Imagine you are in a workshop with stakeholders who are disengaged and unclear about what is expected of them because their managers did not communicate the expectations and what's in the project for them (stakeholders) effectively. You have a limited amount of time to elicit requirements. How would you proceed?
As usual, it depends on many things such as how long is the workshop, how long is the time allotted for requirements gathering, what is your relationship with their managers and so on.
It sounds like a kickoff meeting involving these stakeholders was not held as that should have been the event at which common understanding of expectations was achieved.
Here are just a couple of options:
1. Halt the workshop and request the managers to come and give their staff a quick walkthrough the expectations and resume thereafter.
2. Invite your sponsor to come and do the same.
3. You pause the workshop and communication those expectations to them.
Proceeding without shared understanding is not a safe option - things get more chaotic over time if there isn't shared understanding to begin with.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Simple: I make my work before the workshop to understand all the stakeholders. It is a big mistake to go to a workshop in the state you are writing about. This is a big mistake. Just to put that in PMI´s "framework" the business analyst is accountable for this type of things. Just in case you need it you will find related documentation on business analysis guide. Saving Changes...
Project & PMO Manager | Research & Enterprise Mentor| GFB HoldingSouth America, Brazil
In situations where stakeholders are disengaged due to unclear expectations, and time is limited, a strategic approach is key. Begin by mapping stakeholders based on their attitude towards the project—positive or against—and classify them by their influence level, either strong or weak. This helps identify which individuals could significantly impact the project’s success. For those with strong influence, engage in brief, focused discussions to understand their perspectives and motivations, which can help convert skeptics into allies by addressing their specific needs and demonstrating the project's benefits.
With the constraints of time and resources, prioritize stakeholders using a metric that considers their influence level, the potential impact of their support or opposition, and the immediacy of their concerns. By focusing on stakeholders with strong influence, the team can align them with project goals, maximizing the chances of successful requirements elicitation. Saving Changes...
Product Operations Program ManagerBarcelona, Cataluña, Spain
It seems that the project was kicked off before explaining the project's why. It is essential to tackle the WIIFM (What's In It For Me) during project initiation and involve the line managers and project sponsor accordingly. Saving Changes...
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