Getting Partners and Stakeholders on Board

To jump to the Project Initiation main page, click here.

Read this section and then use the stakeholder checklist and Project Overview Document to make sure you have all the information you need to start a project.

*see Stakeholder Management, Project Implementation.

ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS

The first stage of every project. Get to know:

WHO

• is involved

  • internally

  • externally

HOW

• invested each partner and stakeholder is in the project's success

• they can potentially contribute

WHAT

• respectively, is each partner and stakeholders' level of commitment to the project

  they want to contribute

  • Financially

  • To the labour process

1. What are the DESIRED GOALS & OUTCOMES for each stakeholder?

• What do they want out of the project?

Use the goals and outcomes to create a concept note that explains how the project supports OpenUp's mission.

Concept note template.

2. What are the RESOURCE CAPACITIES of each stakeholder?

Commitments should be made up front regarding how much time and money each stakeholder is able to provide. Project managers should keep each part accountable. Resources- grants, funding, manpower, etc.- should be factored into the project budget.

For more on resource capacity, see here.

For more information, see Budgets and Finance.

3.DEFINE THE ROLES of all parties involved.

Defining and delegating roles- a step preceded by getting to know the skill sets and limitations of the people on hand- is a vital part of the early planning process.

Delegating and defining roles clearly defined roles and communicating them to everyone is vital to a successful project. Knowing what people can and cannot do, will help you plan accordingly.

Common roles include:

• Product Owner (See also: https://www.scaledagileframework.com/product-owner/)

• Project Manager

• Implementers (coders, designers, writers etc.)

• Communications or Marketing

Add the stakeholders details to stakeholder database.