Making Projects WorkEffective Stakeholder and Communication Management By Lynda Bourne

Table of Contents

Making Projects Work
Introduction
The Communication Ecosystem
Definitions
Governance
     Strategic Management of Projects (Project Governance)
What Should the Boundaries of the Project Be?
Communication Influences Project Outcomes
The Reality Check
     The Project Manager as Superhero: Represents the Hero Component of Project Management Culture
     The Schedule and the Gantt Chart Are Truth: Represents the Symbol Component of Project Management Culture
     Project Reports Are Clear Representations of Project Progress: Represents the Rituals Component of Project Management Culture
     Operating within the Power Relationships of the Organization Is Manipulation: Represents the Value Component of Project Management Culture
     Risk Management Is a Rational Process: Represents the Value Component of Project Management Culture
Conclusion

Stakeholders and Organizational Value
Introduction
What Is a Stakeholder?
     A Stakeholder Has a Stake
     Interest
     Rights
     Ownership
     Contribution of Knowledge (or Experience)
     Contribution of Support
Stakeholder Engagement
     Implications for Successful Stakeholder Engagement in Projects
Expectations
     Asking
     Research
     Surveys
Stakeholder Theory
     Approaches to Stakeholder Relationships
     Dimension 1: Political Perspectives of Stakeholders
     Dimension 2: Purpose and Objectives of Considering Stakeholders
     Dimension 3: Value of Considering Stakeholders
     Dimension 4: Consideration of the Stakeholder Intervention level
     Dimension 5: Consideration of the Degree of Stakeholder Enforcement
Organization Activities and Stakeholder Communities
     How Many Stakeholders?
Analyzing the Stakeholder Community with the Stakeholder Circle
     Managing Stakeholder Relationships
     Step 1: Identify
     Step 2: Prioritize: How to Understand Who Is Important
          Power
          Proximity
          Urgency
          The Prioritization Process
     Step 3: Visualization: Presentation of Complex Data
     Step 4: Engage
          Application of Attitude in Organizations Today
          Examples of Engagement Profiles
     Step 5: Monitor the Effectiveness of the Communication
The Value of Effective Stakeholder Engagement
     Zero Cost of Quality
     Value to the Organization
     On Time/On Budget Delivery
     Value to Stakeholders
     Value to the Project or the Organization
     Value to the Team
Conclusion

Focus on Leadership: Theories for Leading and Managing
Introduction
What Is a Team?
A History of Management
     Henri Fayol: Functions of Management
     Scientific Management (Frederick Taylor)
     The Hawthorne Experiments and Their Findings
     Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
     Herzberg’s Hygiene Theory
     McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y
Theories of Leadership
     The Leadership of Ernest Shackleton
     Goleman’s Leadership Styles
     Trait Theory
     Transactional Leadership
     Charismatic Leadership
     Transformational Leadership
     Situational Leadership
     Authentic Leadership
     Vroom’s Expectancy Theory and Decision Model
Making Decisions
     Define the Problem
     The Decision-Making Process: Who Should Be Involved?
     How Can We Minimize the Effect of Personal Preference and Bias?
     Alternatives: How Do You Prioritize Alternatives?
     Reduce Uncertainty?
     Implement the Solution and Review the Effectiveness of the Implementation
Conclusion

Focus on Downwards: The Practicalities of Leading the Project Team
Introduction
Emotional Intelligence
The Nature of Teams
Team Formation and Construction
     Agile Teams
     The Leaders’ Role in Successful Agile Projects
     Virtual Teams
Theories of Team Development
     Tuckman’s Model of Team Formation
          Forming
          Storming
          Norming
          Performing
          Adjourning
          How This Model Is Useful
          How Good Is This Model?
     Swift Trust
          Swift Trust Works When
The Tool Kit of a Leader
     Motivation
          Counteracting Social Loafing
          Other Demotivators
          Delegation and Motivation
          Delegation
          The Benefits of Delegation
     Feedback
          Giving Negative Feedback
          Preparing to Give Feedback
     Managing Conflict
          Blake and Mouton’s Approach
          Interventions to Minimize Potential Conflict
          Coaching
Conclusion

Focus on Managing Upwards
Introduction
The Managers’ Dilemma
     Making the Transition to the Executive Level
     Five Levels of Leadership
The Sponsor
     Three Important Rules for Sponsor Engagement
     Power within Organizations
     Dealing with Difficult Stakeholders
     Helping the Sponsor Help You (and Your Project)
     When the Sponsor Leaves the Project
Managing Relations with Senior Stakeholders
     Building Trust
     Dealing with Difficult Bosses
     The Incompetent Boss
     Micromanager
     Gives Unclear Instruction, Is Disorganized
     Blames Others or Takes Undue Credit
     Acts Like a Tyrant or a "Game Player" Saying No
     Intelligent Disobedience
Conclusion

Focus on Sidewards and Outwards Stakeholders
Introduction
Sidewards and Outwards Stakeholders
     Sidewards Stakeholders
     Outwards Stakeholders
Networks
     Definitions
     Different Types of Networks
     Degrees of Separation
     The Power of Networks
     Emotions and Networks
     Applying the Theories of Networks to Managing the Expectations of Stakeholders
     Social Media
          Using Social Media Effectively in Projects
          LinkedIn and Social Distance 
     Finding Influence Networks around the Project
     Stakeholder Community
     Traps in Building Networks
     Avoiding the Traps
Negotiation
     What Is Negotiation?
     Four Concepts of Negotiation
          BATNA: Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement
          Reservation Price
          ZOPA: Zone of Possible Agreement
     Value Creation through Trade-offs
     The Negotiation Process
Conclusion

Culture and Other Factors that Influence Communication
Introduction
Perception and "Reality"
     The Role of the Brain
     The Brain Hardwires Everything It Can
     "You Create Your Own Reality"
     How Do We Know These Things?
Personality
Culture
     In-Group/Out-Group
Dimensions of Culture
     Power Distance
     Individualism/Collectivism
     Masculinity/Femininity
     Uncertainty Avoidance
     Indulgent/Restrained
Generational Culture
     Professional Culture
Gender
     The Social Context of Gender
     Gender Stereotypes
     Gender Priming
     Workplace Discrimination
     Gender Differences
     Discourse: The Sharing of Information
     Organizational Culture
     Meetings
     Planning and Control
     Theories of Motivation
Conclusion

Communication
Introduction
Types of Stakeholder Communication
     Communication Competence
What Is Communication?
Aspects of Successful Communication: The Power of Words
     Metaphors
     Persuasion
Active Listening
Communication Essentials
     Defining the Purpose
     Understanding the Recipient of the Communication
     Monitoring Implementation and Measuring Effectiveness
Aristotelian Communication
Preparing for Effective Communication
     The Message: Format and Content
In Conclusion: Putting It All Together

References

Index