The following article is part of the self-preparation for the modern BVOP® Certified Project Manager program.
This chapter explains the concept of Program stakeholder management in the context of BVOP.
- What is Program stakeholder management?
- Who are the stakeholders?
- Identifying stakeholders
- Analyzing stakeholders
- Stakeholders engagement
What is Program stakeholder management?
Program stakeholder management usually involves identifying and analyzing stakeholders and looking for positive engagement with stakeholders. Simply put, important program stakeholders need to be identified and their various levels of engagement, commitment, influence, and interest identified. A collection with all relevant stakeholders is often created and their indicators mentioned above are described.
Who are the stakeholders?
Stakeholders are called all participants in a project or program. These can be investors, directors, the board of directors, external organizations, sponsors, lending banks, consultants, developers, project managers, team leaders, etc.
All of the listed groups of participants have different influences and interests in the project. Their activity, energy, and commitment to work often vary.
Each stakeholder has communication requirements and demands different professional qualities and a form of communication and administration. The satisfaction of these different needs can simply be called Stakeholders engagement.
About this chapter
This chapter is part of the BVOP Project and Program Management Certification program guide.
Stakeholders are considered to be individuals, a group of individuals, and all other internal and external parties of the organization that may influence the program or be influenced by its realization positively or negatively.
Stakeholders generally expect a positive result from the program, its projects, or parts of the projects.
They may provide valuable input for the program and projects at the early stages or during the program realization.
Stakeholders may be the primary source of defining program and projects' scope and requirements.
Stakeholders can be investors or their representatives, other external parties, clients, partners, authorities, internal organizational members.
Program stakeholders management may include:
- Identifying stakeholders
- Analyzing stakeholders
- Stakeholders engagement
Identifying stakeholders
Identifying stakeholders may include collecting stakeholders' names, contacts, information, and predicting the influence they might have on a program.
Analyzing stakeholders
Analyzing stakeholders may include understanding their needs, expectations, interests, competency, and concerns.
The BVOP suggests that the validity of the stakeholders' input during stakeholder engagement should be analyzed. The information they provide may not be valid to the organizational, business, or market needs. Program, project, and product management roles are responsible for validating stakeholders' input.
Stakeholders may have different interest levels towards a program, project or initiative. Their willingness for collaboration may also vary.
Unmanaged and dissatisfied stakeholders or such with low interest may be considered as a major risk for disturbing the program or projects' success.
Stakeholders engagement
Stakeholders engagement is important for the program and project realizations, and it may relate to:
- Establishing trust between stakeholders and program and project management
- Establishing and maintaining transparency about information, risk, and outcomes
- Persuading them to provide accurate, adequate and timely information as well as assistance
- Communicating the right information
- Consulting or interviewing
- Presenting information and projects outcomes
- Negotiations
The following issues related to chapter "Program stakeholder management" are included in the certification exam. The sequence of questions is presented in the table.
The data is current as of September 7, 2024, 8:42 pm
| ID | Issue | Time | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Analyzing stakeholders | 60 sec | PGM, PM |
| 1 | Stakeholders engagement | 60 sec | PGM, PM |
| 2 | What is Program stakeholder management? | 60 sec | PGM, PM |
| 3 | Who are the stakeholders? | 60 sec | PGM, PM |
| 4 | Identifying stakeholders | 60 sec | PGM, PM |
Comments from the BVOP™ community on “Program stakeholder management”
Amanda Gonzalez
Program stakeholders management is the most difficult activity in the context of project and program management practices. Knowledge of multiple management practices, principles, methodologies, and rules does not always help.
It's work with people, and people are unpredictable. They have emotions, they keep secrets. They do not always share their thoughts and always expect much more than what they say. The results do not satisfy them and they express their displeasure.
Stakeholders management practices require additional attention and incorporation of people, staff and business individuals communication principles.
Cultural differences have an impact. The job position is also very important. Sometimes people abuse others.
Stakeholders can be different parties involved in a project or an entire program in one way or another.
At the program level, stakeholders will most often mean top management, partner organizations, clients, investors. From time to time, you will need consultations and discussions with team leaders.
I can advise readers of The BVOP Ultimate Guide, when they get their certificate and start participating in real projects and programs, to keep in mind that stakeholders management will be a difficult task and they will be very disappointed at the beginning. You may need training in communication practices, emotional intelligence, and listening skills. These are quite different from the management sphere in general, but you will benefit from these new useful skills.
Summary
Program stakeholder management involves identifying and analyzing stakeholders for positive engagement. Stakeholders include investors, directors, sponsors, consultants, project managers, and team leaders. Each stakeholder has different interests and communication requirements. Stakeholder engagement is important for meeting these needs.
Stakeholders are individuals or groups internal or external to an organization who can positively or negatively influence a program. They expect positive results and can provide valuable input for the program. Stakeholders can be investors, clients, partners, authorities, or internal members. Managing program stakeholders involves identifying and analyzing them, as well as engaging with them. This includes collecting their names, contacts, and information to predict their influence.
To analyze stakeholders, you need to understand their needs, expectations, interests, competency, and concerns. The BVOP recommends validating stakeholder input during engagement as it may not be relevant to the organization's needs. Program, project, and product management roles must validate this input. Stakeholders may have varying levels of interest and willingness to collaborate. Unmanaged or dissatisfied stakeholders with low interest pose a significant risk to the program or project's success.
Engaging stakeholders is crucial for successful program and project implementation. This involves building trust, maintaining transparency, obtaining accurate information, and effective communication through consultation, presentation, and negotiation.
- Previous article Program risk management
To deal with your stakeholders, you need to express your determination and you need to be convincing. Show respect, rigor, adequacy, as much professionalism as possible. Improvize. Otherwise, they will not take you seriously. If your stakeholders are not fully involved in the project, you are doomed to failure. And you are responsible for the failure.
I want to advise readers and beginners in the project management profession to be careful when initializing communication and stakeholder relations, as initial relationships can be crucial for a constructive extension of the partnership. The point made above is that the building of trust with stakeholders is an integral part of the responsibilities not only of program managers but also of project managers. It is commendable that you put this topic first.
@Anna Haruto I totally agree with you. Wouldn't it be easier and safer if just beginners in the field did not have direct contact with stakeholders.