All projects have stakeholders. If they didn't, the project wouldn't exist. As a minimum, the project sponsor is a stakeholder who is expecting to receive the project's deliverables. Usually there are expectations to receive them at a certain time, cost, quality level, or other criteria as well. The project manager must know who the stakeholders are and actively … [Read more...]
What, Exactly, is a Project Stakeholder?
In 2005, when Airbus was in the development phase of the A380 Superjumbo, they announced a delay in the delivery of the first jet due to internal software issues. One year later, another delivery delay was announced. This time, however, several executives lost their jobs as the share price tumbled 26%. Could the delay have been avoided? Maybe, but this demonstrates … [Read more...]
What is a Project Sponsor?
The project sponsor is a very important part of the project management organizational chart. In fact, every project has a sponsor. The project sponsor is one, and only one, level above the project manager. They do not manage the day to day operations of the project but they ensure the resources are in place, promote the project, and hold overall responsibility for the … [Read more...]
Project Management Plan – The 12 Core Components
Projects don't manage themselves. Professional project management requires the development of a plan that outlines how it will be managed. According to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (section 4.2), the project management plan fulfills this purpose. Although it includes any and all items that define the management of the project, there are certain … [Read more...]
How to Use a RACI Chart to Simplify Responsibilities
A RACI Chart (pronounced "racy") is a visual representation of the responsibilities of a project. RACI stands for Responsible - Accountable - Consulted - Informed. It is an excellent way to communicate what the responsibilities of each member of the project team are. In a RACI chart, each project task is assigned to each project member within the project … [Read more...]
Project Management Tools of the Trade
Carpenters have hammers, plumbers have wrenches, and programmers have computers. But does a project manager have any tools which help them perform their work better, quicker, or cheaper? Absolutely! In fact, if you don't use these tools you will be at a serious disadvantage to other project managers. And if you do, your career will see an order of … [Read more...]
The 3 Essential Parts of Stakeholder Communication
Projects are like trains rolling down the tracks - Once they are put in motion and then they are hard to stop. Stakeholder communication is one of the project manager's most important jobs because the stakeholders define the success of a project. The stakeholders must be identified, actively managed, and communicated with to ensure their buy-in to the final … [Read more...]
The PMBOK’s Monitor Stakeholder Engagement Process
Monitor Stakeholder Engagement is the 4th out of four processes within the Project Stakeholder Management knowledge area within the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). It occurs within the Monitoring & Controlling process group. The inputs, tools & techniques, and outputs are as follows: Monitor Stakeholder Engagement is the process … [Read more...]
How to Develop a Stakeholder Engagement Plan
A Stakeholder Engagement Plan is a formal strategy to communicate with project stakeholders to achieve their support for the project. It specifies the frequency and type of communications, media, contact persons, and locations of communication events. It is created at the beginning of the project and updated frequently as stakeholder communication needs … [Read more...]
Guide to Stakeholder Engagement
All projects have stakeholders. Like any area of life, no projects exist inside of a bubble. Although some come close, every project must have a project sponsor (as a minimum) who created the project and expects some sort of deliverables. But most projects have so many stakeholders that they must maintain a list in order to manage them all properly. In … [Read more...]