Communication and information strategy for Brownfield redevelopment

Stakeholders communication and information management are key elements for successful Brownfield redevelopment. Still, the effects of these matters often are underestimated by private and public developers. Conflicting opinions between these stakeholders put a serious threat on the smooth process in the early stage of Brownfield redevelopments and easily lead to stagnation. For that reason the authors focus to the most important factors of stakeholders’ communication and information management based on the outcomes of exploratory case studies concerning communication between governmental and private parties involved in Brownfield redevelopments. It will be explained how governmental parties handle and should handle communication and information management for interaction with private, mostly market oriented stake- and shareholders in order to become more effective and how this support the decision-making process. The main stakeholders usually have different, even opposite opinions, different power and interests, based on individual visions and values. In particular, this needs special care in the early stages of redevelopment when a governmental party as main actor has to approach various stakeholders for their support, informing them adequate and communicate effectively. Bad communication and information management will negatively influence future partnerships and ultimately slow down decision making. Effective communication and information management will influence this force field positively and increase collective concerns and interests. A well thought-out information- and communication strategy using a website will answer such matters according to experts in the field. Such collaboration technology supported strategy might ensure a smooth decision making process avoiding stagnations and lowering resistances. For that reason effective communication and information strategies that are embodied in the structure design of an interactive website are discussed.