Stakeholder Management

Stakeholder management enables project managers, not only to manage the project but also to manage the things that influence the project.

What is stakeholder management?

Stakeholder management is an important aspect of project management for PMP, PMBOK, and PMI certification. It helps project managers effectively manage relationships with stakeholders throughout the project life cycle. Stakeholder management can help ensure that all stakeholders are happy with the outcome of the project, which in turn builds trust and helps maintain good relations between the team and those affected by the project. Creating a stakeholder management plan is part of this process, as well as using software such as ProjectManager to help manage stakeholder relationships. With practice, it is possible to master this 'project management knowledge area' for the successful completion of projects.

What are the key elements of effective stakeholder management?

1. Identifying stakeholders and closely monitoring their activities

It is important to identify stakeholders and closely monitor their activities in order to ensure the success of a project. Stakeholders can affect the outcome of a project, so understanding their interests and power level is essential for successful stakeholder management. Identifying stakeholders by power and interest level and managing them accordingly will help ensure that each stakeholder's needs are taken into account, leading to better overall project outcomes.

2. Prioritizing stakeholders

It is important to prioritize stakeholders in order to ensure that the most critical stakeholders receive the appropriate attention and resources. Prioritizing stakeholders helps product teams identify who needs to be involved in decisions, how they should be engaged, and what their interests are. This allows teams to effectively manage expectations and create a communication strategy that will guide them through the project process. It also ensures that everyone is aware of the decisions being made so that no one feels left out or excluded from the decision-making process.

3. Meeting stakeholders one-on-one

Meeting stakeholders one-on-one is an effective stakeholder management strategy because it takes the pressure off and allows for clearer and calmer conversations than when meeting with other stakeholders in the room. It also prevents negative opinions from influencing others on the project, as they are not present to share their views. Additionally, it gives stakeholders an opportunity to feel more comfortable by having a private conversation without judgement or criticism. Asking open-ended questions about their opinions and how they feel the project is progressing can help ensure that all stakeholders are heard and understood before any decisions are made.

4. Balancing workload

It is important to balance workload when managing stakeholders in order to ensure that all parties are properly represented and that everyone's needs are being met. When workloads are not balanced, there can be a disparity between what one stakeholder requires and what another receives, leading to feelings of inequality or unfairness. Additionally, an unbalanced workload can lead to burnout on the part of team members who have taken on too much work and may not be able to complete the tasks assigned in a timely manner. Balancing workload is an important tool for stakeholder management as it helps foster cooperation among team members and leads to improved efficiency throughout the entire project scope.

5. Making a schedule

It is important to make a schedule when managing stakeholders because it helps ensure that everyone involved in the project is aware of their responsibilities and has realistic expectations for the timeline. A schedule also serves as a visual representation of the tasks needed to be completed, allowing all stakeholders to track progress, identify areas that need improvement, and provide feedback. Additionally, having a schedule can help mitigate potential conflicts by providing clarity on roles and expectations from the outset. Ultimately, creating a comprehensive schedule is essential for successful stakeholder management in PMP, PMBOK and PMI frameworks.

6. Assigning work

It is important to assign work in an effective stakeholder management system to ensure that everyone involved in the project is informed of updates and developments. By assigning tasks and responsibilities clearly, stakeholders can have a clear understanding of who is responsible for what, which results in smoother project management. By keeping stakeholders informed of the progress being made, any potential issues can be addressed quickly before they become problematic. Additionally, a well-structured stakeholder management system helps create greater levels of trust between all parties involved and better ensure deadlines are met when expectations are set properly from the beginning.

7. Setting and managing expectations

It is important to manage expectations when working with stakeholders in order to ensure that all parties have a clear understanding of the roles, responsibilities, and goals of the project. When expectations are properly set and communicated, stakeholders can focus on their individual roles and help the project move forward more efficiently. Additionally, effective stakeholder management allows for a better understanding of the needs and objectives of each stakeholder involved, resulting in greater collaboration throughout all stages of the project. By taking into account these considerations through thoughtful stakeholder management practices included in PMP (Project Management Professional), PMBOK (Project Management Body Of Knowledge), and PMI (Project Management Institute) frameworks, projects can be successfully managed with fewer surprises or delays during implementation.

