Objective

In  this  critical  case  analysis,  you  will  employ  academic  literature  to  examine  the  stakeholder communication strategy and community engagement aspects of a specific mega-project in the field of road infrastructure in NSW.

•    The primary objective of this analysis is  to  utilise theoretical concepts to conduct a critical evaluation  of  how  project  teams  involved  in   complex  projects   interact  with  the  local community and the public.

The  chosen  case  study  will  serve  as  the  foundation  for  conducting  a  comprehensive  analysis  of communication management with stakeholders, local communities, and the public in mega-projects. Your analysis should include the identification of best practices and areas that require improvement in future projects.

Task

Critically analyse theWestern Sydney Airport Community and Stakeholder Engagement Plan.

•    Identify the plan’s key attributes, strengths, and areas of improvement.

•    You are expected to enrich your analysis  by including evidence of executing (or otherwise) of planned activities.

Your primary research will involve exploring the project's website and other formal communication channels. You  are  expected  to  augment  your  research  with  existing  literature,  such  as  published scholarly articles, electronic news, and media channels (e.g., Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph, 9News, SBS News, ABC News, etc.), as well as organisational and community e-newsletters and websites related to the selected project.

Project Background

Construction of Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport(WSI) is underway and on track to  begin operations  in  2026. The airport  is a transformational  infrastructure  project that will generate  economic  activity,  provide  employment  opportunities  closer  to  home  for  people  in  the Western Sydney  region,  and  meet  Sydney's  growing  aviation  needs.  The  Australian  Government  is investing  in  WSI  and  has  established  a  Commonwealth  company,  the Western  Sydney  Airport Corporation  (WSA  Co),  to  deliver  the   airport  by  2026.  (Australian  Government,  Department  of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication, Sport and the Arts. Western Sydney Airport. Retrieved August 23, 2025 fromhttps://www.westernsydneyairport.gov.au/)

Delivery and Submission

•    Your assignment should have a structured format as outlined in the next section.

•    Submit your completed assignment through Turnitin. The due date for submission is Week 7 - 21 September 2025.

•    Length: 2000 words (+/- 10%), excluding executive summary, references, and appendices.

•    Submission: MS Word document (.doc, .docx) or PDF, Turnitin on Canvas

o In the header: Include the title of the case study

o In the footer: Include your name, SID and page numbers.

o Filename: PMGT5872_CaseStudy_[student lastname]_[student firstname]_[SID]

Report Structure

1.    Executive Summary (250-300 words not in word count)

2.    Introduction and case description (400-500 words)

•    Introduce your report and briefly describe the project and the communication strategy.

3.    Communication Strategy Analysis (600-800 words)

•    Provide a comprehensive critical analysis of the communication strategy and

stakeholder engagement, highlighting its key attributes, strengths, and areas of improvement.

•    Include evidence of any executed (or otherwise) activities that were planned.

4.   Academic Concepts and Observations (300-400 words)

•    Examine the communication strategy against academic concepts and communication models.

5.    Recommendations and Conclusion (400-500 words)

•    Provide your recommendations regarding best practices than can be replicated in similar projects, and areas of improvements for future projects.

6.    References/Appendix (not in word count)

Use of AI

While the use of AI is permitted, you are expected to validate and critically evaluate all AI output. If you are using AI, make sure you follow the following guidelines to avoid losing marks:

•    All output you include from AI should be clearly identified and referenced.

•    Include an appendix showing the prompts you used and the AI output.

•    Include your own annotations of the AI output to show your validation and critical evaluation of the output. The appendix is not included in the word count.

Useful Tips

•    Referencing Style: Please ensure consistent use of APA referencing style for citing sources and creating a bibliography.

•    Clarity and Conciseness: Ensure your writing is clear, concise, and well-organised.

•    Proofreading: Proofread your assignment for grammatical and typographical errors.

•    Revision: We strongly encourage you not to leave the assignment until the last minute. Instead, create  a  gap  between  your  initial  completion  and  the  final  revision,  allowing  for  a  fresh perspective before submitting your work.

•    Plagiarism: Make sure to properly attribute and cite all sources to avoid plagiarism. This includes figures and tables if they are used from existing materials. Properly referencing visual aids is essential  to   maintain  academic  integrity.   Please  note  that   media  sources  and  academic references must be clearly stated and referenced.

•    Importance of Originality: Employing original thought in the assignment is crucial.