Exploring the characteristics of steering committee members
A Q-methodological study
R.W.P. van den Berg (TU Delft - Civil Engineering & Geosciences)
M.G.C. Bosch-Rekveldt – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Integral Design & Management)
J. Stoppels – Mentor (TU Delft - Integral Design & Management)
Leonie Koops – Mentor (TU Delft - Design & Construction Management)
R. Kappert – Mentor (KWD Resultaatmanagement)
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Abstract
Project complexity has increased and effective governance has become crucial. Steering committees (SCs) are governance bodies that guide and support a project, and their composition influences success. Yet it remains unclear which characteristics enable a functioning SC and whether these depend on the project context.
This study asks: which characteristics must SC members have to achieve an effective steering committee, and which contingencies shape these requirements? To address this question, the Q-method was used. A literature review yielded a list of skills and competencies tied to SC tasks and behaviors. The resulting Q-set was presented to 14 project managers and 11 SC members, who ranked the importance of each characteristic for a successful SC and explained their judgments. A face-to-face interview captured context and definitions of a functioning SC. The analysis revealed four perspectives on the attributes of SC members. Perspective 1 emphasizes genuine interest and effective communication, aligning with a project-champion role. Perspective 2 argues for PM empowerment and governance focus. Perspective 3 highlights strategic management capabilities, while Perspective 4 positions the SC member as project sponsor. Findings indicate that required characteristics depend on the interaction between the member’s role and organization.
Contextual factors such as organization size, project stage, and the relationship to the project and permanent organizations shape the distribution of responsibilities and the emphasis on strategic versus monitoring skills. Expert validation and literature comparison corroborate these contingencies. The study suggests future work with alternative P- or Q-sets and broader SC composition to test generalizability of four perspectives.