8. Building better relationships

Good relationships with stakeholders are important for a number of reasons, including building trust and facilitating quick problem solving. Stakeholders need to feel that their input is taken into account and that they are appreciated in order to trust the project, which is why building good relationships is essential.

9. Understanding success

Effective stakeholder management involves understanding the needs, expectations, and motivations of stakeholders, building strong relationships with them from the beginning of a project, and working to gain their trust. It is important to identify which stakeholders have power or influence over the project's success and prioritize communication with those groups. Additionally, stakeholder management should include actively listening to feedback from stakeholders so that their concerns are addressed in an effective manner. Finally, managing expectations is also an important aspect of effective stakeholder management by setting realistic goals while also striving for excellence.

10. Taking responsibility

Taking responsibility is an important element of effective stakeholder management as it involves understanding and responding to the needs and objectives of stakeholders. By doing so, organizations can ensure that their decisions align with their values, meet the expectations of stakeholders, and keep them informed about progress. Additionally, taking responsibility allows for issues to be resolved quickly and efficiently in order to maintain relationships with stakeholders.

11. Communicating effectively

Effective communication is an important part of stakeholder management, as it is a key factor in developing and maintaining relationships with stakeholders. Communication enables all parties to understand the situation, agree on a course of action, and build trust. Additionally, effective communication can help avoid making assumptions or taking things at face value. It also allows for triangulation by reaching out to multiple sources of information in order to get a fuller picture of the situation before decisions are made or requests issued. Ultimately, communication should be viewed as an ongoing process which does not end once tasks have been completed but instead continues throughout the life of the project.

12. Consulting early and often

Consulting with stakeholders early and often is important in effective stakeholder management because it helps to build rapport, set expectations for the project, identify needs, understand concerns, and find a way to work together harmoniously. By consulting with stakeholders throughout the project and at key points where their input is needed, expectations can be managed and trust can be built. This ultimately leads to more successful outcomes for all involved parties.

13. Determining motivation

When managing stakeholders, it is important to determine their motivation in order to ensure effective stakeholder management. Knowing the motivation of stakeholders helps inform organizations on how best to manage them according to their needs and objectives. This can help maximize the positive impact that these stakeholders have on the project, while minimizing any potential conflicts or challenges they may pose.

14. Creating a stakeholder management plan

It is important to have a stakeholder management plan in order to ensure that everyone who will be affected by a company's decisions has a voice. A stakeholder management plan helps identify the key stakeholders and their needs, so that win-win solutions can be developed that meet everyone's requirements. It also outlines the strategies for engaging stakeholders throughout the project life cycle, provides guidance on who needs to be consulted and what communication methods are most effective, as well as specifying who is accountable for what activities. Having a stakeholder management plan allows progress to be tracked, reported and disseminated in an orderly manner.

15. Making a power interest grid

A power interest grid is a tool used to segment stakeholders into categories based on their level of power and interest in a project. It divides stakeholders into three groups: high power, low power, and less interested people. This approach helps to manage stakeholders more effectively by focusing communication efforts on those with the highest levels of power and/or interest in the project. The goal is to keep the less interested people informed without over-communicating with the more interested parties. Low-power, less interested individuals should be monitored for any potential issues or problems that may arise.

16. Identifying and managing risks

Risks associated with stakeholder management include potential conflicts of interest between stakeholders, out-of-date or inadequate stakeholder information, and failure to adequately engage stakeholders. Poorly managed stakeholder management can also lead to a lack of ownership and accountability for project outcomes. In order to mitigate these risks, effective communication should be established among all stakeholders and activities that could potentially jeopardize human rights or be unacceptable to stakeholders should be avoided. Additionally, relationships between stakeholders should be cultivated in order to ensure the goal of the project is achieved without any risk posed by the different parties involved.

17. Making compromises

It is important to be able to make compromises when managing stakeholders because without compromising, conflict may arise and limit communication channels. Compromises allow both sides to find common ground, enabling more effective working relationships and preventing lost working days. Developing a sense of tact is essential in order to help manage stakeholders effectively while allowing all parties involved come away feeling heard and respected.

See Also

• Project Management