Socioeconomic study is a procedure that ensures that the likely positive and negative impact of a new project on the socioeconomic life of a community is taken into account. It has become a crucial part of sustainable development process. The understanding of socioeconomic study procedures is an increasing necessity for all those involved in the process. Similarly, proper knowledge of the function of socioeconomic study during the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process is of paramount importance for the mitigation of the likely effects of the new development. Furthermore, as the world is gradually growing into a global village, it has become increasingly imperative that organizations integrate the people in their operations' areas in the overall objective of their businesses. Community engagement (CE) is a partnership process that can be used to assess and manage the problem affecting the well-being of a community because of a new development. This research work used the SWOT matrix technique to develop a management framework that companies can use to manage their weaknesses and threats because of inadequate community engagement strategy. To achieve this, the work evaluated the extent to which socioeconomic study is integrated into the EIA processes. It also assessed the extent to which oil companies are using community engagement as a development strategy. The findings of this dissertation revealed that oil explorations in the Niger Delta area have affected the well-being of the people both positively and negatively. Unfortunately, their negative impact outweighed their positive impact. Although they carry out socioeconomic studies, they have been neglecting the recommendations reported in the socioeconomic study document by experts. The level of community engagements therefore has also been very poor. SWOT matrix technique was used to develop the management framework for each company based on the perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the companies as revealed in this research. This should serve as a guide for the companies in their CE strategies. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Socioeconomic study is a procedure that ensures that the likely positive and negative impact of a new project on the socioeconomic life of a community is taken into account. It has become a crucial part of sustainable development process. The understanding of socioeconomic study procedures is an increasing necessity for all those involved in the process. Similarly, proper knowledge of the function of socioeconomic study during the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process is of paramount importance for the mitigation of the likely effects of the new development. Furthermore, as the world is gradually growing into a global village, it has become increasingly imperative that organizations integrate the people in their operations' areas in the overall objective of their businesses. Community engagement (CE) is a partnership process that can be used to assess and manage the problem affecting the well-being of a community because of a new development. This research work used the SWOT matrix technique to develop a management framework that companies can use to manage their weaknesses and threats because of inadequate community engagement strategy. To achieve this, the work evaluated the extent to which socioeconomic study is integrated into the EIA processes. It also assessed the extent to which oil companies are using community engagement as a development strategy. The findings of this dissertation revealed that oil explorations in the Niger Delta area have affected the well-being of the people both positively and negatively. Unfortunately, their negative impact outweighed their positive impact. Although they carry out socioeconomic studies, they have been neglecting the recommendations reported in the socioeconomic study document by experts. The level of community engagements therefore has also been very poor. SWOT matrix technique was used to develop the management framework for each company based on the perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the companies as revealed in this research. This should serve as a guide for the companies in their CE strategies. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.