The Creation of Sustainable Infrastructure: A qualitative study of internal stakeholders cooperation and understanding of sustainable infrastructure on an operational level in the case of project Västlänken.

Abstract: This qualitative case study has been compiled by semi-structured interviews with management of internal stakeholders (Trafikverket, Västtrafik, NCC) at project Västlänken about their understanding and perception of how to create sustainable infrastructure and collaborate with one and other. The thesis begins with a background on the CSR (corporate social sustainability) directive and the SDG 9 (sustainable development goal), followed by an overview of the project Västlänken. This thesis uses the theoretical framework of the TBL (triple bottom line) in the sustainable development theory as to how they consider each pillar of sustainability and an analysis of their sustainability efforts through the legitimacy theory is made. Using a thematic analysis when presenting the results, this study shows how the internal stakeholders collaborate among each other. The ones planning and coordinating the whole project (Trafikverket, Västtrafik, Göteborgs Stad) handle the potential conflicts and disagreements well. However, the collaboration among the ones who carry out the construction (Trafikverket, NCC) has its challenges. There is some conflict embedded between Trafikverket and NCC which has led to somewhat of a strain on the progress of the project as the communication of requirements form the Trafikverket is not sufficient. Further, the study finds that the respondents have the same objective of sustainable infrastructure in general but a slight difference in priority of the pillars can be seen based on the mission of the stakeholder. The lacking communication between NCC and Trafikverket does have an impact on the progress of the project and therefore on the sustainability of it.