The Art of Drinking Coffee: A deep dive into the relationship between stakeholders and development time of housing projects in the Netherlands
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2025-12-15
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en
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This thesis examines how stakeholder participation influences the development time of housing projects in the Netherlands. Rising housing demand and new legal requirements under the Environment and Planning Act have increased pressure to organise participation effectively, yet its impact on project timelines remains contested. Using a qualitative case study approach, the research compares two contrasting projects: a privately led development with a relatively short timeline and a municipally led project marked by appeals and delay. Semi structured interviews and document analysis are used to examine how participation quality, governance structures, and project complexity interact.
The findings show that participation does not automatically accelerate or slow development. Its effect depends on governance arrangements and how dialogue is managed. Informal, trust based engagement helps align expectations and prevent escalation, while procedural or symbolic participation often leaves concerns unresolved and increases the likelihood of legal appeals. Governance structure moderates this relationship: facilitative arrangements with clear prioritisation enable timely follow up, whereas complex municipal roles weaken responsiveness.
The study refines existing theory by showing how participation, governance, and complexity jointly shape development time. It concludes that effective participation relies on clear roles, continuity, and informal dialogue, captured metaphorically as the art of drinking coffee.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen