Identification and evaluation of key stakeholders in mega construction projects: social network analysis and multi-criteria decision-making

Purpose Mega construction projects (MCPs) typically involve numerous stakeholders, necessitating effective management and coordination of these stakeholders. In recent years, the issue of stakeholder management in MCPs has garnered significant attention. However, existing studies often lack an integrated analytical approach that combines both stakeholder identification and evaluation in practical applications. Design/methodology/approach This study proposes an analytical framework that integrates Social Network Analysis (SNA) with Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods to identify and evaluate key stakeholders in MCPs. First, a stakeholder network model is constructed using SNA, and the structural metrics of each node are calculated. Next, the Entropy Weight Method (EWM) is introduced to determine the objective weights of the indicators, minimizing subjective bias. Finally, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is employed to perform a comprehensive evaluation and ranking of stakeholders. Findings To verify the feasibility and applicability of the proposed approach, a case study of a practical MCP was conducted. The results indicate that the structurally central stakeholders identified through the model closely align with those recognized as influential in project management practice, thereby validating the practical effectiveness of the proposed method. Originality/value This study presents a comprehensive framework for the identification and evaluation of key stakeholders, enhancing transparency and reproducibility by incorporating objective indicator weighting. Furthermore, the proposed framework serves as a practical tool for project managers to analyze and interpret complex stakeholder relationships, thereby facilitating informed decision-making.