Qualitative Stakeholder Analysis for a Swedish Regional Biogas Development: A Thematic Network Approach

Abstract

The creation of pathways toward a societal transition to clean energy requires the engagement of multiple stakeholders with different and sometimes conflicting interests. In this connection, stakeholder analysis (SA) offers a technique for identifying, assessing and structuring different needs, interests and concerns related to different stakeholders within the context of sustainability. This article aims to present the findings from a qualitative stakeholder analysis (QSA) by using a thematic network approach (TNA), with the help of the ATLAS.ti software. It focuses on Project X, which was aimed at engaging multiple stakeholders and creating favorable conditions for small and medium-sized companies in a region situated in the central part of Sweden, with the potential to start biogas production. In this work, the findings and discussions of the QSA using TNA are structured by using the political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal (PESTEL) themes of the model. The present study concludes that for the small-scale biogas industry to successfully develop an understanding of the possibilities of the biogas value chain, it is necessary to have analyzed the nature of the main themes by which various stakeholders relate to biogas production and envision their contribution to creating a sustainable society. Herein, we demonstrate that QSA by a TNA, combined with the application of a PESTEL model, are valuable analytical tools in sustainable project management. The lessons from Project X can be applied to other local biogas initiatives, as many identified threats and opportunities are shared by others.

Strategic Thinking and Its Role in Accelerating the Transition from the Linear to the Circular Economic Model—Case Study of the Agri-Food Sector in the Sibiu Depression Microregion, Romania

“…The research methodology used is recommended by the utility proven in numerous similar studies, such as: analysis of the area for new businesses in the raw materials market [40]; circular economy strategies, implementation, and integration [41]; qualitative analysis of stakeholders for a regional biogas development [42]; an integrated swot-pestelahp sustainability assessment model [43]; etc.…”

Exploring macro-environmental factors influencing adoption of result-based and collective agri-environmental measures: a PESTLE approach based on stakeholder statements

“…This strategic planning tool is regularly used to analyse exter-nal macro-environmental factors that may impact an organisation or industry (Gupta, 2013). It is often used in marketing as well as for strategic business decisions (Theobald 2019), however, also in other fields the PES-TLE tool (or its previous model PEST) is gaining importance (Achinas et al, 2019;Gupta, 2013;Rambaree et al, 2021). "PESTLE" represents the initial letters of the six factor categories considered, namely Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental factors.…”

Using a Phosphorus Flow Diagram as a Boundary Object to Inform Stakeholder Engagement

“…In this opinion, we describe how we used a P flow diagram as a boundary object [32] to identify stakeholders associated with key P flows that can be used to inform future engagement efforts involving US stakeholders. Our approach is grounded in related social-scientific methodologies, such as stakeholder mapping [33,34] and social network analysis [35,36], but applied in a novel way, by drawing on an approach typically employed by scientists and engineers: a mass (or substance) flow diagram. We argue that this approach may have wider applications to help researchers identify and engage diverse stakeholders for other mass flows, especially in cross-disciplinary or convergence research contexts.…”