Cheikh FAYE Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Expert, CEO and owner| Eurêka TechnologiesDakar, Senegal
As a project manager how to deal with project when there is a major conflict between the sponsor and the main stakeholders. Is there any intermediary facilitator or some kind of techniques we can use to save the situation? Saving Changes...
Mahalmadane TouréEngineer| National Headquarters of Geology and Mines of Mali (Bamako)Mali
I think the best way to resolve a problem is to find out exactly what is the real matter first. So you must find out the preoccupation of both sides by talking to them separately. After that you can manage to find out a solution that satisfied them. Saving Changes...
First do Power/Interest grid analysis Identify who is your key stakeholder, Don't forget that your project sponsor is also a stakeholder, second work on your communication plan management, meet more frequently with each one and then prepare agenda and have meeting with all of them to discuss the alignment of the project with company's strategy and use conflict management to resolve the issues after you identify them find common ground where both parties can agree upon. Make them aware of the risk impact if they don't collaborate or if they may cause a closure of the project. Saving Changes...
As usual, it depends on the context of the conflict and the impacts to the project resulting from it.
If you believe that you can successfully act as a facilitator to work through the conflict without being perceived as having a bias towards either the sponsor or some other key stakeholder, you could do so. For example, if the conflict is not about the project's outcomes but rather about how those outcomes will be achieved (e.g. solution, resources, costs), you might be able to use a problem-solving/confront approach to work through the issue. On the other hand, if key stakeholders are against the project, you have a more fundamental challenge which might require re-evaluating the rationale for the project itself.
Like I said "it depends"!
Kiron
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1 reply by Cheikh FAYE
Dec 18, 2018 6:43 AM
Cheikh FAYE
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Hi Kiron "it depends", personally, I have always believed that as a project manager, I must intervene anytime the project is at risk never mind the nature of the risk and the parties involved in that risk.
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Ir you are talking about the project environment in specific then I sorry but the project manager is accountable for that. As you know you have to create a project team from a project group. A team is a group with a common objective. With that on mind you have to work on it. Something helped me a lot, no matter I am not a seller, is using Solution Selling or SPIN Selling method to work with stakeholders. Saving Changes...
The project manager is not responsible for conflicts between the sponsor and stakeholders. They are responsible for the project. A facilitator, influential senior manager, HR etc. can be utilized to reduce/resolve friction between these parties.
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1 reply by Cheikh FAYE
Jan 10, 2018 6:02 AM
Cheikh FAYE
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Hi Sante, according to you this influential senior manager must be designated upfront and all parties must agree he is the facilitator for the project?
it is a general and wide question. It is hard to say. You may need to apply different conflict resolution approaches and tools.
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1 reply by Cheikh FAYE
Aug 20, 2018 6:20 AM
Cheikh FAYE
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Thank you so much Yousefi for sharing!!!
Saving Changes...
Azam Dayyan Project Controls Professional | Professional Engineering Ontario Ontario, Canada
Project management and conflict ( opinion)
I think first we should see why this conflict exist, if sponsor and main stakeholders had conflict before involvment in this project obviously one of them had stayed away of it .second : which one financially are supporting project and had more influence?
Third - what is type of conflict? Is it ethical, finantial , managerical,....
Depends of every situation we can take different approach .The most important is how this situation created specificly after they are part of the project . Saving Changes...
Cheikh FAYE Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Expert, CEO and owner| Eurêka TechnologiesDakar, Senegal
Jan 09, 2018 5:52 PM
Replying to Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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The project manager is not responsible for conflicts between the sponsor and stakeholders. They are responsible for the project. A facilitator, influential senior manager, HR etc. can be utilized to reduce/resolve friction between these parties.
Hi Sante, according to you this influential senior manager must be designated upfront and all parties must agree he is the facilitator for the project?
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1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Jan 10, 2018 6:40 AM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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Hi Cheikh, normally the sponsor is the influential party that is the go-to person when issues arise out of the control of the project manager. So when a conflict is between the sponsor and key stakeholders, if he/she (the sponsor) can't fix the conflict, then a facilitator or other senior person needs to step in. They don't need to be designated upfront, as they should already exist within the organization. Depending on the size of the company, this could be a very influential person, a Board member, or even the CEO. My main point is that the PM is not responsible for resolving issues between the sponsor and key stakeholders. They are however responsible for project related conflict between non-sponsor stakeholders.
Hi Sante, according to you this influential senior manager must be designated upfront and all parties must agree he is the facilitator for the project?
Hi Cheikh, normally the sponsor is the influential party that is the go-to person when issues arise out of the control of the project manager. So when a conflict is between the sponsor and key stakeholders, if he/she (the sponsor) can't fix the conflict, then a facilitator or other senior person needs to step in. They don't need to be designated upfront, as they should already exist within the organization. Depending on the size of the company, this could be a very influential person, a Board member, or even the CEO. My main point is that the PM is not responsible for resolving issues between the sponsor and key stakeholders. They are however responsible for project related conflict between non-sponsor stakeholders. Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Cheik,
first be clear about your own position: as a PM your first loyalty is to the sponsor, he signed the charter and authorized you to implement the project. He should be aware about the impact of this conflict on his project, you should analyse and show him.
Second, now your leadership and influencing capabilities become key. What kind of power and political influence do you have on sponsor and on the key stakeholders? It determines if you are even the right person to facilitate. For conflicts it is important to remove negative emotions on both sides before trying to argue about the problem.
Third, this is a typical problem for a PM, you will learn a lot. Try to maintain your integrity.
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1 reply by Cheikh FAYE
Jan 21, 2018 10:15 AM
Cheikh FAYE
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Great answer Thomas, full loyalty to the sponsor after removing negative emotions on both sides.
"A statesman is an easy man, he tells his lies by rote. A journalist invents his lies and rams them down your throat. So stay at home and drink your beer and let the neighbors vote!"
