Running a project: stakeholders

These are people who have a stake or interest in the project

Because they will need to know what is happening, it is important to identify and contact them early in a project

part of the project team
the customers
external to the project

Their motivation and objectives may not be the same, indeed they may be at odds with each-other

where job cuts are being considered
where people’s status may be changed
etc

The need to identify stakeholders

Commenting on survey results that indicate US companies’ track record on IT projects is improving:

"Projects which have executive management support and user involvement - our two top criteria for IT project success - have a 50% greater chance of success"

Karen Boucher, vice-president of Standish Group
Standish have conducted annual surveys of IT project failures since 1994
(Shillingford J (1998) "USA discovers key to successful projects", Computer Weekly, 25 June 1998)