Hi - Being a key to project management, are there good templates that some of you use for good stakeholder management and being able to effectively track the pulse of the stakeholders.
I have tried using an Excel and later mapping the stakeholders based on their Interest and Power; but these are things that change dynamically and either needs constant update or some history to undertsand how a particular stakeholder behaves. Any thoughts or suggestions? Saving Changes...
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Jeff DahlProject Leader| Edward JonesMaryland Heights, Mo, United States
In my past projects I have never found one single tool that helps manage stakeholders for the very reason you stated. What I have found to be the best management tool is to be in constant contact with the key stakeholders.
To help establish this relationship I do the following steps in the beginning of every project.
1). Meet with the business owner and discuss who he/she feels are key to the success of the effort
2). Meet individually with each key stakeholder to discuss how the project impacts them, and ask if they would know if there are other stakeholders, key or not, that I need to meet with.
3). Complete the individual stakeholder meetings making sure to capture any questions and concerns as well as high level requirements.
4). Complie the results of these meetings and sit back down with the project's business owner to go over next steps including how to handle the kick off meeting.
What I have found is the individual meetings go a long way in building a level of trust between myself and each stakeholder.
Taking the time to let them talk on an one on one basis without having any underlying politics come into play I find is a critical first step in building the stakeholder team, and I have found while this up front work takes alot of time it will help you in the long run when you need their support on a key decision.
Jeff Saving Changes...
Elizabeth HarrinDirector| RebelsGuideToPM.comLondon, England, United Kingdom
I've not used it myself, but I have come across the Stakeholder Circle recently, as a tool to manage stakeholder engagement. You can read more about it here: http://www.stakeholder-management.com/.
I also have a book coming out this year which covers keeping in regular contact with stakeholders. It's called Customer-Centric Project Management and you can read more about it on the publisher's website. I can't tell you too much about the idea now, so it's not much help to you, but I'll be writing more about the ideas in the book nearer the time it is due to come out. Saving Changes...
Taralyn Frasqueri-MolinaSenior Project Manager| Independent ContractorPasadena, Ca, United States
If you can't find a tool, make one up!
That's what I do a lot with PM templates, methodologies etc. Nothing is ever 100% what I'm looking for, so with an idea of what I want clearly formed, I look around for bits and pieces of what could work and then fill in the blanks with stuff I make up :)
Kinda like digging around in a scrap yard for spare parts. Lots of little things make up exactly the whole you are looking for, with maybe a little improvising thrown in.
That's what I do... improvise :) Saving Changes...
Ismail MuhammadPlanning Engineer| Olayan DesconJubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia
I have been using excel and word for communication and reporting with stakeholders. It is really good idea to develop templates for PM processes as per the enterprise environmental factors. Standardization of templates is of little use in my opinion because it would not address the specific culture of the organization Saving Changes...
Wai Mun KooPMO Director| Intergraph PP&MSingapore, Singapore
I have seen people using CRM tool for this purpose where they treat the stakeholders as their customers and manage their networked relationships, 'power' of influence (instead of purchase) and 'interest' level. In fact, the industry is slowly evolving from just managing customer relationship to managing the relationships of the organization with all the stakeholders including customers, suppliers, authorities, agents and distributors etc. Saving Changes...
