Impact of community on construction projects: Lessons from South Africa

External stakeholders, such as local community members and local businesses, play a crucial role in the success of construction projects by providing services and amenities to construction professionals and project teams. This helps to improve the working conditions and overall well-being of the workers, which can lead to increased productivity and project completion to time, cost, and specified quality requirements. Additionally, local businesses can provide a source of income for the community and stimulate economic growth in the area. The community's engagement and involvement in the planning and execution of construction projects can lead to less opposition, fewer delays, more creative solutions, and greater economic benefits. However, external stakeholders can also have negative impacts on construction sites, such as disrupting work activities, thereby causing delay and financial losses. This chapter explores the impact of the actions of external stakeholders (the local community and businesses) on construction project sites. The study examines the roles of these external stakeholders, and strategies for managing their impact on construction project activities. The study further identifies the factors influencing the impact of local labour and businesses, and the approaches to managing the impact. Finally, the study proposes a framework for the effective management of community stakeholders on construction projects. The study concluded and recommended that construction professionals should develop and implement a stakeholder management plan, including a community engagement process, to identify and prioritize stakeholders, assess their level of influence, interest, and power, and communicate effectively with them, to support activities on the construction project site and ensure the safety of the workers.