{"id":2484,"date":"2016-06-20T19:15:01","date_gmt":"2016-06-21T00:15:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/?p=2484"},"modified":"2016-06-17T19:36:04","modified_gmt":"2016-06-18T00:36:04","slug":"are-your-stakeholders-supportive-of-your-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/are-your-stakeholders-supportive-of-your-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Your Stakeholders Supportive of Your Project?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Listen_to_your_stakeholders_Shimer_College_2\"Yesterday, a Project Management Best Practice was shared regarding stakeholders, whom are important to any project\u2019s success.<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0Do your stakeholders know why your project exists?<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>article (published on CIO.com),\u00a0you need to conduct a kickoff meeting, distribute the statement of work, conduct regular meetings, and produce summary reports.<\/p>\n

I absolutely agree with the author Brad Egeland! However, I would ask, \u201cNow that your stakeholders know why your project exists, are they supportive?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

I can remember being a team member on my first Operational Excellence (OpEx) project. After three months, the OpEx team just prioritized the solutions to be implemented and the project lead was submitting the proposed solutions for funding and legal approvals. Well, legal halted the project because of adherence to multiple states\u2019 compliance and regulatory rules and needed time to review all 50 states\u2019 laws prior to implementing any changes.\u00a0The legal and compliance review process delayed the project by three months before approvals were obtained.<\/p>\n

What Is Stakeholder Analysis, and How Does It Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Stakeholder analysis in conflict resolution and project management, is the process of identifying individuals or groups that are likely to affect or be affected by a proposed action, and sorting them according to their impact on the action and the impact the action will have on them.<\/p>\n

The stakeholder analysis tool documents the current and required sentiments of those interested in the outcome of a project.<\/p>\n

The stakeholder analysis confirms management or stakeholder acceptance and prioritization of project and team efforts.<\/p>\n

A stakeholder analysis helps to eliminate low priority projects and ensures management support and compatibility with business goals.<\/p>\n

A stakeholder analysis is used when initiating a project that will likely affect individuals or groups, preferably at the kickoff meeting.<\/p>\n

To Produce a Stakeholder Analysis, Follow These 9\u00a0Steps:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. List the organizations and\/or people that have a clear stake in the success of the project.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Determine the level of influence (high, medium or low) the person and or groups have in the organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Select the minimum required support from your stakeholders.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Select the current support from your stakeholders.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Identify how the stakeholders are related to the project.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Document any helpful information.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Identify the stakeholders\u2019 preferred mode of communication.<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Create an action plan to close the support gaps and to utilize the stakeholders with large influence.<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Communicate support levels.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The Support Definitions Are Listed as Follows:<\/strong><\/p>\n