While studies in project management increasingly recognize the need for effective external stakeholder management, there is a paucity of investigations that apply analytical methods. Drawing on the fields of project management, stakeholder engagement and social acceptance, we propose Q methodology as a powerful tool for proactive risk mitigation in project management. In our case study of a shale gas drilling pilot project in the Netherlands, we carried out Q methodology research to arrive at stakeholders' perspectives. The results illuminate the perspectives of stakeholders in large-scale projects riddled by uncertainty. We argue that Q methodology is a significant and innovative risk management strategy for large-scale technological projects.