Answer to Question #239187 in Management for ngwane

Question

The CEO of Indra has been reiterating the importance of stakeholder engagement to you. As the appointed project manager of the Oslo project, identify the ten key principles of stakeholder engagement and critically discuss how you would have applied these principles to the Oslo project. 

Answer 1

The ten key principles of stakeholder engagement that I will apply to the Oslo project includes;

1 . Understanding

Prior to attempting to engage and influence stakeholders, it is critical to get an understanding of the individuals with whom you will be interacting and depending throughout the project's lifetime. While sharing information with stakeholders is critical, it is just as critical to first collect knowledge about them. Stakeholder mapping is one method that may assist with this. How to accomplish this is detailed in my Stakeholder Mapping Guide.

2 Communication

Numerous studies have been conducted to determine why initiatives fail, with 'poor communication' often cited as the primary cause. Inefficient or inadequate communication is at the heart of project issues across all industries and sizes, including unclear goals, misunderstood problems, poorly coordinated collaboration, and ineffective risk management.

 

3 Consult, early and often

Anyone who has worked on a project when this was not done effectively should understand the benefits of early and efficient stakeholder engagement. If you've ever thought to yourself, 'I wish I'd known that at the outset of the project,' consider how even a few well-timed inquiries may be very beneficial.

 

4 They are human too

Accept that humans do not always behave in a rational, reasonable, consistent or predictable way and operate with an awareness of human feelings and potential personal agendas. By understanding the root cause of stakeholder behavior, you can assess if there is a better way to work together to maintain a productive relationship.

 

5 Planning

A more deliberate and methodical approach to stakeholder involvement is necessary and should be promoted. Prior to engaging stakeholders, proper preparation may provide substantial advantages. What kind of frequent gatherings are beneficial? They are organized in what way? Are meetings conducted in a formal manner with minutes kept, or are they conducted in a casual manner? This is the essence of stakeholder management.

 

6 Relationships with stakeholders

Relationship development results in an increase in trust. And when trust exists, people work more readily and efficiently together. Investing time and effort in finding and developing stakeholder connections may help boost confidence throughout the project environment, reduce uncertainty, and accelerate issue resolution and decision-making.

 

 

7 managing risk in the Organisation

Stakeholders are important influential resources and should be treated as potential sources of risk and opportunity within the project. Over and above conventional planning, using foresight to anticipate hazards, and taking simple and timely actions with stakeholders can significantly improve project delivery. See "<span style="color: windowtext;">Risk Management Is Project Management for Adults</span>" for more insights.

 

8 Compromising the Project

The first stage is to create a common ground for divergent expectations and objectives among stakeholders. Determine the relative significance of each stakeholder in order to create a weighted hierarchy of project needs and results. After prioritizing stakeholders in order of significance, their conflicting interests may be balanced, with the optimal compromise option serving as the 'center of gravity.' As the project's leader, it is up to you to choose what this solution should be, with the reasoning and conclusion being conveyed to all stakeholders as necessary.

9 Understand what success is to the company

Project success means different things to different people and you need to establish what your stakeholders perceive as a success for them in the context of project delivery. See "<span style="color: windowtext;">The Project Success Model</span>" for more insights.

 

10 responsibilities as the manager

Stakeholder involvement is not the responsibility of a single project team member. It is everyone's duty to understand their position and to take the appropriate approach to communication and participation. Effective project teams are crystal clear on stakeholder involvement roles and duties, as well as what is expected of project participants. For more information, see "Taking and Assuming Responsibility as a Project Sponsor.