While creating your stakeholder management plan, you need to decide your strategy about presenting different stuff to different stakeholders. Some really like the process, some like the final output, some just want to have updates...When you meet your stakeholders share the updates accordingly.
Chose the are they like and ask their feedback. It should work. Saving Changes...
1) Identify what is their interest (positive or negative)
2) Identify where is the current status of the stakeholder , ie, support, neutral or strong believer on you project
3) Identify where do you need them to support, neutral or strong believer on you project
4) Plan to change achieve the step 3 Saving Changes...
Michael AdamsSolutions Architect| LANLLos Alamos, Nm, United States
Hi Gina,
Personal face to face communication can't be overstated in this case. It could be one on one if the number of stakeholders isn't too large, but it could be a town hall style meeting if there are many.
Have them work through a SWOT analysis with you, or ask what their biggest concern is and then engage them in how it might be solved, including what resources would be needed, etc... Saving Changes...
Ganesh SrinivasanGanesh PMO (PMP, PMI-SP, ITIL-F)| MNC BankChennai, India
Very nice question, For me Stakholder is managed well through the RACIV spreadsheet. I look forward any other template to manage.
Thank you.
Ganesh Saving Changes...
saurabh mahajanPMP, ITIL, PRINCE2| vodafonePune, Maharashtra, India
Managing stakeholders is really a tough job.
To manage them effectively, I personally feel that you should real built a relation with them by having weekly/monthly/quarterly calls or meeting. This should be a place they can raise their voice. A follow meeting/call to address their need is also good to give them feeling of importance. Also, have them involved in key decision making makes them even feel good and feel part of the project success.
The best part I always thought to keep them involved was taking feedbacks, surveys, improvement notes from them. This way I got a chance to know them more, their level of involvment, their influence on the project Saving Changes...
arlene trimbleAssistant IT Director| Local GovernmentAlamo, Ca, United States
You can engage stakeholders in a variety of ways.
1. If you are rolling out some system enhancements, your stakeholders can be usability testers or they can be members of the pilot testing team.
2. You can also create a poll to ask for suggestions to improve the system or product to your stakeholder community.
3. You can also create a user group and ask for volunteers from your stakeholder community. They can represent the field users experience. Saving Changes...
Gina AbudiPresident| Abudi Consulting LLCAmherst, Nh, United States
Thanks for thoughts everyone! I'm always looking for a variety of ways to engage stakeholders. I have a number of clients that enable for being a bit more creative. As one example, I have used posters in the hallways and cafeterias (employee only areas) to share upcoming news. I completely agree that building relationships is absolutely essential - without them it is impossible to have good conversations and engage others (especially when you have to sell them on the project). And a variety of methods overall to engage stakeholders is certainly necessary in order to reach people in ways that works for them. Saving Changes...
Priya PatraDelivery Director| Capgemini India Technology Services LtdMumbai, India
Hi Gina,
First of all we need to identify the right stakeholders. We follow the TOGAF principle of stakeholder management. Categorize the stakeholders in Power and level of interest grid and focus on those which fall in the High- High category.
Techniques to engage stakeholders revolve around 2 principles
1. Get their buy in
2. Keep them involved, either by testing, reviews etc.
Identify key stakeholders and their interest in the project.
Work with them closely to identify their project needs and objectives
Have them involved in the decision-making process Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
things that worked for me:
1. try to have each lunch with a stakeholder, not alone (idea from Tom Peters)
2. if you have a larger team, assign stakeholders to key teammembers and ask them to approach them at least once a week, go with them to lunch and try to build a trusted relationship
3. use your stakeholder register to track key events for each stakeholder (mine was 150 entries): whom did you send a XMAS card, who was invited when for a teamsession, from whom did you get which feedback ..... Saving Changes...
