| Abstract [eng] |
This master's thesis analyses stakeholder management in European Union projects based on inter-municipal cooperation. The growing number and complexity of inter-municipal EU projects requires the effective involvement and coordination of different institutions, organisations and other stakeholders, making this a relevant topic. Although stakeholder management is recognised as one of the most important factors for project success, systematic knowledge of the management practices, challenges and coordination measures used in inter-municipal projects is still lacking. This study aims to analyse stakeholder management in inter-municipal cooperation projects, identifying the processes involved and how they are applied at different stages of the project life cycle. The study revealed that, in EU projects based on inter-municipal cooperation, stakeholder management and inter-municipal partnerships are closely related processes. The research emphasises that modern inter-municipal projects are characterised by a large number of stakeholders and diverse interests; therefore, their management requires not only formal administrative decisions, but also practices based on cooperation, trust and networking. While the literature understands stakeholders as active project partners who significantly influence decision-making throughout the project life cycle, the greater complexity of these processes and the need for consistent communication and clear role distribution are emphasised in the context of inter-municipal cooperation. An analysis of the project 'Creation of a unique digital cemetery database for the municipalities of Mažeikiai and Telšiai, including the opening of the database and the digitisation of public funeral services and data management processes' revealed that the project has a clearly defined institutional partnership structure and an institutionalised distribution of responsibilities and roles among partners. However, insufficiently developed operational stakeholder management mechanisms also became apparent. Empirical data showed that practical stakeholder management was primarily based on mixed formal and informal cooperation, enabling a flexible response to changing project needs and emerging challenges. However, this type of management revealed uncertainty in the communication structure, a lack of risk and quality management mechanisms, insufficient formalisation of roles and problems with knowledge transfer in the context of employee turnover. Based on the study's results, the proposed recommendations aim to create greater transparency in project management, higher management maturity, and more sustainable inter-municipal cooperation results. |
