Project Stakeholder Identification with Map


Step 2: Analyze Your Project Stakeholders

The more you know about your project stakeholders, the easier it is to figure out a way to get their support and cooperation. Follow this proven process to gain a clear understanding of your key stakeholders.

What to Do:

  1. Narrow down your list of project stakeholders to the key players you want to analyze further. Consider including:

    • high-impact stakeholders who are potential (or known) resisters ... and who might derail your project

    • high-impact stakeholders whose attitude you don’t know ... and who might blindside you

    • stakeholders who are potential (or known) supporters (particularly those who are high-impact, but others also) ... these people can help you bring other stakeholders along

  2. Use the worksheet shown in Tool 10-3 (page 86) to analyze each of your key stakeholders. An explanation of the worksheet items follows. You may want to refer to other chapters in this pocket guide for help on some of the items.

Worksheet: Project Stakeholder Analysis

Tool 10-3.

start example

click to expand

end example

Explanation of Worksheet Items

What I need from this stakeholder: Resources, information, permission, time, refraining from sabotage, active support, etc.

Stakeholders’ interests: Tangible and intangible interests, and how they may differ from the person’s stated position. (See Chapter 11 for more on interests and positions.)

How stakeholder may benefit: What the person might perceive as potential gain from project outcome/activities, or interests that could be satisfied.

How stakeholder may be hurt/inconvenienced: What the person might perceive as a potential loss or unpleasant result from the project outcome or activities ... or interests that could be imperiled.

Probable response from stakeholder: Whether you think the person will be supportive, resistant, or neutral, and what you think he/she might actually do. Base your guess on what you know about reasons for resistance (see Chapter 16) and this particular person’s situation.

Size of gap for this stakeholder: The gap between this person’s probable response and what you need. This helps you prioritize stakeholders so that you spend your time as effectively as possible.

Key influence “levers”: Key items that will help you influence this person, such as any of his/her interests that your project helps fulfill, shared values that will help smooth the way, etc.

Stakeholder’s communications needs: The person’s preferred way of communicating (see Chapter 12 for more on this).

Details/history of conflict with stakeholder: Any past (or anticipated) conflicts with this person, his/her conflict style, disruptive behavior he/she has exhibited, any areas where your project may conflict with this person’s goal or organizational role.

Other relevant info about this stakeholder: Anything else you know about the person that might be helpful, including who his/her allies are, and whether you have a relationship with any of them. (Tip: Check to see if any of your supporters are allies of those who are resisting; they might be able to help.)

A Useful Add-on to Your Project Stakeholder Analysis

Now that you know a little more about your key stakeholders, it can be useful to return to your initial list and create a visual map of the key people. A map can help you see at a glance the status of your stakeholders: whether they are in support of your project or not, and how much of an impact they might have on the project (or it on them). You can update the map as you gain more information and as you are successful in turning people from resisters into supporters.




Rath & Strong's Six Sigma Team Pocket Guide
Rath & Strongs Six Sigma Team Pocket Guide
ISBN: 0071417567
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 65
Authors: Rath & Strong

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