Assignment 6 Involves Updating Your Project Plan

Assignment 6involves Updating Your Project Plan By Creating A Stakehol

Assignment 6 involves updating your project plan by creating a stakeholder communication and management plan. The stakeholder management plan, is a tool used by project managers to help keep a close eye on all stakeholders in the manner intended. You will be provided with a template to help you complete the information. In the stakeholder management template, you will identify the following: Stakeholder Level of Power or Influence on the project Impact Assessment that covers how they will be impacted by the outcome of the project Strategy assessment that defines how you plan to manage the stakeholder. When completing the Stakeholder Management Template please keep in mind the details of the project, the level of interest of each stakeholder and consider the best interest of the project. Remember to include both internal and external stakeholders. Next you will use the Communication Management template to determine your communication tools and techniques. Here you must also consider your project details and information. You must also keep in mind your project team and stakeholders. Please use the template to help you cover the following information: Message: What are you communicating? Audience: Who is receiving the communication? Method: What are you using to communicate? Frequency: How often are you sending this communication? Senders: Who is responsible for distributing this information? There are many different forms of communication in a project, try to cover as many as you feel are necessary for your chosen project. For this assignment, please submit your completed templates for both the stakeholder management and communication management plan. Download the template as a .doc here. Download the template as a .pdf here.

Paper For Above instruction

The process of updating a project plan to include comprehensive stakeholder communication and management strategies is essential for ensuring project success. It involves identifying key stakeholders, assessing their influence and impact, and developing tailored management strategies. The subsequent step focuses on establishing effective communication channels to facilitate clear, consistent, and timely information sharing among stakeholders and project team members. This paper explores the significance of creating a stakeholder management plan and a communication management plan, highlighting their roles, components, and best practices, supported by relevant scholarly sources.

Introduction

Effective project management necessitates meticulous planning around stakeholder engagement and communication. Stakeholders, both internal and external, possess varying degrees of influence, interest, and impact concerning project outcomes (Bryson, 2004). Recognizing and managing these relationships proactively mitigates risks, promotes stakeholder buy-in, and enhances project success. This paper discusses the process of developing a stakeholder management plan and a communication management plan, emphasizing their importance and outlining best practices grounded in project management literature.

Stakeholder Management Plan

The stakeholder management plan is a strategic document that identifies and analyzes stakeholders, assessing their power, influence, and potential impact on the project. According to PMI (2017), stakeholders are individuals, groups, or organizations that can affect or be affected by project outcomes. Effective management of stakeholders involves categorizing them based on their level of influence and interest, facilitating tailored engagement strategies. For instance, high-influence stakeholders require regular updates and active engagement, whereas low-influence stakeholders may need only periodic communication.

Developing this plan involves creating a stakeholder register that captures essential information, including stakeholder names, roles, contact information, and influence levels. This process enables project managers to prioritize stakeholder engagement efforts, allocate resources efficiently, and anticipate potential resistance or support. Furthermore, impact assessments help determine how stakeholders may be affected by project outcomes, guiding mitigation strategies for negative impacts and reinforcement of positive relationships. As suggested by Clarkson (1995), understanding stakeholder expectations and aligning project goals accordingly is crucial for effective management.

Communication Management Plan

The communication management plan complements the stakeholder management strategy by establishing how information will be exchanged among stakeholders and project team members. Effective communication is vital for maintaining transparency, managing expectations, and resolving issues promptly (Kerzner, 2017). This plan involves selecting appropriate communication tools and techniques tailored to the audience's needs, the message content, and the project's complexity.

Key components include defining the message—what information is to be communicated; identifying the audience—stakeholders or team members receiving the message; selecting methods—such as meetings, emails, reports, or digital platforms; determining frequency—how often communication occurs; and assigning responsibility—who is responsible for delivering the information. For example, project status updates may occur weekly via email, while milestone meetings could be scheduled bi-monthly or monthly.

Implementing diverse communication channels ensures inclusivity and responsiveness. As described by Schwalbe (2015), leveraging multiple tools like face-to-face meetings, video conferencing, and collaborative platforms enhances stakeholder engagement and supports adaptive project management practices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, developing a comprehensive stakeholder management plan and a communication management plan is pivotal for effective project execution. These plans facilitate strategic stakeholder engagement, minimize conflicts, and promote transparency. Utilizing established frameworks and best practices from scholarly literature enhances the robustness of these plans, ultimately contributing to project success. As projects grow in complexity, the importance of proactive stakeholder management and efficient communication becomes even more pronounced, underscoring the need for diligent planning and execution.

References

• Bryson, J. M. (2004). Strategic planning for public and nonprofit organizations: A guide to strengthening and sustaining organizational achievement. John Wiley & Sons.
• Clarkson, M. B. E. (1995). A stakeholder framework for analyzing and evaluating corporate social performance. Academy of Management Review, 20(1), 92-117.
• Kerzner, H. (2017). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. Wiley.
• PMI. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) (6th ed.). Project Management Institute.
• Schwalbe, K. (2015). Information Technology Project Management. Cengage Learning.
• Freeman, R. E. (1984). Strategic Management: A Stakeholder Approach. Pitman.
• Snyder, R. (2011). Managing Stakeholders. Journal of Business Strategy, 22(3), 42-47.
• Olander, S., & Landin, A. (2005). Evaluation of stakeholder influence in the implementation of construction projects. International Journal of Project Management, 23(4), 321-328.
• Müller, R., & Turner, J. R. (2010). Leadership competency profiles of successful project managers. International Journal of Project Management, 28(5), 437-448.
• Lalonde, C., & Murtagh, M. (2020). Effective Communication Strategies in Project Management. International Journal of Business Communication, 57(4), 538-557.