An optimization model for managing stakeholder conflicts in urban redevelopment projects in China

The rapid urbanization process in China has given rise to a number of sustainability issues, including land shortages, concentrated areas of poverty, inefficient land use, and environmental pollution. Urban redevelopment has been identified as an effective method for addressing these issues and establishing new modes of sustainable urban development. In practice, urban redevelopment projects typically involve a range of stakeholders with competing claims. Managing the conflicting interests of these stakeholders presents a significant challenge to the success of urban redevelopment. In this study, we proposed a model for analyzing stakeholder conflicts in urban redevelopment projects based on the stakeholder salience theory and Pawlak's conflict theory. In this model, the attributes, key concerns, and attitudes of different stakeholders are captured by empirical investigation and salience analysis. Stakeholder conflicts are then quantified using Pawlak's conflict theory with consideration of stakeholder specifics. Finally, an action scheme is generated that mitigates stakeholder conflicts and maximizes project benefits. To evaluate its effectiveness, we applied this model to a real redevelopment project in the Wenzhou Ecological Park. The results indicate that this model can be used to balance the interests of stakeholders and reduce stakeholder conflicts in urban redevelopment projects in China. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.