Stakeholder Basics
Define a stakeholder
A stakeholder is anyone affected by or affecting the project (e.g., clients, internal teams)
Define "High Power" in the matrix.
They have significant control over project decisions (e.g., CIOs, CTOs).
What does "Monitor" mean in the matrix?
Observing Low Power, Low Interest stakeholders with minimal effort.
Your internal IT team is resistant to change but doesn’t influence client decisions. Where do they fit?
Low Power, High Interest → Keep Informed
Name a key stakeholder for an IT outsourcing project.
Client leadership, end users, internal IT teams, and regulators.
What is stakeholder analysis?
Stakeholder analysis is identifying and assessing key people who influence or are affected by the project.
Define "High Interest" in the matrix.
They are deeply invested in project success or failure (e.g., end users, business process owners).
What does "Keep Informed" mean?
Ensuring Low Power, High Interest stakeholders receive updates.
A senior executive at a client company isn’t engaged but has budget authority. Where do they fit?
High Power, Low Interest → Keep Satisfied.
How can poor stakeholder engagement impact a software implementation?
Leads to failed adoption, budget overruns, and project delays.
Name the two axes of the Influence-Impact Matrix.
Power (Influence) and Interest (Impact).
Give an example of a Low Power, High Interest stakeholder.
End users of a newly implemented IT system.
What does "Keep Satisfied" mean?
Addressing concerns of High Power, Low Interest stakeholders without overwhelming them.
Your project end users are deeply invested but have no decision-making power. Where do they fit?
Low Power, High Interest → Keep Informed.
What’s a common stakeholder conflict in IT projects, and how can it be managed?
Conflicting priorities—resolve by aligning expectations early, setting clear communication, and prioritizing engagement.
Why is stakeholder classification important?
It helps prioritize engagement efforts, avoiding wasted resources and resistance.
Give an example of a High Power, Low Interest stakeholder.
A CFO who approves budgets but isn’t involved in project details.
What does "Manage Closely" mean?
Actively engaging High Power, High Interest stakeholders through frequent interactions.
Low Power, High Interest, strategy ?
→ Keep Informed.
Give an example of a stakeholder conflict in IT outsourcing.
An outsourced IT team faced resistance from client employees who feared job loss, leading to pushback.
What’s the biggest mistake in stakeholder engagement?
Not being able to identify and accordingly involve key decision-makers early, leading to late-stage project blockers.
What’s the best strategy for High Power, High Interest stakeholders?
Actively manage and involve them in key decisions.
Give an example of a real-world stakeholder engagement mistake and its impact.
A CGI-managed cloud migration faced delays because key client stakeholders weren’t involved early, leading to additional costs.
A strategic partner is monitoring progress but hasn't intervened. How should you engage them?
Monitor their involvement and proactively engage when strategic decisions arise.
How do you shift a stakeholder from Low Interest to High Interest in a digital transformation project?
Connect project benefits to business goals, provide training, and involve them early.