Chapter 3 Review

Chapter 3: Know Your Key Stakeholders and Win Their Cooperation

The first task of the PM is to identify stakeholders. Stakeholders must agree on project goals and constraints, and ultimately will judge success. They are less likely to be overlooked in planning when we identify them based on classic roles.

These role include:
Project Manager. The PM has the primary role of keeping all disparate groups moving in symphony; the PM should be sure to define all stakeholder roles including their own (which can be spread over multiple people). When leading the stakeholders, the PM should control who becomes a stakeholder, and be sure to manage upward.
Project Team. The team does the work and can include contractors, vendors and customers. It's important to distinguish between the core team and vital, but more peripheral team members when establishing a communication strategy.
Management. Management roles fall into three general areas as follow:

• Sponsor. The sponsor is the specific executive accountable for the project's success. The sponsor:
• Issues the Project Charter
• Assists in developing the Responsibility Matrix
• Review and approves the Statement of Work, Project Plan, Cost/Schedule/Quality Equilibrium
• Meets with the PM regularly to advise and monitor the project, maintain project priority, and help the PM overcome organizational obstacles
• Resource Manager. These are functional or line managers who control and assign people and resources and are likely involved in setting company policies. They should review and approve the Statement of Work and Project Plan. Resource Manager can also offer assistance in resolving HR issues as the Project Team is comprised of their employees.
• Decision Makers. These managers influence project decisions and represent organizational policy, processes and assets. These include:
• Managers whose operations will be affected by project outcomes
• Managers representing other stakeholders
• Manager(s) to whom the PM reports
• Anyone else with veto authority on the project

The Customer. Although difficult to identify in some environments, the customer is whoever pays for the project. The customer gets first and last word on product description, budget and success criteria. Customers supply requirements and/or funding.
Representatives of External Constraints. These include governing/regulatory agencies; financial organizations related to project financing; and individuals/organizations whose routine, property or profits will be affected by the project.

Identifying the stakeholders is essential to the success of all projects, and the breakdown offered by the text offers a simple and practical means to approach the question of who are the project stakeholders. In the context of my project, the stakeholders are clearly defined but viewing them through this role-based lens offers valuable insights into how project communication should flow.