AN Assessment of effectiveness of communication within energy infrastructure projects

Effective communication is an important factor in project success and a lack thereof may even result in project failure, with a negative resultant effect on strategic organizational goals. The key objective of this research was to assess the effectiveness of internal communication during the development of energy infrastructure projects at a national electricity utility's transmission section, specifically to understand the communication gaps that exist and how best to address them. In this case study, existing project communications processes were measured against the key requirements for effective communication and project stakeholder management in a project environment. The results of the study assisted in the identification of critical gaps in the communication process and form the basis of recommendation for provision of a standardized framework to improve the effectiveness of project communications and elements of stakeholder identification, prioritization and engagement in the transmission projects department of a national electricity utility.