Stakeholder Engagement Plan
DE: Stakeholder-Engagement-Plan
A plan for managing stakeholder expectations and productive involvement.
Detailed Explanation
The stakeholder engagement plan identifies strategies and actions required to promote productive involvement of stakeholders in project decisions and execution. It defines the desired engagement level for each stakeholder and the approach to achieve it.
The plan maps each stakeholder's current engagement level (Unaware, Resistant, Neutral, Supportive, Leading) against the desired level and defines actions to close the gap. For example, moving a key stakeholder from 'Neutral' to 'Supportive' might require executive briefings and inclusion in steering committee meetings.
Effective stakeholder engagement is proactive, not reactive. The plan should anticipate stakeholder concerns, address resistance before it becomes opposition, and leverage supportive stakeholders as project champions.
Key Points
- Defines desired engagement level per stakeholder
- Maps current vs. desired engagement with gap-closing actions
- Engagement levels: Unaware, Resistant, Neutral, Supportive, Leading
- Based on stakeholder register analysis
- Proactive approach — anticipate and address concerns early
- Updated as stakeholder dynamics change
Practical Example
For the ERP project: the CFO (currently Neutral, desired Supportive) — action: schedule monthly ROI progress briefings with her team's data. The union representative (currently Resistant, desired Neutral) — action: include in change management workshops, address job security concerns with retraining commitments. Both strategies are tracked and adjusted monthly.
Tips for Learning and Applying
Focus engagement efforts on high-influence stakeholders first
Move resistant stakeholders to neutral before trying to make them supportive
Leverage leading stakeholders as ambassadors and project champions
Review and adjust engagement strategies monthly
Want to Master These Concepts?
Our courses cover all these terms in depth with practical examples and exercises.