| After more than 15 years success in delivering | | | | - Increased workload during project execution |
| large business transformation and IT projects I | | | | Knowing how your project is going to effect |
| have found that effective stakeholder | | | | various stakeholders increases your ability to |
| management is the single most important factor | | | | influence and persuade them to support your |
| in ensuring successful delivery. | | | | delivery. |
| When it comes to your own project, ask yourself | | | | By identifying your biggest advocates and |
| the following questions. How is my project going | | | | supporters and who is actively working to |
| to effect various stakeholders and stakeholder | | | | undermine your delivery, you are able to seek |
| groups? Who are my biggest advocates and | | | | more effective assistance and also focus on and |
| supporters and who is actively working to | | | | address potential issues early in the project |
| undermine my delivery? Do my stakeholders | | | | life-cycle. |
| understand the benefits of the project and their | | | | 3. Effective communication |
| role in helping to deliver those benefits? | | | | Communicating effectively means that your |
| 1. Know your stakeholders - complete a | | | | stakeholders clearly understand the message you |
| stakeholder inventory: | | | | are attempting to convey, whether it be in |
| Often, influential stakeholders may not initially be | | | | written form, phone conferences or presentations. |
| obvious and it is important to leverage expert | | | | By now, hopefully you have identified all of the |
| judgement to help you identify all of the relevant | | | | important people who might influence your |
| parties within and external to the organisation. | | | | project and categorised them by their level of |
| Review project documentation and interview | | | | engagement and support. Do these individuals |
| team members and other key stakeholders to | | | | understand the benefits of the project and their |
| assist you in compiling a comprehensive list of all | | | | role in helping to deliver those benefits? |
| the individuals and groups who are impacted by | | | | The next step is to ensure you engage and |
| and can impact your project. | | | | communicate with each stakeholder effectively. |
| Whilst every project and organisation is different, | | | | Whilst sounding deceptively simple, this is where |
| consider some of the following as possible | | | | you can have the most impact on your project's |
| stakeholders for your project; | | | | success. |
| - The business line management and staff | | | | To achieve this, consider the following factors: |
| impacted by your delivery | | | | - Do your stakeholders understand the |
| - Other departments who may provide or receive | | | | terminology you are using? |
| services impacted by the project | | | | - Do you understand what your stakeholders |
| - Support areas including human resources, finance | | | | want and need to know? |
| and information technology | | | | - What new information about the project do you |
| - Vendors - of products, services, software and | | | | want to get across? |
| electronic and computer equipment | | | | - What old information is redundant and can be |
| - The company's clients! | | | | left out or summarised? |
| 2. Stakeholder influences - complete an | | | | - What is your objective for this communication |
| engagement matrix: | | | | and how do you intend to achieve it? |
| For each stakeholder (or group) rate them on the | | | | - Are you selecting the right communication |
| basis of how positively or negatively they will | | | | medium? |
| impact the project. | | | | In order to maximise the value of your |
| Consider factors including how the project will | | | | communication, avoid the use of jargon and use |
| impact individuals and groups, previous | | | | the information you have gathered in your |
| experiences which may influence perceptions and | | | | stakeholder analysis to identify the "hot topics" |
| the political environment within the organisation | | | | that you should focus on for a specific individual |
| and departments concerned. | | | | or group. Use a range of different channels, such |
| I use a simple scoring system to identify | | | | as email, status reports and group presentations |
| stakeholders who are extremely supportive, | | | | to deliver your message and ask for feedback to |
| through to those stakeholders who are | | | | determine how effective your communication is |
| significantly resistant. | | | | and which formats work best for specific |
| Stakeholders may resist projects, both actively | | | | individuals and groups. |
| and passively, for many reasons, including: | | | | Effective stakeholder management is the single |
| - Fear of change | | | | most important factor in ensuring successful |
| - Previous bad experiences | | | | delivery and using these simple and effective |
| - Perceived loss of control | | | | techniques will help you to achieve exceptional |
| - Job reassignment or potential redundancy | | | | project management outcomes. |