Project Management Strategy to Get Project Expansion Using Value-Focused Thinking and Analytical Hierarcy Process (Case Study: PT PLN Nusantara Power Construction)

PLN Nusantara Power Construction (PLN NPC) is a second-tier company of PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero) and is under the auspices of PT PLN Nusantara Power. Currently, PLN NPC has been trusted to participate in a global project, namely ECRL (East Coast Rail Link) in Malaysia, which is also the first global project for PLN NPC. ECRL (East Cost Rail Link) is an electrified double-track railroad project being built by the Malaysian government under the auspices of Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd. The project has been under construction since 2019, and it runs from Malaysia’s eastern tip (Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang) to its western tip (Selangor, Putrajaya), with a railroad length of +665 kilometers.

The EPCC project, which is being carried out by PLN NPC at ECRL Malaysia, includes numerous areas such as the development of electricity power infrastructure, the procurement of labor engineers, procurement and construction. This project was implemented successfully. However, by the beginning of 2025, PLN NPC saw an opportunity to add and expand the Malaysia ECRL project. Given this possibility, PLN NPC must take strategic movement to capitalize on it and expand the project.

The author’s analysis through interviews and brainstorming with experts and further analysis using Value Focused Thinking (VFT) shows that there are five alternative strategies that PLN NPC can implement to obtain project expansion in the ECRL project: (1) Enhance Company Assets in Technology, (2) Networking with Global Companies, (3) Increase Contracts with Subcontractors, (4) Engage & Communicate with Stakeholders, (5) Monitoring Stakeholder Movement. The next methodological approach to determine which alternative strategy is appropriate for PLN NPC is the use of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), which indicates that Networking with Global Companies is the appropriate alternative strategy for PLN NPC to achieve the objectives of the ECRL project, namely project expansion.