Stakeholder Needs Analysis

Stakeholder Analysis is done to map the interest of your stakeholders. It is a process of systematically analyzing and gathering qualitative information to determine whose interest should be taken into account.

Stakeholder Analysis is important because it helps project leaders and managers to access a stakeholder's interest, positions, alliances and knowledge related to the project.

In this tutorial, you will learn-

• When Stakeholder Analysis need to be done
• Stakeholders Categorization
• Process for Stakeholder Analysis
• Important questions to ask for stakeholder Analysis
• Tips to manage your Stakeholders

When Stakeholder Analysis need to be done?

Stakeholder analysis should always be done at the beginning of a project. Such analysis is helpful in the drafting of a log frame. Log frame is nothing but a general approach to project planning, monitoring, and evaluation in the form of a 'logframe matrix'. Whenever log frames are reconsidered during the life cycle of a project, a stakeholder analysis will be useful. Which means whenever mid-term reviews or annual monitoring is handled, stakeholder analysis should be the part of it.

Stakeholders Categorization

Stakeholders are categorized into two categories

Internal stakeholders	External stakeholders
Within the organization: Employees and Management	Outside the organization: Government & Trade Association

Process for Stakeholder Analysis

Following are the primary aspect needs to be considered for stakeholder analysis

Step 1) Identify your stakeholders: Your boss, your team, senior executives, prospective customers, your family, etc.

Step 2) Assess how those stakeholders could be impacted or have an effect on the organization

Step 3) Prioritize your Stakeholders-

StakeHolder Type	Action
High power, interested people	- Keep satisfied
High power, less interested people-	- Manage closely
Low power, interested people	- Monitor with minimum effort
Low power, less interested people	- Keep informed

Step 4) Identify areas of conflicts (organization vs. stakeholder, stakeholder vs. stakeholder)

Step 5) Prioritize, reconcile and balance stakeholders

Step 6) Align significant stakeholder needs with organizations strategies and actions

Things to take care while dealing with stakeholders

• Could you eliminate processes, which do not add stakeholder value?
• How would you communicate with stakeholders?
• Do your communications encourage stakeholder exchange?
• Do you communicate the stakeholder the value of the deal?

Important questions to ask for Stakeholder Analysis

Different attribute check for stakeholder	Question to ask your stakeholders
Identification of stakeholder	Who is paying for the project? Who will receive the deliverables or profits from the project? Both from your organization and client organization who will work with you to implement the project? Identify the expert for the project domain in the organization.
Interest	What direct benefit do stakeholders expect to get from the project? What outcomes do stakeholders expect as a result of the project? What changes do stakeholders need to make as a result of the project? Are there any conflicts of interest amongst the stakeholders?
Influence	What legitimate authority do stakeholders have in the organization? Who controls the project assets and resources? What degree of influence or negotiation power do your identified stakeholders carry in the organization?
Impact	How much impact stakeholder could have on the project and does this going to affect the success of the project

Also, you need to figure out when stakeholders will become involved in the following-

• Project Vision
• Project Scope Definition
• Business Process Analysis
• Needs Elicitation
• Requirement Validation
• Design reviews
• User acceptance testing

You can create a "Participation Matrix Table" for the stakeholders as given below

Participation Type	Inform	Consult	Partner	Control
Needs Assessment
Planning
Implement
Monitoring & Evaluation

Tips to manage your Stakeholders

• Do not complain. Accept stakeholders as they are
• For guaranteed success, get the key leadership involved.
• Make sure, you involve your stakeholders early in the business analysis process
• In case of a sensitive issue, ensure full confidentiality to all stakeholders to win their trust.
• To avoid conflicts, help all stakeholders in realizing their personal gains from the project.