstrate the application of the model, we performed a case study in Porto Alegre. We have identified 13 key stakeholders directly and indirectly involved in the process. Through Stakeholder Value Network methodology, it was possible to qualify and quantify 59 value flows between stakeholders who can influence the implementation of improvements in public transport system. The main search results provide useful information to facilitate the implementation of improvements and thus qualifies the services provided to the population.