Learn how to develop and maintain a senior stakeholder management plan that aligns their needs and expectations with your project objectives and deliverables.

In my experience this step is one of the most important. Begin your journey with the end in mind which should include a dashboard of measures that your senior stakeholders can use. In my DEI work with companies I ensure we tie our work to the organizational strategy via the dashboard of key performance indicators. My senior stakeholders love it!

How do you develop and maintain a senior stakeholder management plan and keep it updated and relevant?

Senior stakeholders are key influencers and decision-makers who can affect the success of your project, program, or initiative. They have high expectations, diverse interests, and complex relationships. Managing them effectively requires a strategic and systematic approach that aligns their needs and expectations with your objectives and deliverables. In this article, you will learn how to develop and maintain a senior stakeholder management plan and keep it updated and relevant throughout the project lifecycle.

Key takeaways from this article

Create a stakeholder dashboard:

A dashboard with key performance indicators (KPIs) tailored to senior stakeholders provides a clear snapshot of progress, aligning the initiative with organizational strategy and keeping interest high.
Involve stakeholders in governance:

Transition from planning to active engagement by giving senior stakeholders governance roles. Their continuous feedback and sign-offs ensure they're invested in and satisfied with the project's direction and outcomes.

This summary is powered by AI and these experts

1 Identify and analyze senior stakeholders

The first step in developing a senior stakeholder management plan is to identify who are the senior stakeholders for your project, program, or initiative. You can use various sources of information, such as organizational charts, project documents, stakeholder registers, or interviews, to create a comprehensive list of potential senior stakeholders. Then, you need to analyze their level of interest, influence, power, expectations, and preferences. You can use tools such as stakeholder maps, matrices, or profiles to categorize and prioritize your senior stakeholders based on their impact and importance for your project.

Add your perspective

Dr. Sherry Abd. Dale RFRA, CIFP, BCO, CADIF, PMP, DBA, MBA

Investment & Retirement Planning - Wealth Management - HNWIs & Small Businesses & Holding Co| Insurance | Mentoring & Training Top LinkedIn Community Voice for Leadership | Business Analysis | Risk & Project Management
Report contribution
One thing I’ve found helpful as a PM to develop a senior stakeholders management plan is to prioritize the stakeholders using tools such as stakeholder analysis matrix to map out their interests, needs, influence and power and RACI matrix to assign roles. In addition, PMs need to cater for the needs, preferences and expectations of the key stakeholders.

Like

2 Define and communicate objectives and benefits

The next step in developing a senior stakeholder management plan is to define and communicate the objectives and benefits of your project, program, or initiative to your senior stakeholders. You need to articulate the value proposition and the expected outcomes of your project in a clear and concise way that resonates with their interests and goals. You can use techniques such as elevator pitches, business cases, or value statements to convey the benefits and the rationale of your project to your senior stakeholders. You also need to establish the scope, timeline, budget, and risks of your project and how they affect your senior stakeholders.

Add your perspective

3 Engage and involve senior stakeholders

The third step in developing a senior stakeholder management plan is to engage and involve your senior stakeholders in your project, program, or initiative. You need to create opportunities for dialogue, feedback, collaboration, and decision-making with your senior stakeholders. You can use methods such as meetings, workshops, surveys, or focus groups to consult, inform, or empower your senior stakeholders. You also need to tailor your communication style, frequency, and channel to suit their preferences and expectations. You can use tools such as communication plans, stakeholder engagement plans, or RACI matrices to define the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of your senior stakeholders.

Add your perspective

4 Monitor and manage senior stakeholder expectations

The fourth step in developing a senior stakeholder management plan is to monitor and manage the expectations of your senior stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle. You need to track the changes in their needs, interests, and opinions and how they affect your project objectives and deliverables. You can use techniques such as surveys, feedback forms, or performance indicators to measure the satisfaction and perception of your senior stakeholders. You also need to address any issues, concerns, or conflicts that arise with your senior stakeholders and resolve them in a timely and respectful manner. You can use strategies such as negotiation, mediation, or escalation to manage any disagreements or disputes with your senior stakeholders.

Add your perspective

Isaac Dixon, PhD. SHRM-SCP

Associate Adjunct Professor at Portland State University
Report contribution
In my experience this step is one of the most important. Begin your journey with the end in mind which should include a dashboard of measures that your senior stakeholders can use. In my DEI work with companies I ensure we tie our work to the organizational strategy via the dashboard of key performance indicators. My senior stakeholders love it!

Like

5 Evaluate and report on senior stakeholder outcomes

The fifth step in developing a senior stakeholder management plan is to evaluate and report on the outcomes of your project, program, or initiative for your senior stakeholders. You need to assess the extent to which you have met the expectations and delivered the benefits of your project to your senior stakeholders. You can use methods such as audits, reviews, or lessons learned to evaluate the performance and impact of your project for your senior stakeholders. You also need to communicate the results, achievements, and challenges of your project to your senior stakeholders and acknowledge their contributions and feedback. You can use tools such as reports, presentations, or testimonials to share the outcomes and learnings of your project with your senior stakeholders.

Add your perspective

6 Update and revise senior stakeholder management plan

The sixth and final step in developing a senior stakeholder management plan is to update and revise it as needed throughout the project lifecycle. You need to review and adjust your plan according to the changes in the internal and external environment, the project scope and deliverables, and the senior stakeholder expectations and feedback. You can use processes such as change management, risk management, or quality management to identify and implement any changes to your plan. You also need to document and communicate any changes to your plan to your senior stakeholders and ensure their alignment and buy-in.

Add your perspective

Chitrali Chaturvedi

MBA, MSP, CSM, Director - Digital Product Delivery
Report contribution
Actually I would like to keep the stakeholder management plan for guidance and once the senior stakeholders have successfully engaged well, in my experience it becomes lot less like a planning and tracking activity. Ideally at this stage, it should have evolved into a more collaborative involvement where the stakeholders are connected and helping shape the engagement in greater depth. In agile ways of working towards any initiative, the value in delivering and optimising efforts and time is key. Routine task tracking and progress updates should be built in but to ensure that stakeholder remain interested and satisfied is inviting them to some governance role and getting their sign offs, feedback and suggestions in continuous improvement.

Like

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

Add your perspective

How do you develop and maintain a senior stakeholder management plan and keep it updated and relevant?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Identify and analyze senior stakeholders

2 Define and communicate objectives and benefits

3 Engage and involve senior stakeholders

4 Monitor and manage senior stakeholder expectations

5 Evaluate and report on senior stakeholder outcomes

6 Update and revise senior stakeholder management plan

7 Here’s what else to consider

Senior Stakeholder Management

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

More articles on Senior Stakeholder Management

More relevant reading

How do you develop and maintain a senior stakeholder management plan and keep it updated and relevant?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Identify and analyze senior stakeholders

2 Define and communicate objectives and benefits

3 Engage and involve senior stakeholders

4 Monitor and manage senior stakeholder expectations

5 Evaluate and report on senior stakeholder outcomes

6 Update and revise senior stakeholder management plan

7 Here’s what else to consider

Senior Stakeholder Management

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

Explore Other Skills