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To download template, click here: Stakeholder Analysis Template

For a more in depth analysis of stakeholders, click here: Identify Stakeholders 202.docx

Why do Stakeholder identification, analysis and engagement?  

...

  1. Who will be affected by the success or failure of the solution?
  2. Who is the sponsor---the funder of the project?
  3. Who will receive reports and other output from the solution?
  4. Who is the customer---the user of the end product or service?
  5. What regulatory bodies and standards must the solution and project comply with?
  6. Who will test the solution?
  7. Who will maintain the solution once it is deployed?
  8. Who will build and maintain the hardware and server environments?
  9. Who will support the users and the solution once it is installed (Service Desk, DITR, etc.)?
  10. Who will train on the solution?
  11. Who will be adversely affected by in the project’s area of influence?
  12. Who can best assist with the early scoping of issues and impacts
  13. Who strongly supports the changes that the project will bring?
  14. Whose opposition could be detrimental to the success of the project?
  15. Who is it critical to engage with first, and why?
  16. What is each stakeholder's interest (addressed need or opportunity) in the solution? (see more info in stakeholder interests section below)
  17. What constraints (policies, standards etc.) does the stakeholder place on the system? (see more info in stakeholder interests section below)

Generic Examples of Stakeholders

Stakeholder Type

Examples and Roles

Business Analyst

Liaison with stakeholders, identifies business problems, elicits and validates requirements and use cases, evaluates and proposes solutions

End User

Interacts directly with the solution, can be multiple groups

Subject Matter Expert

Has in depth knowledge of one or more pieces of the business process or solution (internal or external)

Project Manager

Team Leader for the project

Business Owner

Project advocate and business representative, responsible for implementation on the business side, and subject matter expert

Tester

Both QA (unit ad regression testing) and end users (acceptance testing)

Sponsor

Project champion, responsible for the benefits of the project, possibly funding, removal of obstacles, approval of scope, project plan and changes

Developer

Responsible for coding, user interface and system integration, unit testing, data base feeds

Trainer

Provide assistance to users on how to use the application or service

Server Operations and Network Infrastructure

Maintain and monitor the hardware and operating environments for the service or solution

Help Desk Support

Provide assistance to users on how to access and use the application or service

Data Base Administrator

Help a project design and implement the database, and provide support in the form of maintenance and repair of the database

Usability and Accessibility Consultants

Consult to help project create efficient and usable solutions and ensure that end users can access the service

Data Modeler

Works with project team and business to manage data as a resource and allow for integration of other information systems (designing databases/data warehouses)

Regulatory Agency

Mandates adherence to certain policies or legal constraints

Assessing Stakeholder Interests

  1. List stakeholders (by name) that suffer from the problem, will be affected by the solution, or whose needs constrain the solution, for example, by imposing regulatory restrictions.
  2. Note the stakeholder's title, if an individual. This is the person's position title. e.g. Gerard O'Toole, Director of Financial Operations, VPF
  3. Assign a stakeholder role to describe how the stakeholder will interact with the project. Stakeholder roles might include Sponsor, Business Owner, Primary User, downstream and/or upstream user and Subject Matter Expert.
  4. Describe each stakeholder’s main responsibilities with respect to the project. These might include Monitor Progress, Development, System Testing, Usability Testing, Support and Approve Funding.
  5. Summarize each stakeholder’s interest in the project by describing the need or opportunity addressed by the project from the stakeholder’s perspective. Please note that this can be positive or negative, depending on the perception of the stakeholder.

Stakeholder

Stakeholder Title

Project Role

Project Responsibilities

Interests

Gerard O'Toole

Director of Financial Operations, VPF

Sponsor

Oversee project, remove roadblocks

Automate manual process, improved customer satisfaction

Note: a similar analysis can also be done for stakeholder groups (groups of individuals impacted by the project), e.g. student administrators, students, HR-Payroll Service Center, Facilities, Registrar's Office

Addressing Stakeholder Needs

Once you have completed the stakeholder interest assessment, determine which of the below categories applies to each stakeholder.

The following table provides suggestions for engaging each type of stakeholder

Primary

Key Player

Impacted

 

Meet their needs
Engage and consult on interest area
Try to increase level of interest

Involve in governance / decision making bodies
Engage and consult regularly

Involve in  low risk areas
Keep informed and consult on interest area
potential supporter/good will ambassador