Project management is more than a collection of methods and techniques. Bringing a project to completion also means cooperating efficiently with the stakeholders of a project, from customers to users and executives. With that in mind, today we tell you everything you need to know about how project managers can promote and improve stakeholder cooperation.
Communication
One of the most important aspects of the cooperation between project managers and stakeholders is communication.
A project manager should be a clear communicator able to define the project goals and objectives explicitly.
Keeping stakeholders informed throughout the project lifecycle to ensure their continued interest and commitment.
Every stakeholder must be aware of the project scope, timelines, and deliverables. A regular project update, progress report, status report, and other communication tools should be used for keeping stakeholders in the loop.
Stakeholder Engagement
Active engagement plays a critical role in securing the commitment and cooperation of stakeholders.
Project managers should involve all stakeholders in all project stages (or at least in the most relevant) including planning, design, testing, and deployment.
Actively involving stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle helps to build consensus and agreement and smoothens potential conflicts, so be sure to provide the necessary tools, training, and resources to foster collaboration.
Stakeholder Analysis
Stakeholder analysis is a powerful tool to identify and categorize different stakeholder groups based on their interests and influence.
As a project manager, you should be able to identify the major stakeholders, their interests, concerns, and level of influence in the project.
Understanding stakeholders’ needs and motivations are two critical steps towards ensuring their continued commitment to the project.
Conflict Resolution
In an ideal world, disagreements would be brief and easily resolved. However, stakeholder cooperation is almost always coupled with potential conflicts that need to be resolved.
That’s why part of your project manager toolkit should include conflict-resolution skills and techniques.
Conflict management involves identifying potential conflicts and resolving them in a manner that aligns with project goals.
As you tackle conflicts, remember that project managers should be neutral and unbiased in their conflict resolution role. An open-door policy must be adopted to allow stakeholders to reach out to the project manager in the event of a conflict.
Wrapping It Up
Project management success is highly dependent on stakeholder cooperation.
Through effective communication, active stakeholder engagement, stakeholder analysis, AND conflict resolution, project managers can obtain stakeholder cooperation and ensure project success.
About Darnell Technical
Darnell Technical Services is an engineering design firm with extensive experience in a vast array of projects. Our headquarters are located in Santa Ana, California, and we have an office in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Contact us today by telephone (714-285-0082 (CA), 702-945-2899 (NV)) or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to learn more about all the technical instruments and materials we put at your disposal.