Improving stakeholder engagement in petrochemical projects during Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia.

Abstract

The world has been living with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for more than two years and it has altered humanity in numerous ways, by the implementation of lockdowns, border closures, other movements, and social restrictions. The pandemic has also led to the deferral or termination of all events including sports, religion gathering, political elections, and social events. Industries, in particular oil and gas, entail to react within a short span of time to productively manage the stakeholders. As workforces began to work from home, business meetings, discussions, and engagements were swapped by video calls, and businesses around the globe began their contingency planning. The stakeholder management becomes critical when there is no standard procedure available under the circumstances, thus this paper aims to propose procedures on improving the stakeholder management in petrochemical projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper assesses the impacts of the pandemic on stakeholder engagement in petrochemicals projects, examines current coping strategies in different projects, and recommends several practical actions to promote and maintain meaningful exchange with stakeholders in times of social distancing and lockdowns. The outcome of the paper enlists various improvement levers for a petrochemical company to adapt to ensure project stakeholders are satisfied and well-informed.